Difficult Run, |
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| Usual Difficulty | III-IV(V+) (may vary with level) |
|---|---|
| Length | 0.9 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 110 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 110 fpm |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIFFICULT RUN NEAR GREAT FALLS, VA | ||||
| usgs-01646000 | 110 - 5000 cfs | III-IV(V+) | 01h26m | 23 cfs (rc= -0.0 ) |
Ed Evangelidi testifies:
For those out for a nice scenic trip on relatively tame water (Cl. 1), try the stretch from Rte.
7 to Rte. 193. This is surprisingly pretty for a semi-urban stream. Due to constant construction
in the watershed, the stream occasionally gets log-jammed. There is a trail along the whole way
(bring Âriver shoes for stream crossings) & I suggest scouting it days ahead. The creek is
usually runnable down to Seneca Creek @ Dawsonville at 2.4 but note that Difficult Run is a
south-to-north run and Seneca Creek (to the north) is a north-to-south run. So the rain patterns
may differ quite a bit.
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIFFICULT RUN NEAR GREAT FALLS, VA | ||||||||||||
| usgs-01646000 | 110 - 5000 cfs | III-IV(V+) | 01h26m | 23 cfs (rc= -0.0 ) | ||||||||
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No guide books for this stream. If you know of a book that describes this stream please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. | Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.4 | 1st Rapid | III |  |
| 0.5 | 2nd Rapid | IV | |
| 0.6 | 3rd rapid | IV | |
| 0.7 | 4th Rapid (Leap of Faith) | IV | |
| 0.7 | 5th rapid (Canyon rapid) | 5.1 | |
| 0.8 | 6th rapid | III | |
| 0.9 | 7th rapid | III | |
There is a long lead in to the first rapid which at normal flows requires a fair amount of manuevering in a boulder garden. The 1st rapid proper can be entered on river left which requires an "S" turn around a large ledge hole, or right down the middle off of a smaller ledge.
This rapid primarily involves two ledges with some technical lead manuvering required. Since this photo was taken a few new rocks have appeared at the bottom of the first ledge so it is now best run on the left catching an eddy there to ferry out and run the second ledge (not pictured) on the right.
This is a fairly long technical rapid requiring a series of moves and containing several ledges. At the end of the rapid is a final ledge (pictured) with most of the water squeezed between two bolders with a significant hole formed inbetween. After this rapid it is generally best to get out on the left in a medium sized eddy there to scout/portage the next two rapids (the second of which being the Canyon rapid).
This is a great drop of about 6'. This is also the entry into the gorge and the class 5 waterfall just downstream. This drop is also complicated by the undercut boulder at the bottom left of the drop where most of the water is pushing. Running this rapid commits one to either running the Canyon rapid or at least taking a more difficult rock scrambling carry around it) generally most get out before it to carry around on the left.
This is a technical and fairly scary looking rapid complicated by the cave on the left at the bottom of the final drop and the significant hydrolic at the bottom of this drop as well. There's something of a sneak available in the approach at higher water on the right. The main line is starting left and working your way right through a series of ledges which are complicated by rocks in their reception and a strong current pushing left.
This drop is considered a mandatory portage by most.
This rapid offers a putin pool just above for this portaging/setting safety for the Canyon rapid. The river left slot has serious pinning potential and the right right slot has a series of shallow rocks that must be avoided. Best run far left of the river right slot.
This is a long shallow boulder garden best run on the left of the island (which gets far more water than the right side).
River Alert
State News
River Links
NWRI - Difficult Run Old Georgetown Pike (Route 193) to Potomac R. (mobile)
User Comments
There's many a good story that took place on this small creek, but I digress. What I recently
discovered was how low, in terms of cfs, some of those runs were. These are levels at the gauge
with their corresponding cfs:
3.5' 67 cfs
3.8' 104 cfs
4.0' 135 cfs
4.5' 220 cfs
5.0' 340 cfs
5.5' 475 cfs
I once ran DR with Jerry Palushock at 3' on the gauge. It was low, VERY LOW, but it was channelized
and still floatable. Enjoy.
After some customary jawboning about running the V+, one can carefully seal launch below the drop.
By carefully I mean avoid submerged rocks that are hard to see in the murky Virginia runoff that is
Difficult Run.
After some customary jawboning about running the V+, one can carefully seal launch below the drop.
By carefully I mean avoid submerged rocks that are hard to see in the murky Virginia runoff that is
Difficult Run.
left side. Its nicely maintained and goes down to the confluence with the potomac. If it were open
you could probably drive a buick down to the confluence on the trail with no problems.
All in all there are about 7 real rapids of varying difficulty, and the nasty looking class 5 drop.
The trail on the left makes for easy scouting and relatively easy portaging. The class 5 drop will
involve carrying your boat about 100 feet up and around the cliff on the left.
When you see a large rock face/cliff on the left you are right above the big drop. The stream is
fairly wide above and split by an island. The last drop is about a 4 foot tall pourover that makes
a sticky looking hole, then the class 5 drop. Probably easiest to scout and portage by taking out
above the pourover.
Bradley