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Virginia | Botetourt County / Iron Gate–Glen Wilton
James River
Iron Gate/Lick Run to Glen Wilton
Check current paddling conditions for this James 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 compact Class I–II public-access float with a short shuttle, direct Lick Run telemetry, private banks, and an access road that requires a same-day condition check.
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
Iron Gate/Lick Run public shoreline accessUse the named Iron Gate/Lick Run and Glen Wilton public shoreline accesses. Do not substitute an unverified roadside pullout or private bank.
Take-out
Glen Wilton public shoreline accessThe Lick Run access road is steep and may wash out. Do not attempt it when posted closed, visibly damaged, or unsuitable for the vehicle and trailer.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Use the named Iron Gate/Lick Run and Glen Wilton public shoreline accesses. Do not substitute an unverified roadside pullout or private bank.
- The Lick Run access road is steep and may wash out. Do not attempt it when posted closed, visibly damaged, or unsuitable for the vehicle and trailer.
- DWR boating access facilities are for launching, retrieving, and fishing; camping, loitering, swimming, and public alcohol display are prohibited.
Watch for
- USGS 02016500 below 400 cfs, above 20,000 cfs, rising rapidly, unavailable, or inconsistent with the launch visual
- wood, strainers, shallow rock, quick current, cold water, storms, poor visibility, or insufficient daylight
- a washed-out or closed launch road, obstructed public landing, failed shuttle, or pressure to use private property
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 | James River at Lick Run, 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 5,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 400 cfs |
| High threshold | 20,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater Iron Gate–Glen Wilton correlation: 400–20,000 cfs at USGS 02016500 |
| 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 corridorIron Gate/Lick Run to Glen Wilton; 2.5 published miles / about 3.2 mapped miles; Class I–II
The official water trail publishes the exact itinerary, public endpoints, 2.5-mile estimate, typical duration, quick current, and rapid difficulty. The endpoint-snapped canonical and American Whitewater traces both measure about 3.2 miles, so paddlers should plan for the longer mapped distance.
- Direct gauge and thresholdsUSGS 02016500; American Whitewater 400–20,000 cfs
American Whitewater ties its Iron Gate–Glen Wilton reach to the Lick Run gauge. The product’s ideal band is deliberately narrower than the published runnable limits.
- Public access and coordinatesIron Gate and Glen Wilton public shoreline accesses
The water trail’s public-access directory publishes both facility types and exact endpoint coordinates.
- Camping logisticsNo route camping; Douthat State Park regional basecamp
DWR access sites are not campsites. Douthat is a separate reservable campground/cabin option and is not presented as part of the river corridor.
- Rights-clean image decisionUse the approved PaddleToday route-photo fallback
No image is copied from the water trail, American Whitewater, USGS, DWR, or Virginia State Parks. Add route-specific imagery 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.
- Upper James River Water Trail suggested floats
- Upper James River Water Trail public access points
- Upper James River Water Trail maps
- American Whitewater Iron Gate–Glen Wilton
- USGS 02016500 monitoring location
- USGS 02016500 current conditions
- Virginia DWR boating-access use rules
- Virginia DWR alerts
- Virginia State Parks Douthat
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
James River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling James River?
Paddle Today watches James River at Lick Run, VA and treats 800 cfs to 5,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this James River route start and end?
This route starts at Iron Gate/Lick Run public shoreline access and ends at Glen Wilton public shoreline access, about 2.5 published river miles; endpoint-snapped traces measure about 3.2 miles on the water.
Is this James 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.
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Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.