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Rapid WV Class III

"Robins Nest"

Potomac, North Branch - 4. Barnum, WV to Bloomington, MD (WV)

Monitor this Rapid
Gauge Conditions
North Branch Potomac River at Barnum, WV Upstream Primary
Runnable: 400.5 – 2,500.0 CFS

Data from American Whitewater & USGS
Photo
"Robins Nest"
Photo courtesy of American Whitewater
Description

AKA "Bear Ledge", AKA "Bear Falls", AKA "The Falls".  The most difficult rapid is "Robin's Nest" which occurs near the bottom of a river right channel formed at the split of an island.  Avoid the near riverwide hole center and center right.  Run this river left or look for a tongue just to the right of a rock at the center left.  (There is a far right side eddy hopping line for those that like to be challenged, but this line involves clipping the right side of the upstream hole in one of the hops.  On this right side line, if you don't make the move with enough power, or if you lean back, you're in for a surprise.)   Today, most paddlers call this rapid "Robins Nest", but there are older names: "Bear Ledge", "Bear Falls", or "The Falls" (Thanks Lindy for the history) that fishing guides and some locals use to refer to this rapid.

Location
Type
Rapid
Difficulty
Class III
Mile Marker
3.2 mi
Directions
Navigate
View Full Run
4. Barnum, WV to Bloomington, MD
Potomac, North Branch
II-III 6.2 mi
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater