🏕 Paddle Feature: Marble Quarry Campsite on the C&O Canal
- supfrederick
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
Your perfect pull-off spot for paddle adventures along the Potomac River
Hey SUP Frederick paddlers!
This week, we’re shining a spotlight on a true gem along our river routes: the Marble Quarry Hiker-Biker Campsite. Tucked off the C&O Canal near mile marker 38, just before White’s Ferry, this primitive site is a frequent stop for our group paddles, campouts, and spontaneous meetups.
Whether you’re on a long-distance adventure or just enjoying a leisurely float, this site is an ideal place to rest, snack, camp, or just soak up nature.
🧭 What Makes It a SUP Frederick Favorite?
Marble Quarry is easily accessible by paddleboard or kayak. A dirt path leads from the riverbank through the trees to the campsite, which includes:
🪵 A picnic table (perfect for gear, lunch, or a group hangout)
🔥 A fire pit and grill
🚻 A porta-potty
🌳 Shade and plenty of open green space
This spot is first-come, first-served, with a one-night stay limit, no vehicle access, and no reservations needed. It’s serene, scenic, and smack in the middle of some of the best paddling on the Potomac.
💡 Pro Tip: Bring a bike lock or cable if you want to secure your board or kayak near the trail while you camp!
📸 Scenes from the Site
📍 GPS screenshot
🐦 Five Fun Facts About Marble Quarry & Its Surroundings
Historic Marble: This quarry once supplied stone used in the Washington Monument in D.C.
Towpath Legacy: The C&O Canal operated from 1831 to 1924, carrying cargo, coal, and dreams along the Potomac.
Cerulean Warbler Habitat: Keep your eyes (and ears) open for the cerulean warbler, a rare migratory songbird often spotted here.
Civil War Proximity: This stretch of the river served as a boundary between the North and South during the Civil War.
Mile Marker 38: The site is conveniently located around mile 38 on the C&O Towpath, right before the White’s Ferry Grill, our usual go-to lunch stop on long distant paddles.
🌙 Camping Here? What to Know
Marble Quarry makes a fantastic overnight stop for small paddle-in campouts. You’ll need to:
Pack in/pack out all trash
Respect quiet hours and natural wildlife
Be self-sufficient; there’s no clean water source (Hand pump water is treated with iodine. Please plan to have water purification tablets with you. Water is turned off from November 15 to April 15 each year).
Have fun (seriously, it’s beautiful)
⛺ Looking Ahead: A Stop on the 32-Miler
We are featuring Marble Quarry as a possible overnight option during this year’s upcoming 32-Mile Paddleboard Expedition (The group can choose between this, Indian Flats, or Turtle Run). So if you’re planning to join, def bring your camping gear to experience this spot firsthand! We will feature Turtle Run’s camp ground next week!
✨ Why We Love It
Marble Quarry isn’t flashy but it’s exactly what we love in a paddle destination: accessible, peaceful, and packed with character. It’s a perfect halfway break or overnight escape, and we’ve made some great memories here as a group, or even when you are solo!
Next time you’re paddling, peddling, or hiking near mile 38, stop by; you might just run into a few SUP Frederick friends already there… God knows the bicyclists keep that place lively in the summer time too!
💚
Stay stoked & keep paddling!
— The SUP Frederick Team
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