See all 2 routes on Clinch River
Virginia | Russell County / Upper Clinch River
Clinch River
Blackford Bridge to Puckett's Hole
Check current paddling conditions for this Clinch River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
A remote-feeling Upper Clinch day float with two public access anchors, a self-shuttle, no endpoint camping, and direct same-river gauge context without a numeric station-specific threshold.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Blackford Bridge Virginia DWR gravel accessDWR identifies Blackford Bridge as a gravel access and Puckett's Hole as shoreline access; neither description guarantees a surveyed wetted-edge launch in every season.
Take-out
Puckett's Hole Virginia DWR shoreline accessThe access page says no trespassing except to fish or launch and prohibits camping. Keep the take-out boundary hard and do not improvise private-bank scouting, portages, or campsites.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- DWR identifies Blackford Bridge as a gravel access and Puckett's Hole as shoreline access; neither description guarantees a surveyed wetted-edge launch in every season.
- The access page says no trespassing except to fish or launch and prohibits camping. Keep the take-out boundary hard and do not improvise private-bank scouting, portages, or campsites.
- Clinch River State Park’s current facilities are day-use only with no overnight facilities. Confirm all access hours, closures, parking, and the vehicle shuttle on the day of the trip.
Watch for
- USGS 03524000 unavailable, rapidly rising, or inconsistent with the official high-flow caution and the actual Blackford put-in visual
- low water, strainers, changing current, cold water, storms, debris, private banks, and loss of daylight
- rough gravel or shoreline carry, full parking, closed access, failed shuttle, camping-rule violations, or a take-out that cannot be reached legally
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
No approved route photos yet
Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Clinch River at Cleveland, VA |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | Not calibrated yet |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Official Clinch River access guidance: high flows may be challenging; no station-specific numeric threshold |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesWhat to know before you go
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Named public moving-water corridorClinch River Blackford Bridge to Puckett's Hole; 7.3 miles
The official Clinch River access guide names the exact float and identifies high flows as potentially challenging.
- Direct gauge and flow guidanceUSGS 03524000 discharge/stage; qualitative high-flow caution only
USGS supplies direct Clinch River telemetry. The official route source provides no station-specific numeric recreational threshold, so the route remains planning-only.
- Endpoint access and coordinatesBlackford Bridge 36.9965, -81.9437; Puckett’s Hole 36.9699, -82.0137
Virginia DWR lists the endpoints as public gravel and shoreline accesses. Stored coordinates are access-area anchors, not surveyed wetted-edge points.
- Safety and camping postureHigh-flow caution; no access-site camping; Clinch River State Park day-use context
Use PFDs and moving-water judgment, respect private banks and sensitive habitat, and arrange separate lawful lodging or camping away from the access points.
- Rights-clean image decisionUse the approved Clinch River public-domain context image
The existing approved same-river public-domain image is route context only and does not certify current access or conditions.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Clinch River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Clinch River?
Paddle Today watches Clinch River at Cleveland, VA and uses Not calibrated yet as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Clinch River route start and end?
This route starts at Blackford Bridge Virginia DWR gravel access and ends at Puckett's Hole Virginia DWR shoreline access, about 7.3 river miles on the water.
Is this Clinch River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a moderate route. Expect more planning than an easy float, and use the live score, route notes, and source links before committing.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.