2010 Scheduled Seneca MD Trips will put in at Violette's Lock, or Riley's lock for a trip down through Seneca Breaks [Skill, weather & water level dependent] Lunch on a river Island then on to Muddy Creek, the spooky C&O Canal Aqueduct and pennyfield lock portage on our way back to our Take out by way of the Scenic Canal. Full day trip [ described] $80
[This trip can be shortened to a 1/2 day event. The short trip does not go down to Pennyfield, and returns to our put-in on the C&O Canal but we use the shorter portage at the bottom of seneca Breaks cost $65]
2010 Scheduled MD long Trips for Violettes Lock Loop:
Guided trips start at 10am and finish about 3pm. See details on the web site.
Available Trip Dates - Most week Days throughout Season and Snow & fall color trips when the weather works -
Weekends : Check the schedule or call Mike 703 264 8911
Note: we flip flop Seneca and Antietam trips on request ; Schedule is the same for each. The first confirmed reservation dictates the trip location for that day. We may run trips on Antietam and Seneca on the same day.
Riley's Lock / Violet's Lock Seneca Trips leave from Algonkian Regional Park VA as well as Violette's, Seneca MD. See schedule for Algonkian Trips
OTHER TRIPS and CLASSES include Reston VA, MASON'S Neck WMA, Antietam Creek....Triadelphia Reservoir, Rocky Gorge or into the Marshes of the Lower Gunpowder River. Middle Fork of the Salmon, Tybee Island GA. etc.
Reilly's, Violets and Pennyfield Locks are the last watered locks on the Historic C&O Canal in Seneca [very north Potomac] Maryland Directions
Depending on water levels, class mix and weather we use this unique area for many trips . The Violet's Lock GW Canal loop Adventure Trip. After a brief paddling refresher on the C&O Canal, We put in at Violets Lock; paddle across the Potomac, where the river is about 3/4 of a mile wide, and into the "Old Potomak Canal" which was surveyed by George Washington in the 1750's, to get river punts and barges around Seneca Breaks Rapids. The old canal is now an intimate creek within the river that enjoys a secluded wilderness aura shared with herons, deer, owls, hawks and maybe an occasional human. The trip generates an air of anticipation and excitement, navigating drops, rapids, bends and breaks for about 1.5 miles. At the bottom we paddle out of the canal and [ferry] back across the Potomac below the Seneca Breaks and paddle back to our put in parking lot on a scenic portion of the C&O Canal. [The whole trip takes about 4 hours]
Reilly's Lock to Pennyfield Lock Trip Put in at Reilly's lock and paddle under the historic Seneca Creek Aqueduct out onto the Potomac, Stop at Violets for a leg stretch and look at the unique canal feeder lock system; then down through Seneca breaks. Share Lunch on a river Island with Geese, sea gulls, cormorants; and on down river to Muddy Creek. Paddle up Muddy and under the Muddy Creek Aqueduct [ dark and spooky] and take out at the Pennyfield parking lot. This is a little easier than the Violets loop trip, but has it's own thread of excitement to enjoy or avoid. [the whole trip takes about 4 hours] and can be run with or without a shuttle.