Canceled-WW Trip – North Branch of Potomac River

This trip is canceled

North Branch of Potomac River 

Class II-III 

May 13-14, 2023 

https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/2430/main 

This is a release weekend for the North Branch of Potomac which is a 6 mile stretch from Barnum, WV to  Bloomington, MD. Fairly continuous rapids with waves/holes and only short stretches of moving water  between rapids. Estimating release to be between 800 cfs (Class II-III) to 1200 cfs (easy Class III).  Expect cold water from a bottom-of-the-dam release (50 degrees). This stretch is a lot a fun and we will  be paddling both days of the weekend. There is a small fee collected at the put in so bring cash. Please  email John or Mary Koeppe at koeppejm at gmail dot com to sign up or contact Mary 608-698-4899.

Directions to put in:

Directions to Keyser, WV (& Put-In [BWA]) from Interstate 81/Virginia

From I-81 Winchester   Exit Interstate 81 at VA 37 north of Winchester, VA.  From VA 37, take US 522 north to VA 127 west, which becomes WV 127 at the WV state line.  At the Forks of the Cacapon, WV 127 ends where WV 29 comes in from the right – stay straight onto WV29 south.  At Slanesville, WV, turn right onto WV 3 (Slanesville/Springfield Pike) and follow it to Springfield, WV.  At Springfield, WV, go straight onto WV 28 to Fort Ashby, WV.  At Fort Ashby, turn left onto WV 46 to Keyser, WV.

(Ed Evangelidi claims that from Keyser, it is faster to cross the Potomac River at this point and take MD 135 through Westernport and Bloomington and turn left onto the usual shuttle road than to take 220 south to 50 west to 46 north to Barnum road; which means that you might as well run by the Bloomington take-out and set shuttle.  But, if you want to go directly from Keyser to the Barnum put-in — keep reading.)

First Caviat:  This route is not for RVs or other long vehicles that would have a problem with short steep switchbacks or drivers that dislike the same.  To the put-in from Keyser, WV take WV 46 to West Piedmont Ave (depending upon how you get there, probably a right turn).  Turn left onto ‘D’ street, then right on Fort Ave, then left onto Parkview Drive, which becomes Hoover Hollow Rd.  Follow Hoover Hollow Road up the mountain (switchbacks) and after you cross the ridge, just before you get to a lake on the left, a side road comes in from the right (ignore) which changes the name of the main road to Pinnacle Rd.  Continue straight onto Pinnacle Road which curves around the lake to the left (the total distance of Hoover Hollow/Pinnacle Road is 5.9 miles).  Once  you’ve completely passed  the lake start looking for a right turn onto Kantor Cutoff Road.  Kantor Cutoff Road (2.0 miles) will take you down to WV Rt 46 east.  Turn right onto Rt 46 and in less than a quarter mile, Barnum Road will appear to the left.  Turn left on Barnum Road and follow it down the hill to a grassy parking area at the Barnum Whitewater Area –Approximately 2 1/2 miles.   Second Caviat:  Be aware that GPS tracking devices will get you into trouble in Keyser, WV — whoever did the work assumed a connection between US 220 south of Keyser and Hoover Hollow/Pinnacle road that does not exist.

This location choice can be used for events until the actual location is known.