Dead Run

I first ran this run back in 2002 which I am almost positive was the first decent, please correct me if I am wrong.

This VA creek is the steepest in the greater Washington DC area. When caught at higher flows this can throw more at you then any traditionally run lines at Great Falls. It is located just down stream of the American Legion Beltway Bridge over the Potomac River. It drains the Langley and Mclean area neighborhoods above Georgetown Pike which runs parallel to the George Washington Parkway. There is no gradient to speak of above the GW Parkway so this is where the run begins with a short but dramatic plunge to the Potomac with no portages.

The run is about a quarter mile long and drops about 160 feet, making for a very hefty fpm gradient. This run is very prone to wood but there are most always alternative routes to navigate with the choice of lines amongst the islands above and below the main drop. Obviously, the more water the more choice in the lines.

There is one public entrance through the neighborhoods behind Langley High School for an upstream put-in that requires a half mile hike in and some general knowledge of the trails to have a top to bottom run. There could be a lot of other potential put-ins with much more convenient and less trouble but they would require trespassing right through neighborhood backyards. And these are some NICE neighborhoods with some BIG backyards where kayaks on top of peddler vehicles will easily get some attention. So I recommend most to stick to the Maryland side and park at the Lock 10 C&O canal parking lot on the Clara Barton Parkway just inside the beltway; and paddle up the channel and ferry directly across the river to the delta of Dead Run.

When there are no leaves on the trees and Dead is running the cascading rapids off the hill side are impossible to miss, but when there are leaves on the trees the delta is somewhat concealed. This is the best way for a first run so that one can

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