See all 5 routes on Big Coal River
West Virginia | Southern West Virginia / Big Coal Water Trail
Big Coal RiverWhitesville Public Access to JM Protan Community Center / Orgas
Big Coal River Whitesville Public Access to JM Protan Community Center / Orgas is a 9.22 mi Class I run documented by American Whitewater and official access partners.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route map.
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
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Beginner-friendly Big Coal Water Trail reach with a route-specific American Whitewater flow screen and a downstream Ashford gauge proxy.
Access map
Put-in
Whitesville Public Access / water intakeThe brochure describes the Whitesville put-in as behind a funeral home/water intake; treat the coordinate as an access anchor, not permission to use private parking. Confirm current public signage and carry path.
Take-out
JM Protan Community Center / Orgas accessThe JM Protan Community Center endpoint is a community access; confirm hours, parking, and any event conflicts before staging. Do not substitute an unverified roadside bank.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- The brochure describes the Whitesville put-in as behind a funeral home/water intake; treat the coordinate as an access anchor, not permission to use private parking. Confirm current public signage and carry path.
- The JM Protan Community Center endpoint is a community access; confirm hours, parking, and any event conflicts before staging. Do not substitute an unverified roadside bank.
Watch for
- USGS 03198500 discharge outside the 400–4,000 cfs screen, a sharp rise after rain, or a mismatch between Ashford telemetry and local conditions upstream.
- Shallow riffles, strainers, submerged debris, coal-truck traffic on access roads, private banks, cold water, and no cell service.
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.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
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.
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
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampWeather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route gallery
Photos
Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.
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 route corridorWhitesville to JM Protan Community Center / Orgas; 9.22 mi; Class I
American Whitewater documents the route, mileage, Class I difficulty, and four flow bands; the Coal River brochure independently lists the Whitesville-to-Orgas trip as B-1.
- Public access endpointsWhitesville 37.9696,-81.5302 to Orgas 38.063838,-81.574858
American Whitewater publishes endpoint coordinates and the Coal River brochure names the Whitesville water-intake and JM Protan Community Center access context. Confirm parking and signage before unloading.
- 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
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 explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
Quick answers
Big Coal River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Whitesville Public Access to JM Protan Community Center / Orgas route on the Big Coal 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 Whitesville Public Access to JM Protan Community Center / Orgas route on the Big Coal River start and end?
This route starts at Whitesville Public Access / water intake and ends at JM Protan Community Center / Orgas access, 9.22 mi on the water.
Is the Whitesville Public Access to JM Protan Community Center / Orgas route on the Big Coal River suitable for beginners?
This is listed as a easy route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.