Potomac, North Branch
2. Gorman/Steyer, MD to Kitzmiller, MD(Kitzmiller Section)
| Difficulty | III-IV |
| Length | 15 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 50 fpm |
| Gauge | North Branch Potomac River at Kitzmiller, Md |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 2.00 ftbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | November 3, 2024 |
This is a nice bigwater run while it's running. Lotsa holes and waves to have fun with. When it's high, a fun run is to begin with the Stony River. Like a slightly tougher version of the Middle Fork / Tygart run, this combines a technical creek with a bigwater river. Fun fun fun!
A put-in downstream of Gormania, WV on river left at Steyer, MD will shorten the distance paddled by 2 1/2 miles.
From Jonathan Mayhew 2004-08-26 23:50:00
This stretch, a 15-mile long class 3-4 wilderness run, is one of the best advanced runs in the area. The North Branch provides the paddler with an excellent 'big water' playground as well as a place to practice advanced river running skills. This run has very few eddies or pools, making it feel like one single rapid at times. Paddlers with marginal rolling or self-rescue skills should not attempt this run due to the risk of flush drowning. However, for those possessing the confidence and ability to handle non-stop, western-style flush whitewater, this run is easily one of the best stretches of intermediate water in the region.
The best putin is at Steyer, MD, a short distance downstream from Gormania. From Steyer the run begins with a half mile of continuous class 2 shoal rapids, continually growing in size until reaching the first class 3 ledge, a broken-out 3 foot drop with a nice roostertail and squirrely wavetrain below.
At this point, the run picks up to class 3. The paddler should begin looking for the second island that splits the river into two channels. At levels of 5.5 feet and above, the paddler should go to the left of this island, which leads into a 5-foot horseshoe ledge called Corkscrew. This class-4 ledge should
...Put-in: Some people choose to put in at the bridge in Gormania, but putting in at Steyer, 2 miles downstream along river left (go across the bridge from WV, turn right, then turn right onto Steyer-Gorman road) cuts out some flatwater. Put in at the bus turnaround where the road veers left away from the river.
Takeout at the bridge in Kitzmiller, or, if school is out, take out at the school about a half mile upstream on river left--park in the bus turnaround just past the school if you are driving upstream.
Feb 23, 2018
If anyone is curious about the challenge of this section, I put together a pretty extensive video showing just how continuous the rapids really are on this river at 5.0 feet on the Kitzmiller gauge.
https://youtu.be/TJBvq3\_0KEE
Our run was about 4 hours long, and I've managed to trim the video down to about 45 minutes. I left it that long for those who are uncertain about what to expect.
River reading skills and bracing are probably the most important skills, although a rock solid roll certainly never hurt anybody. Watch those gauge forecasts to make sure it's not gonna flash high on you while you're out there.
May 7, 2015
I haven't paddled this river enough to know the names of all the rapids... from the AW description i'm guessing this one is rattlesnake
