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Virginia | Henry County / Smith River Blueway

Smith RiverFieldale River Access to Doe Run River Access

A planning-only approximately 5-mile Smith River Blueway float from Fieldale River Access to Doe Run River Access, with Class I (with Class II features reported by American Whitewater) moving water, cold tailwater, and release changes from Philpott Dam.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 5 river miles
DifficultyModerate
Typical timeAllow 1–3 hours depending on release
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Smith River in fog in Henry County, Virginia.
River contextSmith River in Henry County; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by MarmadukePercy via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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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 river milesFieldale River Access to Doe Run River Access
DifficultymoderateThe Blueway describes Class I (with Class II features reported by American Whitewater) water with cold tailwater, release changes, rocks, strainers, and public-access transitions.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at Doe Run River Access, then drive to Fieldale River Access. Confirm current parking, carry, road access, and release conditions before unloading.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific paddling permit is published. Follow Virginia boating and PFD rules, Henry County access rules, posted closures, and all private-property boundaries.
CampingDay tripNo endpoint or on-route camping is claimed. Use separately verified lawful lodging or a designated regional campground; do not camp at Fieldale or Doe Run access.
SeasonMar-NovPhilpott generation controls the tailwater and can change conditions quickly. Check direct Bassett telemetry, generation timing, recent rain, water temperature, debris, daylight, and both access areas before launch.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A public 5-mile Smith River Blueway section with Class I (with Class II features reported by American Whitewater) water, direct Bassett gauge context, Philpott release dependence, and named public endpoints.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Fieldale River Access
Open mapDirections to put-in

Doe Run is the last public access before Martinsville Dam; there is no portage at the dam, so exit at Doe Run.

Finish

Take-out

Doe Run River Access
Open mapDirections to take-out

The Blueway’s 65–1,400 cfs value is release context, not a safety limit. Compare telemetry, generation timing, and the water-level visual before launch.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Doe Run is the last public access before Martinsville Dam; there is no portage at the dam, so exit at Doe Run.
  • The Blueway’s 65–1,400 cfs value is release context, not a safety limit. Compare telemetry, generation timing, and the water-level visual before launch.
  • The selected Doe Run River Access endpoint is the hard downstream boundary for this route; continue only with a separate verified plan and shuttle.

Watch for

  • USGS 02072500 unavailable, rapidly rising, or inconsistent with the put-in visual; also confirm the Philpott generation hotline
  • Class I (with Class II features reported by American Whitewater) rapids, rocks, strainers, bridge current, cold water, storms, and floating debris
  • closed or full access, slippery carry, private banks, a missed take-out, or loss of daylight

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.

Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Checking trend.

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Weather

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.

The Smith River in fog in Henry County, Virginia.
Smith River in Henry County; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by MarmadukePercy via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: CC BY-SA 3.0

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

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 moving-water corridorFieldale River Access to Doe Run River Access; approximately 5 miles; Class I (with Class II features reported by American Whitewater)

    The current Smith River Blueway access list and county brochure name both public endpoints, distance, rapid class, and travel context.

    Source

  • Gauge and release guidanceUSGS 02072500 at Bassett; 65–1,400 cfs release context and Philpott generation hotline

    The Blueway and local access pages direct paddlers to the direct gauge and generation schedule; no station-specific recreational cutoff is inferred.

    Source

  • Endpoint access and coordinatesFieldale River Access (36.6909, -79.9328) to Doe Run River Access (36.6695026, -79.8867143)

    Official tourism and county records identify both public access areas. Coordinates are access-area/address anchors and require exact wetted-edge confirmation.

    Source

  • Safety and camping postureClass I (with Class II features reported by American Whitewater); cold water; Philpott release changes; nearby basecamp only

    Official Blueway and access guidance requires PFDs, cold-water preparation, release checks, legal public access, and a separate camping decision.

    Source

  • Duplicate separationDistinct Fieldale River Access to Doe Run River Access section with named endpoint boundary

    The route has its own Blueway endpoint pair and is adjacent to, rather than overlapping, the other Smith River segments.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

More in Virginia

All 49 routes
Virginia route guideBrowse every tracked Virginia route.Henry County / Smith River BluewayJump to routes in this region.

More on Smith River

All 8
Bassett River Access to The Great Road River AccessHenry County / Bassett–FieldaleModerate · Approximately 5 river milesFrith Drive River Access to Smith River Sports Complex River AccessHenry County / Smith River BluewayModerate · Approximately 3 river milesMarrowbone Creek River Access to Mitchell Bridge River AccessHenry County / Smith River BluewayModerate · Approximately 3.4 river milesPhilpott Dam Tailrace to Bassett River AccessFranklin and Henry counties / Philpott tailwaterHard · Approximately 6.4 river miles

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Quick answers

Smith River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Fieldale River Access to Doe Run River Access route on the Smith River?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Fieldale River Access to Doe Run River Access route on the Smith River start and end?

This route starts at Fieldale River Access and ends at Doe Run River Access, Approximately 5 river miles on the water.

Is the Fieldale River Access to Doe Run River Access route on the Smith River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a moderate route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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