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Virginia | Botetourt County / Iron Gate–Glen Wilton
James RiverIron Gate/Lick Run to Glen Wilton
A short Upper James float from the public Iron Gate/Lick Run shoreline access to Glen Wilton. The official water trail lists 2.5 river miles, while the endpoint-snapped canonical and American Whitewater traces measure about 3.2 miles. The water trail documents easy Class I rapids and one Class II rapid, and American Whitewater ties the corridor to direct USGS 02016500 flow.
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Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.
Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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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.
Access map
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.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
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
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
USGS measurements
More about this gauge
These measurements come from the gauge station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
James River at Lick Run, VA. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Gauge detail
Water-level history and forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Route gallery
Photos
Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today’s call.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
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- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain 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 |
| Preferred range | 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.
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
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Quick answers
James River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Iron Gate/Lick Run to Glen Wilton route on the 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 the Iron Gate/Lick Run to Glen Wilton route on the James River start and end?
This route starts at Iron Gate/Lick Run public shoreline access and ends at Glen Wilton public shoreline access, 2.5 published river miles; endpoint-snapped traces measure about 3.2 miles on the water.
Is the Iron Gate/Lick Run to Glen Wilton route on the James River suitable 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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