Paddle TodayFind the best paddle near you today

Live score, water level, and weather.

See all 2 routes on Clinch River

Virginia | Russell County / Upper Clinch River

Clinch RiverBlackford Bridge to Puckett's Hole

A planning-only 7.3-mile Upper Clinch River float between Virginia DWR public access points at Blackford Bridge and Puckett's Hole, with direct Cleveland gauge context and official local guidance that high flows may be challenging.

Route location

Loading the route map.

Open access map

Plan this route

Distance7.3 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAllow 3–5 hours depending on flow
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Clinch River at U.S. Highway 23/58/421 near Speers Ferry in Scott County, Virginia.
River contextClinch River at Speers Ferry; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by NOAA via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
View Primary Source
Embed this route

Route alerts

Email me when this route improves

We'll email you when this route climbs into Good or Strong. Every email includes an unsubscribe link.

We only email on a new threshold crossing.

Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distance7.3 river milesBlackford Bridge to Puckett's Hole
DifficultymoderateThe named 7.3-mile float has public access at both ends but remains a moving-water trip with changing current, strainers, cold water, private banks, and high-flow consequences. It is not a beginner outing when conditions are elevated.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at Puckett's Hole, then drive to Blackford Bridge. Confirm current parking, the gravel/shoreline carry, gates, road conditions, and both access areas before unloading.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific permit is published. Follow current Virginia boating and PFD law, DWR access rules, posted parking and closure notices, and private-property boundaries.
CampingOptions nearbyCamping is prohibited at the DWR access points and no on-route camping is assumed. Clinch River State Park currently has day-use launches and no overnight facilities; use separate lawful regional lodging or a designated campground only.
SeasonMar-NovThe upper Clinch responds to rainfall and can change quickly. Check USGS 03524000 discharge/stage and trend, recent and forecast rainfall, debris, water temperature, daylight, and both access areas immediately before launch.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

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.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Blackford Bridge Virginia DWR gravel access
Open mapDirections to put-in

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.

Finish

Take-out

Puckett's Hole Virginia DWR shoreline access
Open mapDirections to take-out

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.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

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

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.

Browser plans

Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.

Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.

Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

Checking preferred range.

Checking trend.

------------

Weather

Hourly forecast

Checking weather.

Loading today's forecast.

Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

Checking the next several hours.

Checking the best short-route window.
----Loading--

Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Clinch River at U.S. Highway 23/58/421 near Speers Ferry in Scott County, Virginia.
Clinch River at Speers Ferry; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by NOAA via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: public domain

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

  • 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.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

Paddler reports

See recent photos and notes from people on the route.

Share your trip

Help build the route page

Add photos or send a quick condition report.

Photos

Upload route photos

Add access, hazard, or on-water photos.

No files selected yet.

Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Virginia

All 49 routes
Virginia route guideBrowse every tracked Virginia route.Russell County / Upper Clinch RiverJump to routes in this region.

More on Clinch River

All 2
Puckett's Hole to Nash's FordRussell County / Clinch River GorgeHard · 8.2 river miles

Nearby routes within 75 miles

South Fork Holston RiverDrowning Ford / Route 58 access to Alvarado Route 710 · about 24 straight-line mi awayHard · Approximately 3.5–3.8 river milesNorth Fork Holston RiverWadlow Gap to Yuma via Weber City · about 42 straight-line mi awayEasy · Approximately 4.4 river milesLevisa ForkJubilee Christian Church Ramp to Island Creek Ramp · about 44 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 3.8 miLevisa ForkJubilee Christian Church Ramp to Cedar Creek Canoe Access · about 44 straight-line mi awayEasy · About 5.5 mi

Quick answers

Clinch River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Blackford Bridge to Puckett's Hole route on the Clinch River?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Blackford Bridge to Puckett's Hole route on the Clinch River start and end?

This route starts at Blackford Bridge Virginia DWR gravel access and ends at Puckett's Hole Virginia DWR shoreline access, 7.3 river miles on the water.

Is the Blackford Bridge to Puckett's Hole route on the Clinch River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

Flag a change

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.

Report a changeEmail update