|
|
Potomac River, |
|
Great Falls (Center Lines)
| Usual Difficulty | V+ (may vary with level) |
|---|---|
| Length | 1 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 100 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 500 fpm |
Center Lines
Center Lines
Photo of Greg Morrison by Thilo Rusche
Gauge Information
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POTOMAC RIVER NEAR WASH, DC LITTLE FALLS PUMP STA | ||||
| usgs-01646500 | 3.30 - 4.00 ft | V+ | 17h22m | 3.48 ft (rc= 0.3 ) |
River Description
This reach description was borrowed/adapted from the WorldKayak.com river wiki.
Overview
Great Falls
of the Potomac River is a major set of rapids located about 15 miles upstream of Washington, DC.
The main Falls lines drop fifty feet in one-tenth of a mile, creating a Class V+ set of
waterfalls. In addition, a portion of the river flows around Olmstead Island in a channel called
the Fish Ladder (additional channels flow at higher water).
History
Paddlers have known about Great Falls as long as there has been whitewater kayaking. Many of the
features -- such as the Spout, the Fingers, the Fish Ladder -- have names that predate paddling,
in some cases by hundreds of years. But it was not until paddlers started running waterfalls
regularly in the 1970s that paddlers began to seriously consider running the Falls. The first
descent of Great Falls was made in 1975 by local experts Tom McEwan and Wick Walker, with the
second descent by Steve McConaughy and Great Falls National Park Ranger Bill Kirby.
Access
Access to the river is restricted on both the Maryland and Virginia sides.
Maryland Side - Paddlers may put in anywhere on the Maryland shore, but may not leave the boardwalk across Olmstead Island. To run the Falls from the Maryland side, most people put in above and run the aqueduct dam, or put in below the dam at higher levels.
Virginia Side - Paddlers may not put in upstream of the Falls. To run the Falls from the Virginia side you must put in at Fisherman's Eddy and then ferry and carry above both O-Deck rapid and the Falls themselves.
Carry up the Flake for multiple
laps. If the rocks are wet, this can be sketchier than running the Falls.
Running Great Falls is currently unrestricted. However, to maintain good relations with the
National Park Service paddlers voluntarily restrict their runs to less populated times in the
park-early morning, late evening, or weekdays-and limit group size and time spent in the
rapid.
The Park Service is concerned about running the Falls at popular times because it can draw
spectators down off the observation decks and closer to the river's edge -- where they might fall
in the water and drown. And, if paddlers spend a lot of time running around and relaxing in the
Falls, it can give the impression that such activities are not very difficult or dangerous. Since
1975, at least 30 people have drowned in Great Falls, so the Park Service is understandably
nervous about this.
For more information, see the Guidelines for Running Great
Falls as written by the Canoe Cruisers Association in 1999. Today regular Falls runners
continue to dialog with the Park Service to make sure access remains open to all.
River Signals and Helicopters
The Park Service patrols the Potomac with a helicopter most summer weekends. In an effort to
minimize confusion, the helicopter pilots are trained to recognize three signals from
paddlers.
- Everything OK - Tap the top of your helmet with one hand.
- Emergency - Wave both arms together over your head (like jumping jacks), holding brightly colored objects if possible.
- Need Medical Attention - Form an X with arms or paddles.
Don't signal the helicopters unless you need them! And if being inspected, be sure to give the OK
sign if you don't need assistance. Sometimes hikers call in "emergencies" that aren't actually
emergencies.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: unknown
Editors
NWRI - Potomac River Great Falls (Center Lines) (mobile)