| Seneca Creek | |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Maryland |
| Subdivision Type3: | Counties |
| Subdivision Name3: | Montgomery |
| Source1 Location: | Darnestown, MD |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 39.1286°N -77.3358°W |
| Mouth: | Potomac River |
| Mouth Location: | Seneca Aqueduct, Darnestown, MD |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 39.0681°N -77.3408°W |
Seneca Creek is a 5.8adj=midNaNadj=mid[1] stream in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, roughly 16miles northwest of Washington, D.C. It drains into the Potomac River.
The creek begins with two main tributaries:
These tributaries converge near Darnestown. Another major tributary, Dry Seneca Creek, empties into Seneca Creek west of Darnestown. The creek continues south and passes under Seneca Aqueduct/Riley's Lock (Lock 24) of the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal before it flows into the Potomac River. There is about a 600feet change in elevation from the stream's upper sources to its mouth at the Potomac. Seneca Creek has a watershed area of 121sqmi.
Depending on conditions, parts of the creek are navigable by light watercraft, such as kayaks or canoes. Near Riley’s Lock there is a boat ramp into the creek which provides access to the Potomac River.
An area of about 6300acres along 14.75miles of the creek has been set aside as Seneca Creek State Park. It has trails including the 16.5miles Seneca Creek Greenway Trail, the 10miles 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 90acres Clopper Lake which is the centerpiece of the park's day use area. This area includes multiple picnic areas, a disc golf course, boat rentals for the lake, and restroom facilities.
Just west of the creek's mouth is the Seneca Quarry, the quarry that provided the red sandstone for the Smithsonian 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 several floods 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.
Seneca Creek — U.S. Geological Survey