The Brandywine drops over the fall line on this historic stretch. 10 dams separate a handful of class 2-3 rock gardens. Most of the dams are sloping and easily runnable but 3 of them are vertical and extremely dangerous at higher flows. Only run the vertical drops if you are 100% sure of the lines and water levels.
Put in at the
Brandywine State Park access on Rockland Rd.
this section starts with a blown out dam that forms a short fun class 3 rapid. you can put in below the dam if you choose not to run it
After Rockland, (and about a mile of flat water) you'll reach the second dam which marks the entance of the
Hagley Museum property, birthplace of the Dupont company. An incredible display of 19th century hydropower surrounds you, including spillways, canals, the remains of gunpowder mills, and waterwheels and turbines that are still operational. Unfortunately the Hagley people are pretty paranoid so pull over in these beautiful surroundings at your own risk.
There are 3 dams in total through Hagley. The first (hagley entrance) is a wooden slope, about 4-5ft tall, runnable within the recommended water levels for this section. This dam should probably be portaged if above 5ft at chads ford.
The second is a concrete slope easy to boat scout on river right. Wood likes to collect here in the middle and on the right... usually runnable right of center at low water (below 3 ft) and more options open up on the left above 3 ft including a nice boof and a decent surf wave at the bottom. Eddy river left to catch it.
before the next dam there is a nice class 2+ rock garden with a few good play spots, small boofs, and splat rocks. The most memorable spot 'wheel wave' is on river right just after the start of the rock garden. (Best caught between 3-4ft)
The third dam just before you exit hagley property is a nasty vertical 7ft drop, best portaged on river left. It can been ran at low flow but I don't recommend it. The drop is scrapey and the pool is shallow.
brecks mill (repurposed as a post office) is the next dam. Hard to portage but runnable at all levels with a bumpy low water line through a shorter looking slot right of center into a small hole then zig zagging around some rocks. At high water you can run it anywhere right of center. (Left of center forms a massive hydraulic) this is the spot of the giant wave pictured in the gallery.
The next dam after brecks at the dupot experimental station is slated for removal some time in 2025. It's runnable almost riverwide and easy to boat scout on the right. The center and left is a big slide into a small pool followed by a small pour over ledge (forms a huge wave train if the water level is over 3.2ish) the river right side is a fish ladder type line with a few rocks to maneuver around before emptying back out into the main flow.
You are now entering Alapocas state park and approaching the second vertical dam. Scout/portage on river left. The vertical part of this damn can be ran at lower water (below 3ft) via a slight notch near river center. I don't recommend running it unless you are 100% sure you know the right spot. There is also a sneak line for higher water on river left. Boof off the 2ft ledge and slide down the rocks. It's a bumpy line but it works. As of may 2025 there is wood mostly blocking the sneak line. Portage left
after a short class 2 rock garden you will come to the 3rd vertical dam. Scout or portage on river left. This is the best vertical drop on the creek. Runnable far river right start near the wall and stay just to the right of the small wave that forms on top of the dam. Do not run this drop If the guage is higher then 3.6! It gets extremely dangerous at higher flows. The left side line 'double drop' or 'Ed's drop' is runnable up to 3ft but tends to collect wood and is considerably more dangerous.
Continue into Wilmington and take out at Market St. downtown..
. *Maryland and Delaware Canoe Trails*, Ed Gertler can give you further information about this reach.