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Logistics of kayaking down the Potomac
Posted by: elltee ()
Date: June 30, 2011 01:06PM

Howdy, so I'm am amateur Kayaker who just recently bought his own Kayak. I live in Ashburn and go to school in DC, and I'm thinking about riding my Kayak into school in August for an adventure. I've tried to find information and logistics about how feasible this would be, but I can't seem to find much. Google is just providing "four hour guided tours" and "learn how to kayak" results that don't really provide me with any info. Anyone experienced with Kayaking or Canoeing down the Potomac that can help me out? I would imagine that most if not all of the rapids are upstream of me, what is the water like from Loudoun County to DC like? I imagine that's about 50 miles or more of paddling, what's an appropriate timeframe for an expedition like that?

Any info or suggestions would be appreciated!

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Re: Logistics of kayaking down the Potomac
Posted by: The Boo ()
Date: June 30, 2011 04:30PM

Well depending on where you put in, there is this thing called Great Falls. You will never make it over

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Re: Logistics of kayaking down the Potomac
Posted by: Guest ()
Date: July 01, 2011 08:32PM

About 23 miles from Algonkian Park to Key Bridge

If you can paddle nearly not stop you would average around 3mph. But there is still the problem of Great Falls.

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Re: Logistics of kayaking down the Potomac
Posted by: Raptured ()
Date: July 02, 2011 07:42AM

"...just recently bought his own kayak..."

Probably not a journey to get beginning practice with. You might want to play on the Shenandoah for awhile first.

Having typed that, however, I thought Great Falls was simply some white water mostly, with the Virginia side being the danger zone. That is, a thriller perhaps but not impassable.

But the REAL danger zone, The Place That Kills, is well WITHIN the Beltway and is THE place you must be aware of and fear:


View Larger Map

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Re: Logistics of kayaking down the Potomac
Posted by: Raptured ()
Date: July 02, 2011 07:45AM

While looking at The Place that Kills and its environ, I noticed another kayaker on the river just north of it!


View Larger Map

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Re: Logistics of kayaking down the Potomac
Posted by: Raptured ()
Date: July 02, 2011 07:53AM

Here's a kayaker taking a "Virginia line" through Great Falls:

37644.jpg

Wheeeee!

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Re: Logistics of kayaking down the Potomac
Posted by: Raptured ()
Date: July 02, 2011 08:02AM

Raptured Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...The Place That Kills...

Apologies - I do not know if THAT is The Place That Kills or the location north of Great Falls that is similar.

One or the other, or both, have killed due to the motion of the water after it goes over the "dam".

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Re: Logistics of kayaking down the Potomac
Posted by: kayaking ()
Date: September 10, 2011 12:51PM

How about kayaking down the Potomac now with all that rain water flooding off?

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