River guideNorth Carolina and Virginia
Roanoke River
Compare trips by distance, difficulty and current conditions. Open a trip for its map, directions and planning tools.
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End of mapRiver overview
Roanoke River paddle planning
What to verify before you commit.
Water levels
These Roanoke River routes use 4 gauge references depending on the stretch.
Route options
Compare 10 routes (9 scored · 1 planning) across Martin County, Montgomery County–Roanoke County upper Blueway, Northampton and Halifax counties, Roanoke County / Blue Ridge Parkway–Smith Mountain Lake, Roanoke River Blueway / Salem–Roanoke corridor, Salem–Roanoke urban Blueway. Open a route page for put-in, take-out, distance, data reliability, and access notes.
Difficulty
Roanoke River routes here are marked hard and moderate, so choose the stretch that fits your group and conditions.
Quick answers
Roanoke River paddling FAQ
Where can I paddle the Roanoke River?
Paddle Today tracks 10 Roanoke River routes across Martin County, Montgomery County–Roanoke County upper Blueway, Northampton and Halifax counties, Roanoke County / Blue Ridge Parkway–Smith Mountain Lake, Roanoke River Blueway / Salem–Roanoke corridor, Salem–Roanoke urban Blueway. Compare the route cards on this page, then open an individual route for put-in, take-out, distance, and access notes.
How should I check Roanoke River water levels?
Check the gauge notes for your stretch and its live score where available. This hub uses 4 gauges or gauge references. Planning routes have no live score; check their source guidance and current access notices.
Which Roanoke River route is best today?
Compare current scores where available, along with water level, recent trend, weather, access, and route difficulty. Planning-only cards provide trip information without a live paddling recommendation.