This review is for "Tubing" down the Gunpowder River with Monkton Bike rentals…read more The only real nit to pick is parking... The lot for Monkton Bike rental only holds about 7 or 8 cars and the public parking area at NCR Station Trail next door only has about 20 spots and fills up early even on weekdays. So arrive early (before noon) to avoid any parking hassles. Also, to reviewer Cindy M who lost her mind because hauling her "beer cooler" 30 minutes to the river entry point was such as hassle... If she had taken 2 seconds to review Monkton Bike's website or the Tubing instructions clearly posted on the wall inside the Monkton Bike rental office. She would have known that alcoholic beverages on the river are prohibited not only by Monkton Bike Rental but also by Maryland Department of Natural Resources since this area is designated as state park. Moral of the story: Leave you coolers at home. If you have to be drunk to have a good time, this location isn't for you. So, the walk (even on a hot day) is pretty simple since the path stays relatively cool because it's completely shaded by the forest canopy. It's 15 minutes up the trail to the 1st entry point if you want a 1-1/2 hour float. And 30 minutes to the 2nd entry point if you want a 2-1/2 hour float. Also NOTE - The easiest way to carry your tube is to put it on your head and let it hang over your back. You may ask, "How does a 30 minute walk turn into a 2-1/2 hour tubing ride and how do I get back to my car?", (because so did we the first time). From the entry points the river winds around a lot and carries you along at a lazy pace with the exception of a few small ripple rapids that offer a little acceleration. Your final exit point at the first bridge you see is only about 100 yards from Monkton Bike Rental where you started. This is not one of those locations where you really have to worry about water levels or how long it's been since the last rain. The water in Gunpowder river stays at a pretty constant level since it's fed from the dam upstream, which guarantees a steady flow of water to keep the trout alive in the river. The other affect of water being fed from a deep water reservoir is that the water is crystal clear most days and stays at a cool 60 degrees. But on a hot day the cool water is a blessing and actually feels good since you'll be in the sunshine for quite a bit of your journey down stream. There are some shallow spots in the stream, but there are always places you can push off to with your feet that are deep enough to keep even adults from dragging. (We never had to stand up and walk with our tubes once). Average depth is 1.5 feet, but there are several spots that are 4-5 feet deep too if you want to toss the tubes on shore and take a refreshing dip. Which also reminds me, WEAR WATER SHOES, or something you don't mind getting wet. There are a few sandy spots and grassy spots, but most of the river bed is gravel. So if you do decide to get out and wade around, the bottom isn't going to be comfortable on bare feet. My final tip is that if you want to tie your tubes together you'll need to bring your own string, rope, or whatever. But the river doesn't move that fast and you really shouldn't haven't any problems keeping your group within sight of each other. When adults are tethered together they usually end up just hanging each other up on trees and rocks in the river, so it's not worth the hassle. The only exception to this might be if you have a small child that you would feel safer with if they're tethered to your tube. Bottom line, it's a great way to spend a lazy few hours drifting down a tree lined scenic river without driving all the way to Harper's Ferry WVA, Gunpowder River and Monkton Bike Rentals is a GREAT local tubing spot that is family friendly and great even for small kids.

Drove up from Bethesda with a group of friends and family to rent tubes here like we've done every…read moreyear for 5 years. I called ahead to see if they were open and the guy who picked up the phone said yes, until 2p. We jump in the car for the 1.5 hr drive, pull up at 1:55p, and walk up to see a sign on the door that says CLOSED. Called the # I had and same guy picks up saying he is already halfway home and that credit card machine was turned off, now it's only cash, and then asks me what it be worth to him if he came back. I told him I could pay via Cash App or check, or hit an ATM. He said no ATM nearby and that they don't do cash apps or check...and then told me he was "old school". I told him that if he was "old school" he would have stayed until 2p like he had told me on the phone, and I hung up to tell my group we needed to find something else to do. No more than 5 minutes later this guy appears out of nowhere running up to me aggressively while screaming obscenities in front of families with young children coming out of the bike shop, "are you the m-fer I just talked to on the phone!?!! Are you the one who said I broke my word!?!" Yeah, I told him, that was me. He then stuck out his chest and walked around me like he wanted to fight me right there in the parking lot. I tried to cool the situation down by asking if we could do business, and he screams in my face "I'm charging you 4x the cost, it's now $120 per tube!!!" I reached into my ice chest to grab a beer to think about it, and the guy pulls out his phone and starts recording my car, license plate, then calls the cops saying I was drinking in a public park (even though I didn't open the beer). He finally walked off, my guess is that he realized I wasn't going to fight him. If it wasn't for my cool temperament this easily could have got physical. Anyway, we drove 10 minutes away to Dicks Sporting and bought great river tubes and saved $80. I've never experienced anything like this, and will never give this business another dime. I suggest everyone avoid them. The river on the other hand is fantastic, so we will be back to tube again....and with our own tubes!