Four Mile Run

Alf Cooley and I ran this in July 2002 from Ohio St. to below Geo. Mason Drive (3.5 miles), after a one-inch rainfall. (We checked out but didn't run the class IV chute just above Ohio St.) There is easy whitewater (class I-II) almost the entire way, with one tougher section that reaches 100 ft/mile for 1/3 mile from Glencarlyn Park (2.2 miles) to Columbia Pike (2.9 miles). The only place we needed to scout was a class III+, 5-ft. ledge, that could be run in the middle. We had to portage 6 low-water bridges from the bicycle path. The first two, above Glencarlyn Park, come upon you around turns with little warning, while the latter four can be seen well in advance (fortunately, as they have no eddies nearby). Lots of overhanging branches in the first mile, but not much after that, and no streamwide tree strainers at all. Overall, it is an enjoyable trip, but you should only do it at low water so as not to get swept into the bicycle bridges. And if you get to the put in and find the creek high, just wait awhile, as it falls very fast; it went from 600 cfs (too high) at the gauge to 230 cfs (too low) in 2 hours.