Cuyahoga

Two Put In Options:

1. Under Portage Trail bridge follow the gravel path under the bridge to the river.

2. Just south of the Portage Trail bridge there is a board walk with stairs that will take you down to the river. This is the easier of the two options.

Continue down river for some warmup boogie water!

The Warm Ups are a series of waves and eddies to play with on the way down. Depending on the flows, there can be some great surf.

The dam pool caused by a diversionary dam above Rookie Drop acts as a warmup and staging area before the rapids below. The eddy lines here can be very playful.

The 'Donogauge' on river left is the on site foot gauge:

0.5 - 1ft = Low, 1.1 - 1.3 Medium, 1.4 - 1.6 Optimal, 1.7 - 1.9 High, 2.0+ High Runnable Class 5.

This is the safest way to gauge the run, as the USGS gauge can give false readings, especially near rain events.

This is a fairly easy drop if you are on line.  Work around the diversion dam on the left but head right and drop into the main flow below the restaurant cantilevered above.  Drive through the pourover and line up for the roostertail (or just to the left or right) for your boof.  The far left side of the waterfall base is shallow and sticky!

Head river left into the available eddies before passing Local's Hole above the Second Drop waterfall. The river left eddies provide a good opportunity to get out and scout The Jumble for any new wood or other hazards.

This is the last drop and there is much to respect here!  It is recommended after Rookie Drop, paddlers eddy out on the left behind the rocks and scout Second Drop as it tends to catch wood and is always changing. This drop can be portaged on the left.

There are 2 lines on Second Drop.  The left side (Staircase) is run tight to the wall, down the narrow tongue and through the deep hole at the bottom. This route sets you up for the left line through the runout (The Jumble) but make sure you don't get pushed to the Right.

The right side (Boof Line) is about 8 feet off the right wall there is usually a small roostertail to aim for which sets you up to launch off the small flake. You need to have speed and a good boof stroke otherwise the backwash may give you a spin or two and swimming through the outwash (The Jumble) could be your last. At the base of the falls in the center, and left of the Boof Line, is a shallow rock shelf that juts out about 3 feet. After the Boof Line drop paddlers need to recover quickly and ferry left to line up for the left or middle route through The Jumble.

Avoid the River Right side at all costs!

This is the rock jumble at the base of the last drop that is always changing and catching wood. One thing that never seems to change is that it is sieved out and not a place to swim!! It can be portaged on the left along with Second Drop.

The left line goes around the large left most rock and drops you into the convergeance of cross currents. The middle line is to the right of large left most rock. Avoid the Right Side at all costs, it has: severe undercut, sieves, deadly pin areas, and constant strainers.

After the convergeance of water, eddy out on the left or immediately on the right. There are pin rocks on the right for those who find themselves upside down in the outflow.

Weeping Cliff Rapid is a narrow straight down the middle double drop. You can scout this drop from your boat on river left or right from above, and look for any wood that may have fallen.

Noteable hazards:

River Left has terrible seive that is only a hazard above 600 cfs. At lower water, look to your left as you clear the second drop and you'll see it.  Both sides have pin rocks outside of the main flow.

Anchor Rock is a massive rock on River Left marking the end of the run. This is your last chance to enjoy some fun eddy lines. After this is the beginning of the Gorge Dam lake and a 1 mile flatwater paddle to the Take Out.

*Warning* The Gorge Lake is completely closed due to the Dam Removal project. Do not pass the emergency takeout! To get out, you must hike up to the old Glenns Trail and exit the park. The trial and park is closed until project completion, this is the emergency exit.
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Look for the Exit River Now sign on river right, the take out eddy is immediately behind it. Hike straight up to the rock cliff wall, and follow the cliff wall going down river and up the ravine. It's a mix of rugged hiking and scrambling over rocks and timber until you get to a gap in the rock cliff. Then you'll connect to the Glens Trail and finish the last 25 yards for the exit of the gorge.