Millville, W. Va. to Sandy Hook, Md 7.0 miles
"The
Staircase"
Class Grad Size (Area/Volume) Scene/Poll Level
II-III 10/20 Large(3,040/2,698) A/B 2.0-4.0
Millville Millville
Topographic Maps: Charles Town (WVa), Harpers Ferry (WVa)
County Maps: Jefferson (WVa)
Description: This is a wide, majestic river in a beautiful and historic area. This section of the Shenandoah River separates Virginia from West Virginia until it joins the Potomac River (which separates Virginia from Maryland) at Harpers Ferry. The normal run starts at the power plant above Millville and continues from the Shenandoah into the Potomac to Sandy Hook, Maryland. The first few miles are flat and flowing. The first rapids come as the river narrows to the left for a right-hand bend -- about 100 yards of Class II rapids with a course that is easy to recognize. The river then pools up behind a river-wide shelf, Bull Falls. This is a 4‑foot drop through several channels into hydraulics and haystacks. It is usually Class III, and should be scouted the first time. At low levels, scouting can be done from bare rocks in the middle of the river. At low levels it is easy to carry the boats back to try a different chute.
Bull Falls is followed by another 100-yard descent, more difficult than the first. As the highway bridge comes into view, you approach the fabled "Staircase" of the Shenandoah. This is a mile-long series of river-wide ledges, slanting diagonally across the river from right to left. At low to medium water levels, the space between the ledges is just about wide enough for a canoe, so a course must be chosen very carefully. Ferry to find a passage, drop over a ledge, ferry for the next passage, and so forth. Shortly after the end of the Staircase, the Shenandoah flows into the Potomac. Harpers Ferry, laden with Civil War history, is at the top of the bluff on your left. See the description of the "Needles" section of the Potomac for information on the Potomac below Harpers Ferry. [Checked 2000]
Difficulties: Bull Falls should be scouted, especially in high water, and White Horse Rapids on the Potomac (see "Needles" section) deserves respect, but the greatest potential danger is an upset in high or cold water. This river is BIG, and a spill can put you in heavy water a long way from shore.
Shuttle: Put in at the water intake above Millville. The Sandy Hook take-out is on the left side of the Potomac 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: Millville. 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. Since this section includes a section of the Potomac, the Hancock gauge should also be checked and compared to the write-up for the Potomac.
Normal Wet Period: No available statistics on seasons. From the size/volume of this section, one would expect it to be runnable all year. However it is only runnable through mid July because of the rock structure, which causes the water to spread evenly throughout the channel.