About
Potomac River, Maryland Virginia West Virginia — 1608 John Smith, 1840s-1880s Milling, 2010s Potomac Restoration 405-mi. Class V drops at Great Falls compress the Potomac through a granite gorge that expert kayakers portage and scout extensively before running. Below the falls, Mather Gorge to Carderock stretches through Class II-III water that draws paddlers from Washington and Baltimore when flows hit the 2,000-12,000 CFS sweet spot. The 14-mile corridor through Montgomery County averages 8,200 CFS on USGS gauge 01638500, with spring floods pushing much higher. Great Falls Park and the C&O Canal National Historical Park protect both banks, while commercial outfitters like Liquid Adventures and Calleva run guided trips through the lower gorge sections. The granite geology that creates the falls continues downstream as Mather Gorge, where Class II-III rapids funnel between 50-foot walls. Carderock is the standard takeout before the river opens into the tidal Potomac near Washington.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.