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Description
Red Run is the toughest regularly run creek in the Canaan Valley area. The creek is very small and steep with only tiny eddies to rest in. There are several nasty sieves and undercuts mixed in with continuous steep drops, making this a very difficult run. Trees are also a constant problem on this run. The gnarly drops start early in the run and continue all the way till the end. Make sure you bring your "A" game when you venture down into this canyon.
The first 3/4 mile of the creek is made up of continuous small rapids. Soon, the riverbed will steepen and start heading down some slides. After a particularly long and fairly steep slide, you know you are into the good section.
Goliath- This 3 part rapid is right below the long slide. It starts with a 10 foot falls onto a twisty slide that banks off a nasty boulder before making a sharp right turn off a 5 foot ledge. The second part is a tight boulder drop leading into a very narrow slot/pillow followed by an 8 foot ledge. The third part is a steep series of ledges run down the left.
Not far below Goliath, there is an 8 foot sloping ledge into an undercut. Make sure you drive left. The creek continues down tons of steep boulder drops for the next mile or so until you reach Red Run Falls.
Red Run Falls- This is a slide into a 20+ foot falls onto rocks. It has been run intentionally on the left but is definitely not recommended. Portage on the right.
Below the falls, paddle left under an overhanging cliff. You'll go back into a cave and it will be very dark. There is a Class 2 rapid in the cave that brings you out under a trickling waterfall.
The next section is perhaps the toughest on the run. The boulder drops get very steep and the moves get pretty challenging. Several 8 foot ledges with sketchy landing zones are faced before the creek splits on an island.
S\*\*t Your Pants- When you see the island split, get out and scout. The right side of the island starts with a 5 foot boof. Afterwards, the channels converge and more than half the flow drops into a horrible sieve on the left. A little bit leaks out to the right, where you want to be. The sieve is runable (I've run it intentionally several times) but it is not recommended. Portage on the right.
From here to the end, the creek continues dropping down more steep boulder drops and slots. The easy slide at the Rt. 72 bridge gives little indication of the mayhem that lies upstream. Continue down the Dry Fork and takeout at the Otter Creek Parking Lot.