The Patuxent River is a river that has suffered at the hands of man in the name of progress but much of it has been maintained in a semi-wilderness character that makes for some attractive cruising right in the heart of the Washington-Baltimore metropolis. On this section, the put-in is near the source of the river and is a tiny stream. As it meanders through fairly mature woods, largely within the protection of Patuxent River State Park, the nearby terrain provides great scenery with pretty hills and rock formations. The water has lots of gravel-formed riffles with shallow sandy pols in between. Fallen trees are common and portages are often necessary, but after the confluence with Cabin Branch, the coast is relatively clear.