Savage River
Garrett Co. · 27 mi · Class IV–V
41.2CFS/ 1.38 ft
Below Optimal→Stable
Water temp: 46°F — Hypothermia risk, wear a drysuit
Optimal: 350–800 CFS · USGS #01596500
Length
Difficulty
Optimal
Avg Flow
Hist. Median
USGS Gauge
Savage River State Forest · Maryland Wild River
Site of the 1989 ICF Whitewater World Championships — the only time the Worlds have been held on a natural river channel in the United States. The Savage River delivers 5 miles of continuous expert Class IV–V whitewater through a remote Appalachian gorge in Garrett County, with dam releases from Savage River Reservoir providing scheduled flows.
Trip sections
Savage River below dam — Class IV–V, 5-mile expert creek run
Savage to North Branch Potomac — Class II, lower river
Outfitters
Precision Rafting
Savage River guided trips during releases, Friendsville
72-Hour Flow Forecast
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10-Year Flow Patterns
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Your Optimal Range
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.