Brandywine Creek
3. Rockland Road to Market Street
| Difficulty | III |
| Length | 5.2 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 20 fpm |
| Gauge | Brandywine Creek at Chadds Ford, Pa |
| Reach Info Last Updated | June 30, 2025 |
The Brandywine drops over the fall line on this historic stretch. 10 dams separate a handful of class 2-3 rock gardens. Most of the dams are sloping and easily runnable but 3 of them are vertical and extremely dangerous at higher flows. Only run the vertical drops if you are 100% sure of the lines and water levels.
Put in at the Brandywine State Park access on Rockland Rd.
this section starts with a blown out dam that forms a short fun class 3 rapid. you can put in below the dam if you choose not to run it
After Rockland, (and about a mile of flat water) you'll reach the second dam which marks the entance of the Hagley Museum property, birthplace of the Dupont company. An incredible display of 19th century hydropower surrounds you, including spillways, canals, the remains of gunpowder mills, and waterwheels and turbines that are still operational. Unfortunately the Hagley people are pretty paranoid so pull over in these beautiful surroundings at your own risk.
There are 3 dams in total through Hagley. The first (hagley entrance) is a wooden slope, about 4-5ft tall, runnable within the recommended water levels for this section. This dam should probably be portaged if above 5ft at chads ford.
The second is a concrete slope easy to boat scout on river right. Wood likes to collect here in the middle and on the right... usually runnable right of center at low water (below 3 ft) and more options open up on the left above 3 ft including a nice boof and a decent surf wave at the bottom. Eddy river left to catch it.
before the next dam there is a nice class 2+ rock garden with a few good play spots, small boofs, and splat rocks. The most memorable spot 'wheel wave' is on river right just after the start of the rock garden. (Best caught between 3-4ft)
The third dam just before you exit hagley property is a nasty vertical 7
...Aug 11, 2024
We have ran rockland between 2.2 and 4.7 on the chadds ford guage. Above 3ft some nice surf waves form at the top and bottom of the rapid. This was 4.7 in august of 2024
Apr 6, 2012
/ Hi travelers..I just want to say a big Hello from Athens!!..I hope you are in a good shape and in a good mood..Aki,my nfeird..Yes,you seem to be pessimistic..!!Don't do that please!!!I know it's difficult to get used in a different style of life after a world around trip..But you must feel blessed for that,and for all these moments of traveling..Every day it's a new day my nfeird..My proposal is to start writing a book for your journey around the world with Voula..!!Yes !!We want that..!!With more personal feelings and thoughts from your life trip..Think about it!!I just finished reading Hlias Vroxidis book..Great trip and great writing..!!Aki And Voula I send my love from mother Greece and i wish you the best!!You are Rock!!:))))LeonidasAthens,GreeceP.S Aki your best wild picture is unbelievable men!!!!What a moment!!!
Jun 12, 2009
Another paddler lost his kayak minutes after this picture was taken. The wave-hole behind the big wave was very sticky and unpredictable. As a fellow kayaker, I ran most of the dams and have no intention of running the dams at any level in the future. Trashy, full of rebar , and very dangerous to say the least. If you do decide to run them, scout them first and be ready for the unexpected.
Dec 5, 2008
The surf wave featured on the front page is NOT a realistic photo of what this creek is typically like. Normally the water level is not even high enough to run the dams.
A word of caution, some of us WTC folks ran the Brandywine dams November 2008, even at just 2.75, some of the bigger dams' boil lines were out 4+ feet, making them pretty dangerous. I would not recommend running the dams without someone who has been through them, and strongly suggest foot scoutting the bigger dams from shore first.
Mar 27, 2005
Ran this on Saturday March 26, 2005. Level was 2.6. This run is pretty much flatwater & dams. We ran all of the dams but three at this level. One more might have gone, but piton potential was pretty high. Between the dams are perhaps 4 class 2 rock gardens. Scenery is a mix of pretty & urban industrial. We took out at the zoo just above the listed takeout. This cut out one last dam and another class 2 boulder garden. Many of the dams are pretty shallow - a flip would rip your head off. Having done the run once, I'm in no hurry to do it again.
Brad.
