Pimmit Run
2. Glebe Road to the Potomac
| Difficulty | IV(V) |
| Length | 0.1 mi |
| Avg Gradient | n/a |
| Gauge | Fourmile Run at Alexandria, Va |
| Flow Rate as of 10 minutes | 37 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | March 20, 2008 |
River Description
User Comments
john alden 2003-12-22 12:34:03
Pimmit Run empties into the Potomac River just downstream of Chain Bridge. It has a small watershed and subsequently runs infrequently. This is a micro stream that tilts downhill at a nice pace without any significant rapids above the Glebe Road bridge. The riverbed is primarily composed of small sized boulders with several 1-2' ledges. There were a few strainers in the riverbed, but none posed a problem other than one that spanned the entire stream that we were able to squeeze under. We choose to park at the take-out and hike 3/4 of a mile upstream on a river right path (the Potomac Heritage Trail) and put in under the George Washington Memorial Parkway bridge. For a longer trip (approximately 2 miles) you can put in at Kirby Road at the confluence of Pimmit Run and Little Pimmit Run, however, the majority of the gradient is in the final mile. This is a low volume stream with no gauge. If it looks runnable at the take-out it is good to go. It is important to note that as with many local creeks, the water is urban runoff and contains the associated pollutants and odors. However, Pimmit Run appeared to be much cleaner than Difficult Run or Cub Run which are particularly unpleasant.
The first part of the run from the put-in to the Glebe Road bridge is continuous, technical class II-III. The difficulty would be greater with more water, but most of the rocks would be padded out or under water opening things up a bit. There are several fun slots and boof rocks through this stretch. A note of caution, there is a low water bridge (the remains of an old grist mill) with a large strainer under the Glebe Road bridge that is a mandatory portage. The flow under the bridge is diverted through one four-foot wide culvert on river left that has a strainer on the upstream end and a wall two feet out from the outflow that the water rebounds off of on the downstream end. It is easily carried on river right, but make sur
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Log in to add a reportFYI - all the wood on and under the 'bridge dam falls'(the main picture on this write-up) directly below Glebe Road and above the main rapid on Pimmit run has recently been removed by Arlington county. They do this every once in a while when the two drains beneath the bridge clog-up and cause that sweet ten foot fall with less water then usual. So know now that with the drains open and free flowing low flow runs will go right down the pipes with few eddies approaching them, medium flows will pool up against the bridge before it runs over, and it will take really high flows from lots of rain to create the fun water fall like in the pic.
The bridge dam under Glebe rd. becomes a 12 ft. fall when the two square pipelines beneath are jammed with rocks and logs, which is often. some times you have to portage if the water is sieving its way through the bridge dam without pooring over at lower flows. I say this is a medium flow because the trees above didn't get there from this flow, not to mention that I have seen it higher too.
Pimmit Run Falls delta into the Potomac just below Chain Bridge and Little Falls rapid. The Potomac River level was at 6.5 ft. which backs up and covers Pimmit's class II-III run out channels which there are three of at most good levels and four at high levels.
River right side ledges down the falls, make for a violent yet fun run into the right side eddy at the bottom of the rapid.
My favorite line, a 10 foot V-fall for a boof on the left side of the island splitting the falls.
at this level you can start to do the S-turn line from the middle line above the falls and down the drop between the islands splitting the falls. deffenetly manky and action packed! and be careful about wood
end of center line at Pimmit Run Falls. boof off the rooster tail down the center to avoid the undercut tombstone piton rocks on the right below. look carefully for them
Arial view of most of Pimmit Run Falls
watch for the tombstone rocks below the center line of the Falls. top of picture beneath the muddy waters. These are obviously a non-issue at really good higher flows
This is typical of the boogie water to be found on Pimmit Run.
Make sure to grab one of the eddies above the culvert.
This is the first part of the waterfall past the remains of the old mill at the confluence with the Potomac River. Yes, all of those rocks are sharp and pointed upstream. The total drop of the rapid is approximately 25'.
The second part of the falls may not be runnable unless the Potomac River is above 8' at the Little Falls gauge. All of the flow goes into and under the tombstone rock to the right of the photo. More water in the creek would open up other options.