See all 2 routes on Clinch River
Virginia | Russell County / Clinch River Gorge
Clinch River
Puckett's Hole to Nash's Ford
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 whitewater day run with two public shoreline accesses, a self-shuttle, no endpoint facilities or camping, sensitive Clinch River habitat, and a direct same-river gauge.
Plan a shorter segmentOptional
Access planner
Pick a shorter segment
This changes launch and take-out logistics, not today's river score.
Peltier Lake to Long Lake is the full route. Shorter access pairs are useful when wind, time, or group energy changes the plan.
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
Puckett's Hole DWR shoreline accessVirginia DWR lists Puckett's Hole and Nash's Ford as public shoreline accesses, not developed ramps; both have no facilities and access-site camping is prohibited.
Take-out
Nash's Ford DWR shoreline accessAmerican Whitewater describes the Puckett's Hole approach as narrow, gravel, and rough and places the Nash Ford take-out upstream of the bridge on river left. Verify both before committing to the run.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Virginia DWR lists Puckett's Hole and Nash's Ford as public shoreline accesses, not developed ramps; both have no facilities and access-site camping is prohibited.
- American Whitewater describes the Puckett's Hole approach as narrow, gravel, and rough and places the Nash Ford take-out upstream of the bridge on river left. Verify both before committing to the run.
- The Clinch supports exceptional fish and mussel diversity. Minimize bottom contact, do not collect or disturb wildlife, and follow current DWR and posted habitat rules.
Watch for
- USGS 03524000 outside 600–5,000 cfs, rising rapidly, unavailable, or inconsistent with the put-in visual
- Double Ledges, strengthening holes at higher flow, submerged rocks or wood, cold water, storms, and daylight loss
- rough gravel access roads, limited parking, no endpoint facilities, a failed shuttle, or a current access closure
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 |
| Target band | 800 cfs to 3,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 600 cfs |
| High threshold | 5,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Clinch River Gorge correlation: 600–5,000 cfs at USGS 03524000 |
| 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 corridorPuckett's Hole to Nash's Ford; 8.2 miles; Class I-III
Virginia DWR lists both public shoreline accesses and coordinates; American Whitewater publishes the exact reach, distance, difficulty, and feature sequence.
- Direct live gauge and thresholdUSGS 03524000; American Whitewater runnable range 600–5,000 cfs
American Whitewater ties the exact reach to the Cleveland gauge; USGS supplies current discharge and gage height.
- Access, safety, and habitatTwo DWR shoreline accesses; Double Ledges; exceptional fish and mussel diversity
DWR prohibits camping at its access sites and documents the Clinch’s ecological importance; American Whitewater identifies the principal ledge hazards.
- Camping logisticsNatural Tunnel State Park regional basecamp; no access-site or on-route camping
Natural Tunnel currently offers two campgrounds, cabins, yurts, and primitive camping. It is a separate regional basecamp, not part of the river corridor.
- Rights-clean image decisionUse the approved PaddleToday route-photo fallback
No image is copied from DWR, DCR, USGS, or American Whitewater. Add a route-specific photo only after reuse rights are verified.
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 treats 800 cfs to 3,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this Clinch River route start and end?
This route starts at Puckett's Hole DWR shoreline access and ends at Nash's Ford DWR shoreline access, about 8.2 river miles on the water.
Is this Clinch River route good for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.