Low dam above Harpers Ferry 3.0 miles
to Sandy Hook "The Needles"
"The Needles" Harpers Ferry to Sandy Hook
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
II 14/14
Large A/B 2.0-4.0
Hancock
Topographic Maps: Charles Town (WVa), Harpers Ferry (WVa)
County Maps: Jefferson (WVa), Washington (Md)
Description: The "Needles" is aptly named, for getting through this section of the river is like threading a needle through the shallow areas and numerous channels. Basically, the Needles is a large number of rocks and small islands that demand a great deal of maneuvering. At medium to low levels the water is not very powerful, but at high levels a spill will leave you a long way from shore and rescue. At low water levels the channels seem to go to the right through the islands, but at medium levels there is enough water for the shorter routes to the left. Since the run is so short, you have time to beach your boats at the confluence with the Shenandoah and walk up the hill to Harpers Ferry, taking a side trip for history and ice cream. About 0.5 miles below the junction with the Shenandoah you run into White Horse rapids. This is a set of good standing waves on the left side of the river. [Checked 1982]
Difficulties: Beware of the wreckage of bridge girders in White Horse rapids. Beware of high water. Below the junction with the Shenandoah, the Potomac is over 300 feet wide and has an average volume on the order of 5,000 cfs. This is twice as much as the Youghiogheny at Ohiopyle. At the water levels suggested here, there are pools and islands for rescue, but at higher levels a dump means a long swim and a tough boat rescue.
Shuttle: Use road maps to get to the pool above the dam. Put in above the dam and carry around it on the left bank. Take out at Sandy Hook, on the left side of the river just past the highway bridge. You must carry your canoes across the C & O Canal (there is a footbridge) and a railroad track to the road.
Gauges: Hancock. This gauge should read between 2.0 and 4.0 feet. Call the National Weather Service for the Potomac River Basin. See Appendix E for the phone number. Levels of 5.0 feet and above are dangerous. Since this stretch includes a section of the Shenandoah, the Millville gauge should also be checked and compared to the write-up on the Shenandoah.
Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons.