Need an alternative to the crowds on the Gunpowder? Check out Little Falls. It’s the next river up, closer to Pennsylvania, and does not experience the dense crowds seen on the Gunpowder.
It receives the same number of stocked fish as the Gunpowder while also supporting a wild trout population. Unlike many of the stocked streams in the state, most of its 6-mile stretch is directly fishable because the Torrey Brown trail parallels most of its length.
Access is easy, with at least 10 access locations I found and documented in the book. My favorite is Walker Road since it is far enough downstream to have a decent volume of water yet still far enough upstream to retain the cold-water character. That said, the area off Greystone Road runs deep and well and is one of the locations that offers easy access for the stocking truck.
Little Falls runs over a rocky bottom and resembles the Gunpowder below the Prettyboy section. While some sand is farther downstream, it’s not enough to disrupt the experience. Frederick Road is the midpoint that marks the transition from rocks and sand to rocks and boulders.
Another good access point is at the Dairy Road stream crossing, where there is a small parking lot to serve hikers and bikers on the trail but it is also perfectly positioned to provide fishing access to the middle of the river.
For road by road detail, check out the new book And put this river on your list of alternatives if the crowds push you off the Gunpowder.
Getting There:
From I-83, take exit 31 onto Middletown Road heading east. To go to the first two access points, turn right on MD 45/York Road followed by a left on Wiseburg Road. Wiseburg intersects with Greystone. To go to the middle access points, turn left on MD 45. Turn left on Old York road to intersect Frederick Road on the right or Hillcrest, heading to Dairy Road, on the left. The northern access points are closest to exit 33, but MD 45 continues to be the major road connecting all of them. From MD 45, turn left on Stablers Church Road and make a left on Walker Road. From Walker Road, driving west, turn right onto Eagle Mill or, farther west a right on Valley Mill.
Secrets Revealed? No. This is a very public location that is documented in the Maryland DNR stocking plan.
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Unless stated otherwise, this article was authored by Steve Moore