PAN- the Paddlers’ Access Network

PAN’s goals are to keep current river access points open, resolve issues with landowners and government agencies, find alternatives when popular accesses are closed, and expand access where possible.  Let’s face it, we can’t paddle when we can’t get to the water!

PAN’s methods are appeals to neighborliness, hospitality, and sharing of natural assets; balanced by pledges of responsible stewardship by paddlers.  Volunteers will research the local issues, contact involved parties, identify solutions or options, and politely persuade and negotiate.  Legal action is explicitly NOT part of PAN’s activities.

You can help PAN’s goals by:

1)    Being a responsible steward of property that you use to access a river, and leaving that property in as good as or better shape than before you got there,

2)    Notifying PAN of any access issues that you encounter, and

3)    If an access issue is in your backyard or on your favorite stream, volunteer to help PAN research and resolve the issue.

Bing Garthright of MCC began PAN in January 2004.  Since the effort is less than a season old, we’re still in the early stages of gathering data.  Help us out by telling us the quirks, special considerations, and problems you’ve encountered with various accesses.  Your experience helps avoid alienating landowners, possibly resulting in a closed access, and may save other paddlers the unpleasant experience of a towed vehicle, encounter with local law enforcement, or a confrontation with a hostile landowner.

To notify PAN of an access issue, please contact one of the following people:

Bing Garthright     (301) 330-1225     bgarthright@comcast.net

Colleen Davies    (301) 947-3708     daviescs@aol.com

Ron Ray                (301) 604-5984     ronald.a.ray@att.net

 

To volunteer, please contact Bing Garthright.

 

Access Notices

Potomac Watershed

 

River

General Location

Specific Location

Access Status / notes

Additional Details?

North Branch Potomac River (MD/WV)

Bloomington MD

Sewage plant takeout

Watch your speed in the residential neighborhood

 

Cacapon River (WV)

US 50 / Capon Bridge

River left, downstream of US 50 bridge

Owner changed since 2004. Access permitted, $5 / boat, see details.

Click Here for Details

Cacapon

Cold Spring / Edwards Run

Traditional whitewater put-in, ~4 miles downstream (north) of US 50 on CR15

Former DNR access closed, private property, Do Not Use.  Use Mr. Sine’s property, below.

Click Here for Details

Cacapon

Near Cold Spring / Edwards Run

0.2 miles upstream from former DNR access

Use Mr. Sine’s property, respect the property, don’t bother the landowners.

Click Here for Details

Cacapon

Near Brown’s Run / Pin Oak WV

2 miles from WV 29 / County 29/4

Public access, 9 river miles downstream from WV 127 crossing

Click Here for Details

Cacapon

Largent

Adjacent to  VA 9 bridge in Largent, WV

Former access closed, new access available- requires notifying landowner and small fee.

Click Here for Details

Cacapon

Fishers Bridge

Constant Run Rd off WV 9

Informal access with some parking

Click Here for Details

Cacapon

Downstream of Fishers Bridge

 

Multiple WV DNR accesses from downstream of Fishers Bridge to mouth of Cacapon.  Check your favorite map resource for locations

 

West Branch Conococheague Creek

Metal to Fort Loudon, PA (Franklin Co.)

Downstream of Metal, PA / Carrick Rd putin

--!!  DANGER  !!--

Impassable fences about 1 mile downstream of Metal, PA

Click Here for Details

Antietam Creek

Keedysville MD

Keedysville Rd

Access closed, Do Not Use

 

Antietam

Sharpsburg MD

Harpers Ferry Rd bridge

Closed; take out at aqueduct at mouth

 

Goose Creek (VA)

VA 624

Crenshaw Rd

Fairly good access, some parking

Click Here for Details

Goose

US 50

Old stone bridge

Access blocked

Click Here for Details

Goose

VA 626 & 734 bridges

Bridges between US 50 and VA 611

The VA 626 and 734 bridges mention in Corbett’s Virginia Whitewater  (“several public bridges” between VA 611 and US 15”) have been rebuilt very high and offer no workable access.

 

Goose

VA 611

 

Bad access, not reccommended

Click Here for Details

Goose

VA 733

Road runs along stream for several miles

Several good accesses, some fair, a few denied…

Click Here for Details

Goose

US 15

Bridge

Fair access, be careful of traffic

Click Here for Details

Goose

VA 621, Evergreen Mills Rd bridge

Bridge, 2.5 miles downstream from US 15

Two fair accesses, see details…

Click Here for Details

Goose

VA 643

Sycolin Rd

Signage and road barriers forbid access.

 

Goose

Fairfax reservoir

Reservoir & below dam

Access closed.  Paddling into the resevoir from upstream then portaging the dam is confirmed OK by reservoir management.

 

Goose Loudon Park Golf Club Lane, next to VA 7 Park still has excellent access and ample parking.

Goose

Riverside Parkway

½ mile downstream of VA 7

Parking about 100 yards from creek, with a good trail

Click Here for Details

Toms Creek (MD)

Emmitsburg MD

FEMA campus upstream of US 15

Access permitted but don’t linger

Click Here for Details

Toms Creek, Middle Creek

Southeast of  Emmitsburg MD

Downstream of Keysville Rd bridge, river right

Access OK, but be gentle to the land; owner has had problems with ATVs

 

Monocacy River (MD)

Buckeystown

Michaels Mill dam

Access closed, private property, Do Not Use

 

 

Susquehanna Watershed

 

River

General Location

Specific Location

Access Status / Notes

Additional Details?

Muddy Creek (PA)

PA 74

PA 74 bridge & vicinity

Certain portions POSTED & paddlers’ cars have been towed.  One area remains unposted, but with special considerations.

Click Here for Details

 
Rappahannock Watershed

 

River

General Location

Specific Location

Access Status / Notes

Additional Details?

Hazel & Thornton

Monumental Mills (VA)

Butler Ford Rd, at Double Ford swimming hole & Hazel / Thornton confluence

Access closed.  See notes and article for details.

Click Here for Details

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