| Seneca Creek | |
|---|---|
 Seneca Creek and the Seneca Creek Greenway trail near Berryville Road inDarnestown,MD | |
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| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| Counties | Montgomery |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Darnestown,MD |
| • coordinates | 39°07′43″N77°20′09″W / 39.12861°N 77.33583°W /39.12861; -77.33583 |
| Mouth | Potomac River |
• location | Seneca Aqueduct,Darnestown,MD |
• coordinates | 39°04′05″N77°20′27″W / 39.06806°N 77.34083°W /39.06806; -77.34083 |
| Length | 5.8 mi (9.3 km) |
Seneca Creek is a 5.8-mile-long (9.3 km)[1] stream inMontgomery County, Maryland, USA, roughly 16 miles (26 km) northwest ofWashington, D.C. It drains into thePotomac River.
Thecreek begins with two main tributaries:
These tributaries converge nearDarnestown. Another major tributary, Dry Seneca Creek, empties into Seneca Creek west of Darnestown. The creek continues south and passes underSeneca Aqueduct/Riley's Lock (Lock 24) of theChesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal before it flows into the Potomac River. There is about a 600 feet (180 m) change in elevation from the stream's upper sources to its mouth at the Potomac. Seneca Creek has awatershed area of 121 square miles (310 km2).
Depending on conditions, parts of the creek are navigable by light watercraft, such askayaks orcanoes. NearRiley’s Lock there is a boat ramp into the creek which provides access to the Potomac River.
An area of about 6,300 acres (25 km2) along 14.75 miles (23.74 km) of the creek has been set aside asSeneca Creek State Park. It has trails including the 16.5 miles (26.6 km)Seneca Creek Greenway Trail, the 10 miles (16 km) Schaeffer Farm Trail, and many shorter and easier trails. Parking and picnic areas are provided at various locations in the park. Long Draught Creek, a small tributary north of Gaithersburg has been dammed to form the 90 acres (0.36 km2) Clopper Lake which is the centerpiece of the park's day use area. This area includes multiple picnic areas, adisc golf course, boat rentals for the lake, and restroom facilities.
Just west of the creek's mouth is theSeneca Quarry, the quarry that provided the red sandstone for theSmithsonian Castle and locks 8 - 27 of the C&O Canal. The remains of the 1837 stone cutting mill are still intact, though unmarked; above the quarry is the restored quarry masters house. Both are within state park lands.[2]
During the 1920s and 1930s Seneca was a popular vacation spot for people from lower Montgomery County and Washington who came for the cooler temperatures, boating, swimming, and fishing. There was a hotel near the canal and cottages lined the creek until they were washed away or destroyed by the severalfloods that have affected this area. Unfortunately Seneca has been the site of many drownings and boating accidents over the years. Today the area is a popular local recreation area.
39°04′06″N77°20′26″W / 39.068441°N 77.340540°W /39.068441; -77.340540
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