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Seneca Creek (Potomac River tributary) facts for kids

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This page is about the stream in Montgomery County, Maryland. For the State Park, see Seneca Creek State Park.
Not to be confused with Seneca Creek in West Virginia, a tributary of the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River near Seneca Rocks.
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Seneca Creek
Seneca creek greenway trail at berryville rd maryland 20200809 113606 1.jpg
Seneca Creek and the Seneca Creek Greenway trail near Berryville Road in Darnestown, MD
Country United States
State Maryland
Counties Montgomery
Physical characteristics
Main source Darnestown, MD
39°07′43″N 77°20′09″W / 39.12861°N 77.33583°W / 39.12861; -77.33583
River mouth Potomac River
Seneca Aqueduct, Darnestown, MD
39°04′05″N 77°20′27″W / 39.06806°N 77.34083°W / 39.06806; -77.34083
Length 5.8 miles (9.3 km)
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The Aqueduct at Riley's Lock

Seneca Creek is a stream in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA. It is about 5.8-mile-long (9.3 km). The creek is located roughly 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Washington, D.C.. It flows into the Potomac River.

Where Does Seneca Creek Flow?

The creek starts with two main branches. These branches are like smaller streams that join together.

Great Seneca Creek

Little Seneca Creek

  • This branch is about 14.0 miles (22.5 km) long.
  • It starts near Clarksburg.
  • It flows south through Little Seneca Lake.
  • It also goes through Black Hill Regional Park.
  • Finally, it passes by the community of Boyds.

Joining Together

These two main branches meet near Darnestown. Another important branch, Dry Seneca Creek, also joins Seneca Creek west of Darnestown.

The creek then continues south. It flows under the Seneca Aqueduct at Riley's Lock. This lock is part of the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal. After this, Seneca Creek flows into the Potomac River. The water drops about 600 feet (180 m) from where the stream starts to where it meets the Potomac. The area of land that drains water into Seneca Creek is about 121 square miles (310 km2). This area is called its watershed.

Fun Things to Do at Seneca Creek

Seneca creek greenway trail seneca rd entrance 20200809 103640 1
The entrance to Seneca Creek Greenway trail at Seneca Rd in Darnestown, MD.

You can enjoy many outdoor activities along Seneca Creek.

Boating and Water Fun

  • If the water is right, you can use small boats like kayaks or canoes on parts of the creek.
  • Near Riley’s Lock, there is a special ramp for boats. You can use it to put your boat into the creek and then go out onto the Potomac River.

Seneca Creek State Park

  • A large area of about 6,300 acres (25 km2) along 14.75 miles (23.74 km) of the creek is protected. It is called Seneca Creek State Park.
  • The park has many trails for walking or biking.
  • The Seneca Creek Greenway Trail is 16.5 miles (26.6 km) long.
  • The Schaeffer Farm Trail is 10 miles (16 km) long.
  • There are also many shorter and easier trails for everyone.
  • You can find places to park and picnic areas throughout the park.

Clopper Lake: A Park Gem

  • A small stream called Long Draught Creek was blocked to create a lake. This lake is called Clopper Lake.
  • Clopper Lake is about 90 acres (0.36 km2) in size.
  • It is the main attraction in the park's day-use area.
  • At the lake, you can find picnic spots, a disc golf course, and places to rent boats for the lake.
  • Restrooms are also available for visitors.

History of Seneca Creek

Seneca Creek has an interesting past.

The Seneca Quarry

Seneca Stone Cutting Mill
Built in 1837, the Seneca stone cutting mill cut the stone for the Smithsonian Castle
  • Just west of where the creek meets the Potomac River is the Seneca Quarry.
  • This quarry was a source of red sandstone.
  • This special stone was used to build the famous Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C.
  • It was also used for many of the locks (numbers 8 to 27) on the C&O Canal.
  • You can still see the remains of the stone cutting mill from 1837. It's not marked, but it's there.
  • The house where the quarry master lived has been fixed up and is above the quarry.
  • Both the mill and the house are part of the state park lands.

A Popular Vacation Spot

  • In the 1920s and 1930s, Seneca was a popular place for people to visit on vacation.
  • People from nearby areas like Montgomery County and Washington came here.
  • They enjoyed the cooler weather, boating, swimming, and fishing.
  • There was even a hotel near the canal and small cottages along the creek.
  • Sadly, many of these cottages were washed away or destroyed by floods over the years.
  • Today, the Seneca Creek area is still a popular place for local people to relax and have fun outdoors.
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