| Difficulty | II-III(IV) |
| Length | 2.4 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 8 fpm |
| Gauge | Potomac River Near Wash, Dc Little Falls Pump Sta |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 2.90 ftlow runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | August 3, 2026 |
Mather Gorge is an afterwork favorite of DC paddlers that ranges from class II suitable for rank beginners, play spots, flat water, deep eddy lines, beautiful scenery, and big waves at higher water. “The Gorge” never gets too low, and at typical summertime low levels has a few class II’s that still have deep water along with very scenic flatwater. SUPs, open canoes, and beginner kayak lessons are common. At very high water the gorge can push into class IV and has big boily eddy lines, big wavetrains, and a few excellent playspots. It is some of the best big water paddling around. Even at summertime low flows (~2000 cfs) this is a big water river so the style of rapids are wavetrains.
There are numerous access points and the gorge is most commonly run without needing to set a shuttle, though you can also set shuttle. The typical options are: park-and-play at the chutes by parking at Anglers in MD, park-and-play at Odeck, S-Turn, and/or Rocky by parking at Great Falls, VA, setting shuttle from Anglers to Great Falls, MD for a full gorge lap, or attaining up from Anglers. The closer you get to Great Falls the larger the rapids are.
Beginners and playboaters will usually want to head for the chutes, which feature friendly wavetrains, giant deep flatwater pools, and small playspots with good eddy service at most levels.
Intermediate boaters (or beginners at low water) will want to putin at Sandy Beach and paddle the entire gorge down to Anglers to get excellent scenery and a taste of some more rapids, which are a step up from the chutes but still mostly deep and friendly at low levels.
More confident intermediate boaters will want to putin at Fisherman’s eddy to experience the biggest rapids of the gorge and see Great Falls from close up.
Fitness Gurus and shuttle haters will want to attain up from anglers. Longboats can usually make it to Rocky Island and even Odeck at the right level. Creek boats and even playboats can still make it t
...Above 4 ft this pair of channels gets enough flow to run. They have some more creeky drops that can turn into big waves and holes at high water. They are a good option to sneak S Turn if the level is too high. Convenient too, since when you put in at Sandy Beach you are technically in the back channel and must paddle slightly upstream to reach S Turn. Don't confuse these with the Back Canyon on Great Falls itself, or the back channel at MD chute that contains the Dead Cow playspot.
Virginia Access Point. Park at Great Falls National Park (Virginia - fee area). From lower lot, carry across picnic area to steep trail that leads to Fisherman's Eddy. This is the highest upstream putin of the Gorge.
Odeck is the highest upstream rapid of the gorge, though to run Odeck itself you must carry up the rocks river left. This rapid is a big wave train with great half slice surfing, but it has one or two shallow holes at low water. The best way to get here is from Fisherman's eddy in VA, but you can also attain / portage up from Sandy Beach in MD.
Portage is probably the only portage in the world named because it is hard to attain and is usually portaged when going upstream. In the downstream direction it is a simple wave train with a cool optional boof at lower levels.
A powerful eddy line / seam where the current from the Fish Ladder and Portage meet. It is an excellent stern squirt spot, but also very powerful and swirly. It can be easily avoided river right.
This wave train changes the most with flows. At low levels (< 3.2 ft) it is small class II waves into a big pool. As the level climbs into the mid 3 ft range, the waves start to flip beginners and a big but easy to avoid hole starts to develop river right. The eddy line at the bottom also starts to get swirly. As the level climbs higher, the waves become chaotic and that eddy line gets rather large.
Maryland Access Point river left just below the fishladder. Park at Great Falls National Park (fee area), reached via MacAuthur
Blvd. in Montgomery County, MD. Carry 1/4 mile south along the C & O
Canal towpath. Take the trail on the right just off the towpath down from Lock 17, upstream of the overlook that leads to Sandy Beach. Can also be accessed from Anglers by paddling up the canal a mile, then carrying another 0.4 mile to the put-in.
You putin on the back channel and must paddle up 100 yards to get to S Turn.
A nice section of the gorge with good eddy lines takes you from S Turn into Rocky Island Waves, which are a simple wavetrain down the middle. Just like S Turn, these waves barely exist below 3 ft but become the best longboat surfing around between 4 ft and 5 ft.
An island divides the river. Both sides are wave trains, but the far river right side of the right channel can have an easily avoided hole.
Maryland, Center, and Virginia Chutes. Washington's practice spot for all skills and each home to a classic playspot. They are mostly wave trains and center chute has a few rocks to practice eddy catching at low water.
Maryland access point reached via MacAuthur Blvd. Park in one of three gravel or dirt lots across from the Angler's Inn, a fine restaurant. Carry across the canal, then 100 feet south on the towpath, then right down to the shore. From the river, the beach is easily seen on river left.
Feb 14, 2008
My truck got broken into at the Old Angler's put in yesterday afternoon. Somehow they got right through the passenger side lock! Lock is now busted and my debit card is a goner... the thieves ran up $700 in charges before BofA automatically cancelled the card. Anyway, don't learn the hard way this is a problem that doesn't seem to be getting any better. Leave nothing of value in your vehicle at this put-in!
Apr 21, 2007
Center chute park and play in the middle of a huge stonefly hatch. Surf with your mouth closed.
Jan 6, 2007
Rocky Island surfing on an amazing 70 degree day. Video here