See all 5 routes on Big Coal River
West Virginia | Southern West Virginia / Big Coal Water Trail
Big Coal RiverJohn Slack Park to Dartmont Park
Big Coal River John Slack Park to Dartmont Park is a 10.5 mi Class I run documented by official route and access sources.
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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
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Long beginner Class I Big Coal Water Trail reach from John Slack Park to Dartmont Park with a direct nearby Ashford gauge.
Access map
Put-in
John Slack Park public boat accessJohn Slack and Dartmont are public access anchors; confirm current parking, ramp/shoreline condition, and any park event or maintenance closure before unloading.
Take-out
Dartmont Park public boat accessThis card ends at Dartmont and does not authorize continuing downstream to Sproul or the Coal mainstem; stage a separate plan for later segments.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- John Slack and Dartmont are public access anchors; confirm current parking, ramp/shoreline condition, and any park event or maintenance closure before unloading.
- This card ends at Dartmont and does not authorize continuing downstream to Sproul or the Coal mainstem; stage a separate plan for later segments.
- Carry water, food, spare layers, and a repair kit; arrange the long shuttle before launch because cell service is unreliable.
Watch for
- USGS 03198500 discharge outside the 400–4,000 cfs route-family screen, a sharp rise after rain, or a mismatch between Ashford telemetry and local conditions.
- Shallow riffles, strainers, submerged debris, private banks, cold water, long exposure, and coal-truck traffic on access roads.
Plan this paddle
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
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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
Big Coal River at Ashford, WV. 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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Route gallery
Photos
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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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Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Big Coal River at Ashford, WV |
| 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 | 700 cfs to 2,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 400 cfs |
| High threshold | 4,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Conservative Big Coal route-family screen reused from American Whitewater reach 10525: 400 cfs low runnable, 700 cfs medium, 2,000 cfs high, 4,000 cfs upper end |
| 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 route corridorJohn Slack Park to Dartmont Park; 10.5 mi; B-3
The current Coal River Water Trail brochure names B-3 and its 10.5-mile distance; the WVDNR route table reports the same endpoints as 9.0 miles, so the newer brochure distance is retained and the discrepancy is visible.
- Public access endpointsJohn Slack 38.1375,-81.6464 to Dartmont 38.1892,-81.7220
WVDNR District 5 lists both as Big Coal River public access lots. Confirm parking, signage, and current ramp conditions before staging.
- GaugeUSGS 03198500 discharge telemetry
Official same-river gauge used for the route planning screen; verify current value and trend before launch.
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
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Keep exploring
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Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
Quick answers
Big Coal River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the John Slack Park to Dartmont Park route on the Big Coal River?
Paddle Today watches Big Coal River at Ashford, WV and treats 700 cfs to 2,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the John Slack Park to Dartmont Park route on the Big Coal River start and end?
This route starts at John Slack Park public boat access and ends at Dartmont Park public boat access, 10.5 mi on the water.
Is the John Slack Park to Dartmont Park route on the Big Coal River suitable 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.
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