Cub Run
Route 29 bridge to Compton Road
| Difficulty | I-III |
| Length | 3.9 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 17 fpm |
| Gauge | Broad Run Near Leesburg, Va |
| Flow Rate as of 20 minutes | 1.57 ftbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 16, 2026 |
River Description
Summary:
Call this a suburban creek run through a short but pretty gorge rimmed by townhouses. Offers Class III rapids in the first 1 1/2 miles then eases up. The water is usually brown with urban runoff and silt from Northern Virginia development. Multiple runs can be made by using an interim takeout at 2 miles. The first few rapids can be scouted by walking down to the creek from the adjacent townhouse complex on the east side of the creek.
Access:
Access the putin by offloading boats on the downstream side of the bridge and parking on the access road on the northeast side of the Cub Run bridge on Route 29 (watch the No Parking zone) Takeout at Compton Road bridge. Compton Rd. is reached by going west on Route 29 for one mile and taking the left turn on Bull Run Post Office Road. Go another 1.1 miles to left on Compton Road. In less than 2 miles you'll come to a bridge over Cub Run. Park on the upstream side across from the water treatment plant. A longer 3.5 mile run can be had by paddling to the confluence with Bull Run and then to the Route 28 takeout.
Rapids:
Just below the putin you encounter some Class II water before a steeper boulder garden slalom with a good entrance at center left. The next drop is a set of two ledges forming a Class III. There is often wood in one of the slots through these ledges. Run the next drop on the far left. Just below here a bike path ford marks the end of scoutable rapids and the location of a small creek that enters on river left. You can carry up the path and run the creek, Big Rocky Run, down for some short but fun Class III micro stream practice (This little creek will be scrapey until about 3 ft. Note the creek drainage includes a water treatment facility.) A couple Class II drops lead to the final rapid, a steep Class II+ slalom course mixed with standing waves. After that, it's a few gravel bars and some moving water to the take
...River Features
Put-In - US 29 bridge near Centreville, VA
Put-in US 29 bridge across Cub Run - Access the putin by offloading boats on the downstream side of the bridge and parking on the access road on the northeast side of the Cub Run bridge on Route 29 (watch the No Parking zone)
Take-Out - Compton Rd. Bridge
Take-out at Compton Road bridge. Compton Rd. is reached by going west on Route 29 for one mile and taking the left turn on Bull Run Post Office Road. Go another 1.1 miles to left on Compton Road. In less than 2 miles you'll come to a bridge over Cub Run. Park on the upstream side across from the water treatment plant.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportThere is currently two pipe bridge crossings that are a must scout before you run. The first one is just down from the route 29 bridge and the other is at the foot crossing next to big rocky run. I found a link that describes what all of the construction is all about. Check out:
http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/432493/432508.html
I am not sure if they are going to remove the pipe bridges but the construction is scheduled to be complete by the fall of 2011.
There's an actual gauge on Cub Run at Compton Rd -- you can get a reading at http://www.owml.vt.edu/owmlgis/index.asp (login as guest/guest) and click on station ST50. Those familiar with the run should be able to deduce a good level -- looks like it normally reads about 1 ft lower than the Broad Run gauge, although on 3/7/11 it crested at 12 ft(!) and 4400 CFS.
A thought on gauges. While the Broad Run gauge has been a decent correlation, I believe I found a better gauge while messing around on the USGS site: Its FLATLICK BRANCH ABOVE FROG BRANCH AT CHANTILLY, VA....which it so happens is a tributary that runs into Cub Run about a mile above the standard whitewater run (check the Site Map to verify)
Right now, with about 3/4' rain in the area, its showing about 60cfs and 1.6ft...not sure what the Cub Run bridge gauge is at, but I doubt its running yet. If people posted what their runs on the bridge were and what this gauge was at, I bet we could get a reliable correlation.
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/uv/?site\_no=01656903&agency\_cd=USGS
There is a temporary sewer pipe strung across Cub Run at the second footpath crossing, just above the confluence with Big Rocky Run. This will form a perfect deadly strainer at certain water levels. Imagine a round pipe with water flowing under it into a comb of concrete stepping stones.
There is a temporary sewer pipe strung across Cub Run at the second footpath crossing, just above the confluence with Big Rocky Run. This will form a perfect deadly strainer at certain water levels. Imagine a round pipe with water flowing under it into a comb of concrete stepping stones.
Ran it today at 0' on the bridge gauge...wouldn't want to run it any lower than that, and it was a bit scrapey. The log at the bend is still there, though the bottom of the log was at river level...when I ran the creek back in June (around 2' on bridge gauge), I didn't notice the log, so I imagine it was underwater.
The gauge at Broad run read 250cfs, or 4.5ft, and was just peaking when we put on...so you can probably do it a bit below 5ft
cub run is a wild ride, i was thinking of runnin' it this past Tues...way too high!
This is a great creek to run but watch out for strainers and the log across it right before the first rapids as Jason said. Plan for next Monday again Jason. 7.2 feet this little creek is pure adrenaline.
6.5 feet is a good running level. There is one good size strainer tree stretched across the whole creek about 1/2 mile past the put-in at the route 29 bridge. It is right after a bend in the creek. At this level it was only about 1 1/2 feet above the water. Protage this spot and put in right after the log and it is smooth sailing the rest of the way. Also ran Big Rocky Run, there is one good size strainer, but it had enough room to duck under it, the main run on this was smooth. After the two creek meet move to the right, there is a large debre pile on the left that could propose a snag hazard. Great day for creeking!
13 feet is very high and creates a strainer condition--use caution above 9 feet. MIKE