Browntown (RJ 622/649) to Karo Landing (Route 340)Class III-IV+
4.1 Miles
Avg Gradient 78 fpm
Max Gradient 120 fpm
Second Falls
Second Falls Photo of Ian Lowe by Mark DeAgazio taken 12/2003 @ zero Gauge Information
Gooney Run
River DescriptionSummary: Gooney Run is located south of Front Royal, Va. and offers Washington-region paddlers a close-by Class III-IV creek run with several Class IV rapids and good technical whitewater. This creek shouldn't be taken lightly, as it's full of every conceivable river hazard and can be packed with wood. The creek runs through a beautiful and intimate gorge that is lined by privately owned land, so boaters should be on good behavior to keep the creek accessible. Gooney comes up only in the winter and spring and during prolonged wet periods. Access: THE DEAL ON PARKING. Parking access is limited on both ends of the run. At the takeout, you can pay $2 to park at Gooney Run Campground when it is open. If parking in the pullout at the Hwy 340 bridge, you will also have to cross campground land to reach your vehicle (they own both the land on both sides of the bridge), so please pay the proprietor when parking there as well. The $2 fee is the campground's day visitor rate. Parking is also available at the Karo Landing fishing access, but there are only a few spots and you must not park on the grass. At the Browntown Rd. putin, pull off the road at least 10 feet beyond the guardrail river left of the creek. Please don't block the gravel easement adjacent to the guardrail that provides access to a private wooded area (There is a No Parking sign on the guardrail here). Rapids: The run begins with a straight stretch paralleling the road and behind several houses. Be mindful of the ford crossings as you warm up above the gorge. Shortly after the creek cuts away from the road you will enter the gorge and the rapids pickup to II-III. After the first solid III, be on the lookout for First Falls, a Class IV+ with dangerous boulder sieves in the middle and lower right. The middle sieve is often full of wood, meaning this drop is often a mandatory portage that is easiest on the right. Immediately below is Second Falls, another Class IV. Scout after making your way into a tight eddy behind a boulder on the right. Below Second Falls the creek alternates between Class III boogie and bigger drops. No Place To Swim (Class IV) is a longer rapid with a mean pourover that must be boofed midway through. Chainsaw (Class III+) should be eased into or scouted on the left because it's often full of new wood. Did I mention wood? This creek picks up strainers quickly and demands quick reflexes from those who boat it. Another rapid to watch out for is Surprise (Class IV), which marks the end of the big drops. Enter this rapid on the left and look for a midway eddy that helps you line up for the final flushing drop. Below here the creek eases up to the takeout beyond the Rt. 340 bridge. Directions: DIRECTIONS: - From Front Royal, Va., take Hwy 340 south to the bridge over Gooney Run. This is the takeout. Parking is available at the Karo Landing fishing access - accessed by turning right just before the bridge, at the bridge or at the campground. To reach the takeout, head back north on Hwy 340 a short distance and turn right on Poor House Road. Turn right again on Browntown Road. And, finally, turn right onto Buck Mountain Rd, cross over Gooney. From Steve Marchi's Website: Photo: Steve Marchi runs First Falls, courtesy of Steve. Gradient, in ft/mi., mile-by-mile: 45 (1.1 mi.), 70, 120, 80. Check Steve Marchi's Gooney site for up-to-date info on Gooney.
StreamTeam Status: verified
Last Updated: 2005-07-08 15:08:24
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GOONEY RUN NEAR GLEN ECHO, VA [ VA ] |
Current Conditions
Station Graphs |
| Level Legend: | Running | Below Minimum Recommended Flow | Above Maximum Recommended Flow | Unknown |
| State | River Name/Section | Class | Level | Rel. Level | Updated | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA | Gooney Run— Browntown (RJ 622/649) to Karo Landing (Route 340) | III-IV+ | 1.13 ft. | low | 10/10 17:30 | |
| VA | Happy Creek— Harmony Orchard Rd. to Happy Cr. Rd | III+(IV) | 4 cfs | low | 10/10 17:30 |
| AW Gauge ID: | 7502 |
| USGS Station: | 01630700 |
| HUC: | 02070005 |
| Latitude: | 38.8350 |
| Longitude: | -78.2322 |
| Class: |
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. User Comments |
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2008-05-20 10:32:39 (143 days ago)
Chris Moyles
Run at low water -less 1' May 17th 2008 - DANGER :second half of the creek, below Gooney Falls is full of wood and strainers- foot scouting of most drops is necessary - there is something in almost every rapid - and one pine tree has caused a debris dam to build up about 3/4ths of the way down the river- see photos - the first half of the run is clean, the second half took three hours of scouting and portaging... but was still fun on a beautiful day. Call me for more info: chris 540-229-2289, I live nearby.
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2008-01-24 06:22:17 (260 days ago)
philippe damiano
This is not from Philippe Damiano, whoever he is. As of 9/05/06, all drops are runnable, although there is one tree in a trivial rapid that most people portage, and is sneakable only at the minimum level. Also, for you first-timers, there is one rapid down there, almost half-way down, that has a bad sieve on the right side---stay left or portage, please.--Robert Farmer Edit
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| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 | First Falls | IV+ |     |
| 1.6 | Second Falls | IV | |
| 2.3 | No Place To Swim | IV | |
| 3.0 | Chainsaw | III+ | |
| 3.9 | Surprise | IV | |
This is the last hurrah and often comes up as a, um, surprise. Eddies are available at the top left, which is where you'll want to run. Go through a bouldery s-turn channel and look for another left side eddy. From here you can set up for the final chute-drop with a left to right peelout to straight down the middle.
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