directions courtesy of Ron Ray are as follows:
Directions to the takeout from DC area:
**Get on I-70 west.
**Near Hancock, MD, take I-68 west towards Cumberland.
**Just before Cumberland, watch out for a possible speed trap where the limit drops from 65 to 55, after the US 220 north interchange / exit 46. Cops like to sit on the upgrade about 1/4 mile after the overpass, or just over the top of the hill. This has gotten several folks.
**Continue on I-68 through Cumberland.
**At Frostburg / Exit 34, take MD 36 south to Westernport.
**On 36, watch the speed limits through the small towns.
**At the light in Westernport, turn Right onto MD 135 west towards Luke.
**Pass by the Westvaco paper plant- watch your speed because the road is narrow.
**About 1/2 mile past the plant, WV 46 crosses the North Branch. DO NOT turn off- stay on 135.
**About 100 yards past the WV 46 bridge, 135 makes a sharp left, crosses the Savage River (TINY!), and goes up a short, steep hill. You may see boats at the company building on the right immediately after the Savage River bridge; that's an alternate meeting spot that we're not using.
**About 50 yards after the railroad overpass at the top of the steep hill, turn LEFT at the little restaurant.
**Take the next left, about 50 yards off of 135.
**Go down the steep hill to the grass parking area. Watch your speed in here, it's residential, and there might be a lot of traffic. Also a good idea for downhill vehicles to wait at the top of the pavement until uphillers are off the gravel.
**Normal time from DC on Saturday morning is a bit over 3 hours; I usually allow just under 4.
Directions from Virginia:
--If you're coming up 15, 81, or 522 to 70 or 68, head west and pick up the DC directions from that point.
**If you're going west on US 50, I suggest taking US 220 north at New Creek into Keyser.
**Cross the Potomac at Keyser, then turn left onto MD 135 west towards Westernport.
**At the light in Westernport, go straight towards Luke, and pick up the DC directions.
If you're late and heading straight to the putin:
**Follow directions to Luke, as above, BUT:
**Turn left onto WV 46.
**About 1/4 mile after crossing the river, there's an "intersection". WV 46 bears right, and so should you.
**At the top of a steep grade above some switchbacks, there's another intersection. WV 46 and you again bear right.
**After roughly 6 total miles on WV 46, there are 2 churches on the left within about ½ mile. At the 2nd church turn RIGHT. On the right at this intersection, there are signs for Barnum Whitewater Access and Pap's Bait & Tackle just before the turn, and a tiny old chapel just past the turn.
**Go down the hill, and the paved road ends at the putin.
I am coming from Reston Va which is only 135 miles. I deviate slighlty from Ron's directions by taking I81 N for 1 exit, rt 37 to 522N, left on 127 to Rt 50 at Romney. This bypasses the tiresome part of rt 50.
