Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

The VA Lines are most commonly run between 2.9 and 3.1, but they can be run lower and much higher if you have enough skill and knowledge of the river.  The limiting factor is the Spout.  There's a rock behind the curtain called the Big Toe that comes into play as the level drops; one local shattered his elbow on it below 2.8.  Above 3.2 the hole at the base of the Spout gets beefy.


The gage is located at Little Falls (aka Brookmont) Dam, where the river is very wide.  Consequently, an inch on the gage can translate to a foot at Great Falls.  The gage is also 8-9 miles downstream, so if the river is rising or falling rapidly there could be a discrepancy between the gage reading and the actual level.  Scout the rapids visually if there is any doubt.  (You were going to do that anyway, right?)

USGS Potomac River / Little Falls Gage

NOAA Prediction for Little Falls Gage

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
POTOMAC RIVER NEAR WASH, DC LITTLE FALLS PUMP STA
usgs-01646500 2.80 - 3.70 ft V+ 01h36m 3.92 ft (rc= 1.2 )
U-hole is stout. the spout has been run at some high levels on the right, and the crack line (over the photo rock) has been done up to about 4 feet

RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
2.40 -2.80 ft extremely Low-somewhat Low V+ Fun, but not recommended. the spout has a very narrow LZ. run middle to avoid piton rock in bottom left. the right (shelf) line has been done very low
2.80 -3.10 ft med runnable-a bit pushy runnable V ideal level for the traditional line on the Spout. right line is also good. beatdowns more likely running left above 3.1. good level for left line @U-hole, and
3.20 -3.70 ft perfect runnable-high runnable V+ The spout has a bad hole above 3 feet, and from 3.3 on up, the crack is a better option. Norman's- a good sneak of U-hole opens up on the right. over 3.4 is hi
3.70 -5.50 ft somewhat High-somewhat High V+ U-hole is stout. the spout has been run at some high levels on the right, and the crack line (over the photo rock) has been done up to about 4 feet

Report - Reports of Potomac 3. Great Falls (VA Lines) and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
Potomac [MD] Spout n/a Potomac Pathways
Potomac River [MD] Mike on Crack n/a Scott Anderson
67d06h35m /Potomac River-Great Falls (VA Lines) [VA] Surfin 'O' Deck 0 cfs Frank Perruccio
67d06h35m /Potomac River-Great Falls (VA Lines) [VA] Carvin It UP!!! 0 cfs Frank Perruccio
364d15h27m /Potomac River-Great Falls (VA Lines) [MD] U Hole n/a Will Oliver
1y137d06h50m /Potomac River-Great Falls (VA Lines) [MD] Brett Mayer-Aschhoff, the Crack 0 cfs Brett Mayer-Aschhoff
4y226d02h20m Potomac River [MD] U-Hole 2.9 Scott Anderson