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Virginia | Radford / Pulaski County

New RiverBisset Park / Dudley’s Landing to Peppers Ferry

A roughly 5.5-mile Class I–II New River float from Radford’s Bisset Park/Dudley’s Landing access to Peppers Ferry, using direct USGS 03171000 stage data and American Whitewater’s station-specific runnable band.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 5.5 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical time2–4 hours depending on flow
ShuttleCar shuttle
The New River runs through the forested New River Gorge in West Virginia.
River contextNew River Gorge river character river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Malik Ahamed via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceApproximately 5.5 river milesBisset Park / Dudley’s Landing to Peppers Ferry
DifficultymoderateThe published split is approximately 5.5 miles of generally mild Class I–II moving water; plan for changing current, bridge/shoreline hazards, cold water, and limited legal exits.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the take-out at Peppers Ferry, then drive to the Radford Bisset Park/Dudley’s Landing access. Confirm current ramp, parking, road, and city access conditions before unloading.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific permit is published for these public accesses. Follow current Virginia boating, PFD, DWR, city, and posted access rules and all temporary closure notices.
CampingDay tripNo on-route or access-site camping is assumed. Use separately managed regional lodging or a lawful campground after confirming availability; a public access does not grant riverbank camping rights.
SeasonMar-NovCheck USGS 03171000 stage and trend, Claytor release notices, recent and forecast rain, water temperature, debris, daylight, and access status immediately before launch.

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 named lower Claytor Dam–Peppers Ferry split with public Radford and Peppers Ferry accesses, direct 03171000 stage telemetry, conservative 2–7 ft guidance, and generally mild Class I–II water.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Bisset Park Boat Ramp / Dudley’s Landing
Open mapDirections to put-in

Use only the documented Bisset Park/Dudley’s Landing and Peppers Ferry public accesses; verify current parking, ramp condition, and posted rules before launch.

Finish

Take-out

Peppers Ferry public access
Open mapDirections to take-out

Confirm the Peppers Ferry take-out is open and suitable for the group before committing; do not substitute an unverified roadside pullout or private bank.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Use only the documented Bisset Park/Dudley’s Landing and Peppers Ferry public accesses; verify current parking, ramp condition, and posted rules before launch.
  • Confirm the Peppers Ferry take-out is open and suitable for the group before committing; do not substitute an unverified roadside pullout or private bank.
  • Camping is not assumed at either access or along private riverbank; arrange separate lawful lodging or campground reservations.

Watch for

  • USGS 03171000 below 2 ft, above 7 ft, rapidly rising, unavailable, or inconsistent with the river visual
  • Claytor release changes, cold water, debris, bridge hydraulics, strainers, and limited legal exits
  • access or parking closures, thunderstorms, daylight loss, and failed shuttle plans

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

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Gauge detail

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Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

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Route gallery

Photos

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

The New River runs through the forested New River Gorge in West Virginia.
New River Gorge river character river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Malik Ahamed via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC BY 2.0

Score & sources

Why this score

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Data status
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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.

Why
  • Checking data sources and update times.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times

These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.

Gauge siteNew River at Radford, VA
Gauge heightChecking
DischargeChecking
24h trendChecking
24h changeChecking
Current bandChecking
Rain last 24hChecking
Rain last 72hChecking
Air tempChecking
Water tempChecking
WindChecking
GustsChecking
Rain timingChecking
Preferred range2.50 ft to 6.00 ft
Low threshold2.00 ft
High threshold7.00 ft
Evidence strength behind the rangeOfficial and local sources
Gauge observedChecking
Paddle Today updatedChecking
Main source behind this scoreAmerican Whitewater Radford reach correlation: 2.0 ft low-runnable minimum to 7.0 ft high-runnable maximum
Gauge sourceChecking
Weather sourceChecking
Rainfall sourceChecking
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 corridorClaytor Dam to Peppers Ferry; Bisset Park/Dudley’s Landing split; approximately 5.5 river miles

    Virginia DWR names the corridor and Radford city materials identify the public Bisset/Dudley’s Landing access.

    Source

  • Direct live gauge and thresholdUSGS 03171000 stage; 2.0–7.0 ft American Whitewater runnable band

    American Whitewater publishes the station-specific Radford correlation. Treat it as a conservative planning screen and confirm live trend and releases.

    Source

  • Public endpoints and access coordinatesBisset Park/Dudley’s Landing to Peppers Ferry

    Radford and DWR access materials identify the public endpoints and the implementation uses source-backed coordinates.

    Source

  • Camping logisticsNo on-route camping assumed; nearby basecamp only

    The documented accesses are day-use launch/take-out facilities; arrange separate lawful lodging or camping.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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Keep exploring

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Quick answers

New River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Bisset Park / Dudley’s Landing to Peppers Ferry route on the New River?

Paddle Today watches New River at Radford, VA and treats 2.50 ft to 6.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.

Where does the Bisset Park / Dudley’s Landing to Peppers Ferry route on the New River start and end?

This route starts at Bisset Park Boat Ramp / Dudley’s Landing and ends at Peppers Ferry public access, Approximately 5.5 river miles on the water.

Is the Bisset Park / Dudley’s Landing to Peppers Ferry route on the New 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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