Paddle to Fort McHenry from Middle Branch Park (5mi)

Here's one that I haven't done in a long time, which offers sweeping views of an often overlooked side of the city, on the way to its arguably biggest landmark.

First, a note on getting there: You want the three-fingered rowing dock, not the fishing pier further east. It is roughly a 300' carry to the water, so bring wheels or wait for a buddy to arrive and lend a hand.

Once we're on the water, we will cross to the north bank of the river and head east, under the Hanover Street Bridge, past Under Armor and some gritty industrial sites on our way to the Fort, after which we will turn around and maybe take a slightly different path back to the dock. We are leaving early enough that the wind probably won't be issue, but there is a chance it could get a little choppy, as the river is half a mile wide in this stretch. If wind does become an issue, we will like stay closer to shore on the south side of the river. Round trip is roughly 5 miles, depending on how much meandering we do.

This is event is suitable for kayaks, paddleboards (including iSUPs) and canoes (but not inflatable kayaks or rafts). If you have a sit-in or a canoe, be sure to bring a bilge pump or bailer, in case we hit some wind or boat wakes. As always, you must WEAR, not just carry your life jacket/PFD.

We will leave the ramp promptly at 10am, so give yourself time to get your equipment down to the river.