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Virginia | Franklin and Henry counties / Philpott tailwater

Smith RiverPhilpott Dam Tailrace to Bassett River Access

A planning-only 6.4-mile Smith River Blueway float from the public Philpott Dam tailrace to Bassett River Access, with Class I–III rapids, cold tailwater, and rapid release changes from Philpott Dam.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 6.4 river miles
DifficultyHard
Typical timeAllow 2–3 hours depending on generation
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 6.4 river milesPhilpott Dam Tailrace to Bassett River Access
DifficultyhardThe Blueway describes Class I–III water below a dam with cold tailwater, rapid releases, rocks, strainers, and limited intermediate exits. This planning route is for paddlers with appropriate moving-water skills.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at Bassett River Access, then drive to the Philpott Dam tailrace. 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, USACE/land-manager notices, posted closures, and private-property restrictions.
CampingDay tripNo endpoint or on-route camping is claimed. Use separately verified lawful lodging or a designated regional campground; do not camp at the tailrace or public access.
SeasonMar-NovPhilpott generation controls the tailwater and can change conditions rapidly. Check direct Bassett telemetry, generation timing, recent rainfall, water temperature, debris, daylight, and the tailrace visual before launch.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

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

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A public 6.4-mile Smith River tailwater float with Class I–III rapids, direct same-river gauge context, Philpott release dependence, cold water, and named public endpoints.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Philpott Dam Tailrace Access
Open mapDirections to put-in

The Blueway identifies Philpott Dam access in both Henry and Franklin counties and Bassett River Access as public launches. Confirm which side is open, the exact carry to the water, parking, gates, and current tailrace conditions.

Finish

Take-out

Bassett River Access / North Bassett Canoe Access
Open mapDirections to take-out

The 65–1,400 cfs range is a documented release context, not a safety limit. Do not launch on a rising release or outside the group’s skills merely because the gauge falls within that range.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The Blueway identifies Philpott Dam access in both Henry and Franklin counties and Bassett River Access as public launches. Confirm which side is open, the exact carry to the water, parking, gates, and current tailrace conditions.
  • The 65–1,400 cfs range is a documented release context, not a safety limit. Do not launch on a rising release or outside the group’s skills merely because the gauge falls within that range.
  • Bassett is the hard downstream boundary for this route. Do not continue into the next Blueway section without a separate plan, shuttle, and current access check.

Watch for

  • USGS 02072500 unavailable, rapidly rising, or inconsistent with the tailrace visual; also confirm the Philpott generation hotline
  • dam-release pulse, Class I–III rapids, rocks, strainers, bridge current, cold water, storms, and floating debris
  • closed or full access, slippery carry, private or industrial banks, failed shuttle, 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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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

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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 corridorSmith River Blueway Philpott Dam to Bassett; 6.4 miles; Class I–III

    The current Blueway brochure names both public access options, distance, class, access addresses, and estimated travel time.

    Source

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

    The Blueway documents the release context and Henry County directs paddlers to current USGS conditions and generation timing. No station-specific recreational cutoff is inferred.

    Source

  • Endpoint access and coordinatesPhilpott tailrace 36.780576, -80.025937; Bassett 36.76992, -80.00147

    The county plan supplies the tailrace coordinate and the current Bassett access record supplies the downstream access anchor; confirm wetted-edge entry and current access status.

    Source

  • Safety and camping postureClass I–III tailwater, cold water, rapid releases, dam hazards, nearby basecamp only

    Official Blueway and access sources require PFDs, cold-water preparation, release checks, and legal public accesses; no endpoint camping is claimed.

    Source

  • Duplicate separationDistinct Philpott Dam tailwater section; does not overlap Bassett–Great Road

    This route ends at Bassett and the existing Smith route begins there, so the two records are adjacent alternatives with a shared public access boundary rather than duplicate river miles.

    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

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Virginia route guideBrowse every tracked Virginia route.Franklin and Henry counties / Philpott tailwaterJump to routes in this region.

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Quick answers

Smith River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Philpott Dam Tailrace to Bassett 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 Philpott Dam Tailrace to Bassett River Access route on the Smith River start and end?

This route starts at Philpott Dam Tailrace Access and ends at Bassett River Access / North Bassett Canoe Access, Approximately 6.4 river miles on the water.

Is the Philpott Dam Tailrace to Bassett River Access route on the Smith River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a hard 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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