3. Great Falls (VA Lines)

Overview Great Falls of the Potomac River is a major set of rapids located about 15 miles upstream of Washington, DC. The main Falls lines drop fifty feet in one-tenth of a mile, creating a Class V+ set of waterfalls. In addition, a portion of the river flows around Olmstead Island in a channel called the Fish Ladder (additional channels flow at higher water). The Virginia Line is a classic sequence of technical whitewater leading up to a tricky 20' waterfall.  This channel separates from the main channel at the top of the Flake Island. The top rapid, U-hole is probably the hardest and where most carnage occurs. The ideal line changes depending on the level. 40 years of waterfall hucking haven't made the spout any easier, but boat design probably has. The right line is now the standard line - either boofing over the hole entirely or reconnecting on a shelf. The left line is a good test of boat control. The Virginia side is runnable at high water but not recommended. History Paddlers have known about Great Falls as long as there has been whitewater kayaking. Many of the features -- such as the Spout, the Fingers, the Fish Ladder -- have names that predate paddling, in some cases by hundreds of years. But it was not until paddlers started running waterfalls regularly in the 1970s that paddlers began to seriously consider running the Falls. The first descent of Great Falls was made in 1975 by local experts Tom McEwan and Wick Walker, with the second descent by Steve McConaughy and Great Falls National Park Ranger Bill Kirby. River Signals and Helicopters The Park Service patrols the Potomac with a helicopter most summer weekends. In an effort to minimize confusion, the helicopter pilots are trained to recognize three signals from paddlers. - Everything OK\- Tap the top of your helmet with one hand. - Emergency - Wave both arms together over your head (like jumping jacks), holding brightly colored objects if possible. - Need Medical Attention\- Form an X with arms or paddles. Don't signal the helicopters unless you need them! And if being inspected, be sure to give the OK sign if you don't need assistance. Sometimes hikers call in "emergencies" that aren't actually emergencies.