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Virginia | Giles County / Glen Lyn
New River
Rich Creek to Glen Lyn
Check current paddling conditions for this New 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
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
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 named 4.5-mile Rich Creek–Glen Lyn Water Trail float with public ramps, direct 03176500 telemetry, an official flood-stage ceiling, and calm Class I moving water.
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
Rich Creek VDGIF public rampUse only the documented Rich Creek and Glen Lyn Park public accesses; verify current parking, ramp condition, and posted rules before launch.
Take-out
Glen Lyn Park public rampConfirm Glen Lyn Park is open and suitable for the take-out before committing; do not substitute an unverified roadside pullout or private bank.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Use only the documented Rich Creek and Glen Lyn Park public accesses; verify current parking, ramp condition, and posted rules before launch.
- Confirm Glen Lyn Park is open and suitable for the take-out 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 03176500 feed unavailable, rapidly rising, approaching the 15 ft flood stage, or inconsistent with the river visual
- low water requiring scraping, riffles, strainers, cold water, debris, and limited legal exits
- access or parking closures, thunderstorms, daylight loss, and failed shuttle plans
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 | New River at Glen Lyn, VA |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 | 2.00 ft to 10.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 0.00 ft |
| High threshold | 15.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | NWS Glen Lyn flood-stage ceiling: 15 ft; no published low-runnable minimum for the calm Water Trail segment |
| 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 corridorRich Creek to Glen Lyn; approximately 4.5 river miles / 2.5 hours
The New River Water Trail names the day trip and both public endpoints.
- Direct live gauge and thresholdUSGS 03176500 discharge/stage; NWS 15 ft flood-stage ceiling
USGS provides direct telemetry and NWS provides the official flood-stage safety ceiling. No low-runnable minimum is published, so same-day visual depth and trend checks are required.
- Public endpoints and access coordinatesRich Creek VDGIF ramp to Glen Lyn Park ramp
DWR access records and the Glen Lyn Park page identify the public endpoints and source-backed coordinates.
- Camping logisticsNo on-route camping assumed; nearby basecamp only
The documented accesses are day-use facilities; arrange separate lawful lodging or camping.
- Rights-clean image decisionNo route-specific image copied; approved New River context image used
The preview uses the approved same-river New River context image from the route gallery; it is not presented as an endpoint photograph.
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
New River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling New River?
Paddle Today watches New River at Glen Lyn, VA and treats 2.00 ft to 10.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this New River route start and end?
This route starts at Rich Creek VDGIF public ramp and ends at Glen Lyn Park public ramp, about Approximately 4.5 river miles on the water.
Is this New River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.