Paddling on the Potomac River

Potomac River - It should be noted that the stretch of river from O-Deck just below Great Falls thru Wet Bottom offers some of the best big water paddling in Maryland. 10,000 cfs thru a 100 foot wide gorge makes for some large waves, surging eddies and boiling eddylines. There is a popular playspot guide developed by David Mackintosh. Playspot List & Levels: 2.5' - 4.2' Wet Bottom (Class 3) 2.6' - 2.8' Horseshoe (Snodgrass) Wave (Class 3+) 2.7' - 2.9' Fishladder Wave 2.7' - 2.9' Portage Waves (Class 2) 2.7' - 3.0' Annie's 2.7' - 3.0' O-Deck 3 (Class 3) 2.7' - 4.0' Maryland Chute (Class 2+) 2.7' - 4.2' Virginia Chute Wave (Class 2) 2.8' - 3.3' Bloody Good 3.3' - 3.6' O-Deck 2 (Class 3) 3.6' - 3.8' O-Deck 1 (Class 3) 3.6' - 3.7' S-Turn (Class 3) 3.7' - 3.9' S-Turn 3.7' - 4.1' Showcase (Class 3) 3.9' - 4.1' Simon Says 3.9' - 4.8' Rocky Island Waves (Class 3) 4.1' - 5.4' Center Chute Ledge (Main Hole) (Class 3+) 4.2' - 4.7' Upper Center Chute Ledge (Class 3) 4.2' - 4.4' Fish Counter 4.5' - 6.0' Tight Quarters 4.8' - 5.2' Gil's Hole (Lower) (Class 3) 4.9' - 5.4' Gil's Hole (Upper) (Class 4) 5.3' - 6.4' Rodeo Zone 5.4' - 6.5' Center Chute Wave (Class 3) 6.0' - 6.7' Rocha Motel 6.0' - 7.6' Skull Island Wave (Class 2+) 6.2' - 6.6' Dave's Wave (Class 3+) 6.4' - 8.0' Showcase 6.7' - 6.9' Super Dave 6.7' - 7.0' Shoulder Snapper (Sweetie-pie) Wave 6.8' - 7.5' Corner Hole (Fudgepacker) (Class 4) 7.0' - ?.?' Sweetie-pie Wave 7.2' - 8.2' Last Supper 7.3' - 8.0' Elbow Wave 7.3' - 8.8' Dead Cow Hole (Class 3+) 7.9' - 8.8' Bud (also called Butt) Hole 8.0' - 9.5' Pencil Sharpener 8.0' - ?.?' Zambezi Wave 8.5' - 9.5' Eraser 9.0' - 9.5' Round the Corner

Potomac River - The Fish Ladder is the river left side channel of Great Falls along the C&O Canal towpath on the Maryland side carrying perhaps 10- 20 % of the total flow of the Potomac River. This section is a fun and high paced portion of Great Falls. Difficulty cannot be compared as these two runs deserve respect in their own right

Potomac River - Center Lines (Grace Under Pressure/ Fingers) It is a spectacular cataract with some sweet lines, but when running it you are surrounded by all sorts of hazards. Know your limits out here and don't come without a guide and or very experienced friends. Center lines is an intricate maze that requires scouting, and choosing the wrong channel, or swimming could kill you and put access at risk for everyone. Please be careful and always have a safety plan, this is serious class 5.

Potomac River - A set of gates along the C&O canal with easy access to the river. Frequented by boaters of all sorts using this feeder canal as a training ground

Potomac River - An amazing intermediate run right in the D.C. area. This is a unique stretch of river in that you can run the entire stretch and paddle up the canal to create a loop and avoid setting shuttle