4. Sandy Beach/O-Deck to Anglers Inn

The Potomac River below Great Falls is literally in the back yard of Washington, D.C. This fact contributes to the strong boating community in the metropolitan region. Mather Gorge, where this section begins, is a stunning cliff-lined gorge. Further down, the river maintains it's wild and remote feeling, except for at choice spots where Virginia has allowed sloppy development to mar the shore. The river offers play and practice for beginners to experts and numerous sections can be run. This description will deal with the rapids and access points and doesn't provide details on the numerous play spots. 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. Below Mather gorge the rapids get considerably easier. See Surf the Potomac for good playspot info. Older playspot pages are the Potomac Playspot Project, Potomac Paddlers, as well as another 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 From Potomac Paddlers website, added May 2004 National Park Service Great Falls Page NPS Great Falls Map These guide books provide good references for this section: Sehlinger, Bob, et. al.; Appalachian Whitewater, the Southern States. Gertler, Ed; Maryland and Delaware Canoe Trails.