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Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

This section of the Potomac is most playable between 2.7-2.9 ft. It can be run lower and much higher, though. Above 3 ft. it begins to get some push. Above 4 ft. expect a Class IVish run. Above 5 ft., some Class V characteristics may be present. Because the river necks down significantly here, 1/10th gauge changes can equal a foot change in water.

The difficulty of the final rapid and main attraction - Little Falls - varies significantly with the tides. Low tide usually means a harder while high tide means easier.

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
POTOMAC RIVER NEAR WASH, DC LITTLE FALLS PUMP STA
usgs-01646500 2.40 - 4.00 ft II-III(IV) 01h12m 6.9 ft (rc= 2.8 )

RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
2.40 -4.00 ft barely runnable-high runnable II-III(IV)

Report - Reports of Potomac 6. Little Falls and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
Little Falls [MD] One of many large houses on river right 3.28 Chris Brock
Potomac [MD] Lower Little Falls Aerial Map (large file) n/a Bill Kirby
Potomac [MD] Little Falls/ MD Side 3.0 ft RC Forney
Potomac River [MD] First Drop In Little Falls 3.2 ft Mark Anderson
Potomac River [MD] Graphic of Little Falls Rapid of the Potomac River 3.0 Mark Anderson
90d22h11m /POTOMAC RIVER NEAR WASH, DC LITTLE FALLS PUMP STA [MD] Account of 09/27/09 0.00 ft n/a
90d22h13m /POTOMAC RIVER NEAR WASH, DC LITTLE FALLS PUMP STA [MD] Account of 09/27/09 0 cfs n/a
3y149d22h57m Potomac [MD] It's a Wrap! 2.7' Peter Bross
3y259d22h57m Potomac [MD] Little Falls rapid from VA bank ~3.4 ft Nick Dolman
5y120d22h57m Potomac [MD] The Slide 2.9 Chris Brock
5y122d22h57m Potomac [MD] Beaver drop 3.05LF Chris Brock
5y154d22h57m Potomac, Little Falls [MD] Z Channel! 3.3 LF Chris Brock
5y168d22h57m Little Falls [MD] Lock 5 putin 3.28 Little Falls Chris Brock
5y169d22h57m Little Falls [MD] Takeout! 3.28 Chris Brock
8y43d22h57m Potomac/Little Falls Section [MD] Little Falls/VA Side 2.4 RC Forney