The portage is on a wide, level pathway with a fairly gentle slope back to the top. While the Gull River is an excellent place to learn, paddlers should be aware that the extremely sharp rocks and strength of the current have caused serious damage to paddlers and boats. The section that runs between the dam at the top and to just below Horseshoe Falls should only be run by extremely skilled paddlers with a bomb-proof roll. At the very top at the dam some choose to put in at the lake and run the dam, dropping into a pool directly above the next drop. This first drop below the dam is judged by some as the most difficult section of the Gull - very short and steep.
Most paddlers prefer to put in just below the dam on river right.
Below the rodeo hole is a tight 'S' bend after which the river remains slightly narrowed leading to Horseshoe Falls with two staging eddies river right above the falls. The falls is a steep drop and is usually run left of centre at most water levels. You'll then drop into a calmer area with eddies on the right and left. Heading towards the foot bridge Exiting these eddies leads to a fast 'S' bend with 2 or 3 eddies on river right. A pour over at river right and a large mid-river rock at the bottom lead to a flatter section of the river, littered with eddies and obstacles.