Bull Run in NOVA
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Bull Run in NOVA
Has anyone one paddled Bull Run will be up there this spring wondering if it a great place to paddle?
Chapter Director
www.olddominionironchefs.com
member of Randy Carter Chapter-Float Fisherman of Va
ffv.org
www.olddominionironchefs.com
member of Randy Carter Chapter-Float Fisherman of Va
ffv.org
When I first started paddling, 27+ years ago, I paddled a small portion of it. I put on in a kayak at the old stone bridge(Rt. 29-211) and paddled upstream about two miles then came back. Went down below the bridge to a log jam then came back. You will need a Park pass to park in the parking lot.
The rest of the creek is mostly swift moving water and some class I. It will be hard to catch with water unless you live close by. Its a typical Piedmont stream with small rock gardens and gravel bars, scenic for the area it goes thru.
Its one of those streams that are cool to at least do once.
Two miles to the East is Cub Run which has good class II-III(III+) rapids and runs more often than Bull Run. (Rt 29-211 to Compton Rd.) Its really more like four distinct rapids. It a short section which has a bike path back to your car, sort of following river right, except for one ferry back to river left, near the top of the run(at the top of the first rapid). At high water there are a few nice waves to surf. You could put in higher up but there are no rapids. Be wary of wood.
At the bottom of the third rapid a tributary comes in from the left, Big Rocky Run, which I have run from Rt 28 down, Not much to it except for the last 50 yards to Cub Run, class III(IV). There is a trail along it for an easy carry up to run the last part.
Hope this helps.
The rest of the creek is mostly swift moving water and some class I. It will be hard to catch with water unless you live close by. Its a typical Piedmont stream with small rock gardens and gravel bars, scenic for the area it goes thru.
Its one of those streams that are cool to at least do once.
Two miles to the East is Cub Run which has good class II-III(III+) rapids and runs more often than Bull Run. (Rt 29-211 to Compton Rd.) Its really more like four distinct rapids. It a short section which has a bike path back to your car, sort of following river right, except for one ferry back to river left, near the top of the run(at the top of the first rapid). At high water there are a few nice waves to surf. You could put in higher up but there are no rapids. Be wary of wood.
At the bottom of the third rapid a tributary comes in from the left, Big Rocky Run, which I have run from Rt 28 down, Not much to it except for the last 50 yards to Cub Run, class III(IV). There is a trail along it for an easy carry up to run the last part.
Hope this helps.
Bob
Bull Run
You can paddle Bull Run from Route 28 (there is an access with parking upstream of the 28 bridge, river left) to the Bull Run Marina, No. Va. Regional Park Auth. This 6-7 mile section probably is runnable more often than Cub Run, which I recall being kind of flashy. The last couple of miles are the backwater for the Occoquan Reservoir.
A nice out and back float is possible from the Bull Run Marina - head upstream and explore the coves - the scenery is quite nice. You could paddle downstream on the reservoir as well. While it also has coves to explore, the waterway is much wider.
The NVRPA put out a water trail guide with details on paddle trips.
http://www.nvrpa.org/park/occoquan_wate ... /trail_map
A nice out and back float is possible from the Bull Run Marina - head upstream and explore the coves - the scenery is quite nice. You could paddle downstream on the reservoir as well. While it also has coves to explore, the waterway is much wider.
The NVRPA put out a water trail guide with details on paddle trips.
http://www.nvrpa.org/park/occoquan_wate ... /trail_map