The Potomac is the longest and most diverse river system in Maryland, reaching from the cold, high plateau of the Alleghenys to the broad waters of the Chesapeake Bay and tidewater. For this section, the Potomac cuts through the ancient Blue Ridge and its foothills and forms the first whitewater since its headwaters. To begin, you will navigate through The Needles, and intricate ledgy staircase that is a perfect novice whitewater run except when the water is high, novices should skip this section as the river runs stronger than it looks. Just after the Shenandoah River joins, the river tumbles over a series of jagged ledges and runs over two distinct drops named Whitehorse Rapids. Below this the river glides through a beautiful maze of rocks and islets to another gap through South Mountain and Short Hill. A smooth and swift section allows time to relax before a gap in Catoctin Mountain to the take out at the Route 15 bridge.