Antietam Creek is born just north of the Mason-Dixon Line and winds and twists for almost 41 miles to the Potomac River. This scenic country creek has long been a favorite for novice whitewater paddlers. Except for a short beginning, the scenery and atmosphere on this section are delightful and rural. Several graceful stone arch bridges, crumbling mills, and old farmhouses lend a bit of history to the journey. On this twisting stream you are always close to the quickly changing scenery and as a result, opportunities for viewing wildlife are good here. There is a six-foot dam at Devils Backbone Park which requires a portage and a three-foot dam about a mile downstream is easily navigated but may create some rough water when the creek is high. The rest of the run consists of numerous riffles and low ledges. The lower portion of this section winds through Antietam Battlefield.