Ran Goose Creek from the W&OD trail to Kephart Bridge Landing (just after the rock-garden) at 3.5' and 1,500cfs flow. Golf-Course rapid is a solid class-III at that level and flow. As I had a beginner with me, I portaged to the left along the old locks/canal. There is a staircase in the corner where the lock-wall connects with the weir dam remnants which makes portaging over the weir a lot easier. You can follow the shore to the end of golf-course rapid if need be before putting back in. It's pea-gravel and sand so it can get a bit spongy if you've had high-water recently. It's worth it to take along a disposable water-proof camera for pictures of the locks if you are an architectural aficionado of any kind. There are several other interesting ruins along the creek as well, from mill wheel-houses to other locks. The broken-dam rapid just past the Riverside Parkway bridge was an easy run at this level with river-wide surfable trough. I wouldn't put it at a class-II given today's experience, but I've not run it at lower levels. The Rock-Garden at the end of the run near the landing was in great form today. Keep away from the right in higher water as there are a lot of boulders that are well hidden in the chop at those levels with murky water. All in all, a great little day-run. If you want to shoot "Golf-Course" rapid, the portage from the parking on Cochran Mill Rd. down the W&OD trail to the river is well worth it. The put in at the confluence of Sycolin Creek and Goose Creek, however, is a steep, sandy bank that is best to seal-launch from unless someone else knows of a nicely graded put-in around that area.

2008-04-21 Bob Franz Easy access to Goose Creek rapids is from the W O and D Trail off Belmont Ridge Road or Cochran Road. Walk down to the water on the horse and bike trail under the bridge. There is parking at both roads and about a 1/2 mile carry to the put in on the west side of the trail bridge. Enter the trail by the information stand. The river is clear of trees and a nice run from the bridge to the Potomac River. Downstream on the Potomac river right take the branch that goes along Selden Island and passes under an old bridge at Potomac Farms encountering rapids at high water. Continue on down past Broad Run Creek to Algonkian Park on the right. Edit

Bob Franz and Andy Collins ran Golf Course Rapids at 2.58 water level. The walk in from Cochran Road via the W O and D path is .5 mile. Go in next to the information stand and walk along the tree line next to the bridge to the waters edge of Sycolin Creek to get in. There is a new County take out at 43942 Riverpoint Drive in Landsdown just beyond River Creek Bridge and the long rock garden rapids Class II. Parking and a portajohn a short walk on wood chips from the Goose Creek take out. Look for the Manmade rock structure on river right. Edit

There's a nice list of put in/takeout spots over on "ben's kayak site" he's got everything coupled up with google maps and google earth so that you can get specific directions to the spots. "http://benskayaksite.com/goosecreek.htm" is the address for the goose creek put ins and takeouts. Not trying to advertise, I've just found the site to be a boon for NoVA kayakers and canoers. Edit

I have run the Goose Creek Dam to route 7 many times but not in the last several years. It didn't bother me to portage my canoe down the steep little trail on the right side of the Dam, but is that now totally inaccessible?! ( I was planning on going again this Spring )<br /> This is a great little run though....the golf course rapid is fun. Best tact is to start straight down the middle, then hard right thru a flume that passes thru a jagged ledge...then hard rudder left to avoid slamming against a rock wall! ( easier than it sounds )<br /> If you continue past the rt. 7 bridge, it's a loooong mostly flat paddle to the take out at Algonquin Park on the Potomac but there are some intersting areas....about a mile past bridge there is a 3/4 dam which is runnable at proper water level, if not it's an easy portage.<br /> I caught several very nice largemouth bass here several years ago! There is one nice, fairly long rock garden rapid ( II ) which requires manuvering about a mile below this dam. Then it's a long, painful padddle to Algonquin. If you know someone you can take out at the River Creek Country Club on left just before the confluence.

The best way to run Golfcourse Rapid, in high water, is to come down Sycolin Creek (2.3 miles of up to class II+), which deposits you about a quarter mile above that rapid. Unfortunately, this is not a trip you can plan far in advance -- just go when the Limestone Branch gauge is above 50 cfs.

What does this run look like beyond that takeout at Rt. 7? Just looking at a map, it seems that a natural extention would be to continue down to the Potomac and take out at Algonquin Regional Park? Anyone have any info on this stretch of water?

I have attempted the putin ot the Dam but it is cut off now. Does anyone know of another spot above or below the dam that is good and will not upset any property owners? Thanks

Don't attempt to putin at the bridge on Sycolin Road, above the dam. The property owners in this area are very sensitive, even to kayakers walking down along the roadside to the bridge.