Bull Run
Bull Run to Cheat River(The Bull)
| Difficulty | V+ |
| Length | 2.7 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 400 fpm |
| Gauge | Big Sandy Creek at Rockville, Wv |
| Flow Rate as of 25 minutes | 4.64 ftbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | April 13, 2011 |
River Description
For a recent video of Bull Run featuring the ZoneDogg, check out this link.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ7F2gDvo5A&feature=related
This one was described by Zone Doggy Dogg in the Jan/Feb. 2001 American Whitewater. He says that a good part of the last mile goes at a 500'/mile pace. Screaming craziness! He describes a good number of rapids which must be scouted and/or portaged due to undercuts and/or logjams. Enjoy it if you must...
The map shows a full 2.8-mile run, mostly along the road. However, if you wish for the intense experience, you can do as Zone Doggy Dogg did, and just take in the last mile of SIK drops.
Check out this video (620k) of Zone Doggy Dogg running Matador rapid, borrowed with permission from ZoneDogg.com. Enjoy!
This run is a tiny and steep stream for the hardcore paddler. It starts out extremely steep with some incredible drops then slows its pace from incredibly steep to just steep before picking up again near the end of the run. The drops come at you fast, the eddies are small, the undercuts are gnarly, and trees are always a constant danger (You mess with the Bull, you get the HORNS!). However, for the hardcore creeker, there are few streams this good!
Putin where the creek starts to drop away from the road. The first rapid is a long slide that steepens and drops onto a slab that slants towards a cave on the left. Hard right angle and a good boof is needed to avoid this room of doom. After a short slow stretch, the creek goes off an 8 foot ledge best run on the left. Get out and scout after this.
Brutus is next and is a very steep series of tight obstructed drops. It starts with an easy approach drop leading into a 6 foot boof with a mena
...River Features
Put In
Take Out
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportRiver right. At this level (not sure about higher levels) the rocks at bottom all undercut, and the rock just barely coming into picture bottom left has most of current going under it
More to river left side
I hiked down the and scouted it out a low water in February 2011, Lots of drops with wood, especially the first few drops. The drop below the Matador still has a good deal of wood and probably should be portaged.
pretty low water level, but can see the junked lip
Cave behind and river left
1st part above
2nd part - first drop is around 6 or 7 feet, although hard to tell in picture, big drop part is right after that far ledge
Again low water, pretty shallow landing on river left side, but junky lip on right
Referring to the drop with the log that could pin a boater...We called that one 'Blind Betty' let me know if you like that name-we ran it in february of '05 and again in march through the left slot-the drop really sneaks up on you-i might head down in there and check it out for myself to see if that log is still there-i dont remember seeing it- but it was late and we were boogying-thanks
-jared
There are 2 big logs in the 2nd (or 3rd) rapid before the confluence with the Cheat. One of the logs is no problem, but the other is at water level and would definitely pin a boater. It would probably NOT be visible at higher levels. This is the tight, tricky little rapid with a slot on left, and a pillow pushing you to the right against an overhanging rock - exactly where the log is now. There is a small cairn in midriver at the drop, but it may last long.