Difficult Run

It was named by long-boatmen in the time of the Patowmack Company, who found the two sharp bends of the Potomac near Difficult Run's mouth treacherous. Historical usage Mills Tolston's Mill on the east side of the trail is today owned by the Madeira School. Leigh Mill, once on the west side of the trail, ground flour during the late 1800s. Colvin's Mill, today part of Colvin Run Mill Park, used to be managed by Fairfax County Park Authority. Brown's Mill was on a tributary of the trail across from Beulah Road. Pikes and roads Old Georgetown Pike developed into a state highway in June 1974. The pike was a route followed by colonists and Indians where commerce was brought from Loudoun County and the Shenandoah Valley to Georgetown. Another road that went along the trail is the Old Leesburg Pike. This pike initially went through the Difficult Run on the northern side of the current bridge. The stream also is known for its various rapids that flow down it. The different rapids are all classified differently as one goes farther down the stream. The seven rapids that occur in the stream all have classifications that range from Class III to V. The Difficult Run is also famously known for its views of the Potomac and Mather Gorge cliffs. ==Recreation==

Recreational activities at Difficult Run include hiking, biking, climbing, boating, fishing, and sightseeing. It is encouraged that all mess is cleaned, as the park has a no trash policy and has no trash cans available on-site. Boating This is the most popular of recreational activities at the Potomac River adjacent to Difficult Run. Whitewater boating (kayak/canoe) is commonly exercised as the rapids found in Great Falls Park are rated from class II (moderately easy) to class VI. Class VI rapids are considered extremely dangerous, as they are highest category of all rapid classes. A series of rapids starting at the Difficult Run Georgetown Pike entrance will lead to directly into the Potomac River. These rapids along the Difficult Run stream range from class III to class V. The Potomac River has many challenging currents, standing waves, and hydraulics. Swimming, wading, and tubing are not allowed in the river. Climbing Climbing at Difficult Run can be done both with or without direction. The large number of rocks offer creative options for some park visitors. Others find direction by climbing routes set near the Potomac River. Routes vary from 25 to 75 feet in length. All climbing is top rope and no screws may be drilled into the rock. The climbs include: •F.I.S.T. (5.9-) •Hemlock (5.10+) •Hard Nut (A3) •Socrates’ Downfall (5.8) •Claws (5.12) •Titania (5.10-) •Ariel (5.9) •Caliban (5.8) •It's the Feet (5.10-) ==Flora and fauna==

Various species of birds, fish, and other animals live along the trail. Muskrat and beaver can be found in the stream which runs adjoined to the trail which empties into the river known to provide habitation for various fish. 163 different species of birds are found here, these birds would include ducks, geese, and herons. Others would include songbirds, woodpeckers, vultures, and kingfishers. As for snakes, copperheads are the only type of venomous snake found in the trail. During the Spring, Skunk cabbage is the first to bloom in January. Seasonal varieties also include Pink lady slippers, Fairy spuds, and Trout lilies. == Geography ==

Trail Located at 38.98 latitude and 77.25 longitude, the Difficult Run trail is located inside of Great Falls Park. Difficult Run lands in the Virginia side of the park. The trail is 0.7 miles one way making it a 1.4 mile round trip. The scenic trail starts near Georgetown Pike and ends where the difficult run stream meets the Potomac River. The trail is narrow and rocky in some sections and could cause problems to those with handicaps. The route consists of mostly non-paved trail systems with a few paved areas. Hikers, cyclists and horseback riders can make connections using Difficult Run to get to the Fairfax Cross Country Trail. This can be done on the Georgetown Pike end of the Difficult Run trail. Pets are allowed on the trail but must be on a leash at all times. The water is crossed by several major highways, including Leesburg Pike, I-66, Route 50, the Dulles Access Road, and by the W&OD Trail. The water runs off and forms four man made lakes. Lake Anne, Lake Fairfax, Lake Thoreau and Lake Audubon. Difficult Run flows through a wide variety of watershed conditions, from forest to urban areas. Just before it empties into the Potomac River, it flows through a narrow, cliff-lined valley. Difficult Run is the largest watershed in Fairfax County, Virginia. Soil There are 41 different soil types found on the trail and alongside the stream. Two major soil groups make up the contents: The Glenelg-Elioak-Manor association and the Manor-Glenelg-Elioak association. The Glenelg soil type makes up 40.5 percent of the watershed area and is found throughout the watershed, primarily on hilltops and side slopes. Manor soils make up almost 11 percent of the watershed. Suspended sediment is a major problem in the Difficult Run area and water entering Chesapeake Bay. In 1993 Fairfax Relief and the Virginia Soil and water conservation district planted 1,109 native hardwoods as a part of a restoration project on a large flood plain for the main stem of the Difficult run stream. A lot of the soil found in this area is marine clay. This type of soil is found all around Fairfax County and is very problematic. This particular soil contains clays that swell up when wet and then shrink down when they dry. This can cause land slippage, slope instability, poor foundation support and poor drainage. Another soil problem found in this area is naturally occurring asbestos fibers that have weathered off of greenstone bedrock. It is a very rare problem but asbestos can be potentially very hazardous if not detected. Soil conservation has rapidly been accelerating in the Difficult Run area for a very long time. This conservation can help stop landslides, corrosion, and contamination by metals == Crossings ==

All locations are in Fairfax County, Virginia. Pedestrian-only bridges are marked in italics. ==See also==