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West Virginia | Southern West Virginia / Walhonde Water Trail

Coal RiverThe Forks of Coal public access to Alum Creek Lions Club Park

Coal River The Forks of Coal public access to Alum Creek Lions Club Park is a 3 mi Class I run documented by official route and access sources.

Route location

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Distance3 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 2–4 hr depending on flow
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Coal River at Tornado, West Virginia.
Route photoCoal River at Tornado; same-river contextPhoto by Wikimedia Commons contributor

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 distance3 miThe Forks of Coal public access to Alum Creek Lions Club Park
DifficultyeasyEasy Class I moving water for prepared beginners, but the confluence/lock context and unimproved carry at The Forks require a deliberate scout and shuttle.
ShuttleCar shuttleLeave the shuttle at Alum Creek Lions Club Park, then return south on WV Route 119/Corridor G to The Forks of Coal. Confirm both lots and avoid highway or private shoulders.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific permit is published for the named public endpoints. Follow current West Virginia boating/PFD rules, posted access rules, and any closure or water-quality notice.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is assumed. Use the Boone County Water Park/Little Coal campground or other verified Coal River lodging as a nearby basecamp; confirm availability, fees, fire rules, water quality, and overnight parking.
SeasonApr-OctLate spring through fall; September is attractive when Tornado telemetry is stable, recent rainfall is limited, water-quality notices are clear, and both public lots are open.

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

Short 3-mile Coal/Little Coal confluence reach from The Forks of Coal to Alum Creek Lions Club Park, with Lock 4 as an intermediate decision point and Tornado as a downstream proxy.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

The Forks of Coal public access
Open mapDirections to put-in

The Forks of Coal is a public lot but lies at the Little Coal–Big Coal confluence; confirm the carry path, current, parking, and legal staging before launching.

Finish

Take-out

Alum Creek Lions Club Park public boat access
Open mapDirections to take-out

The brochure describes Corridor G and Lock 4 options, but this card uses The Forks of Coal and Lions Park to avoid the off-channel printed bridge coordinate. Do not park on highway shoulders or private/railroad property.

Road shuttle

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Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • The Forks of Coal is a public lot but lies at the Little Coal–Big Coal confluence; confirm the carry path, current, parking, and legal staging before launching.
  • The brochure describes Corridor G and Lock 4 options, but this card uses The Forks of Coal and Lions Park to avoid the off-channel printed bridge coordinate. Do not park on highway shoulders or private/railroad property.
  • Alum Creek Lions Club Park is a named public access anchor; confirm ramp condition, signage, club/event conflicts, and downstream continuation boundaries before landing.

Watch for

  • USGS 03200500 discharge outside the 200–5,000 cfs conservative screen, a sharp rise, or a mismatch between downstream Tornado telemetry and confluence conditions.
  • Confluence current, Lock 4/low-head structure hazards, shallow riffles, strainers, submerged debris, private banks, cold water, traffic/rail crossings, and limited cell service.

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

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Gauge

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Coal River at Tornado, West Virginia.
Coal River at Tornado; same-river contextPhoto by Wikimedia Commons contributor
Wikimedia Commons: Public domain

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 corridorThe Forks of Coal to Alum Creek Lions Club Park; 3 mi L-4 full public-access variant

    The current Coal River Water Trail brochure names L-4 as a 3-mile Corridor G-to-Lions Park trip with Lock 4 as an intermediate decision point. Its printed Corridor G coordinate is off-channel near Fuquay Creek, so the route uses WVDNR's The Forks of Coal public lot as the verified start.

    Source

  • Public access endpointsThe Forks of Coal 38.2670,-81.8052 to Alum Creek Lions Club Park 38.2994,-81.8108

    WVDNR District 5 lists both endpoints as public access lots. Confirm the Forks carry path, confluence conditions, Lions Park ramp, and any event/maintenance closure before staging.

    Source

  • GaugeUSGS 03200500 discharge telemetry

    Official same-river gauge used for the route planning screen; verify current value and trend before launch.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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

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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 West Virginia

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West Virginia route guideBrowse every tracked West Virginia route.Southern West Virginia / Walhonde Water TrailJump to routes in this region.

More on Coal River

All 3
Lower Falls to St. Albans Coal River Group accessKanawha County / Walhonde Water TrailEasy · 6 miMeadowood Park to Lower FallsKanawha County / Walhonde Water TrailEasy · 6 mi

Nearby routes within 75 miles

Big Coal RiverSproul Road Launch to Alum Creek Lions Club Park · about 2 straight-line mi awayEasy · 6 miLittle Coal RiverBoone County Water Park to The Forks of Coal public access · about 6 straight-line mi awayEasy · 12 miBig Coal RiverDartmont Park to Sproul Road Launch · about 7 straight-line mi awayEasy · 6.5 miLittle Coal RiverDonald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center to Upper Waterways Park · about 9 straight-line mi awayEasy · 7 mi

Quick answers

Coal River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the The Forks of Coal public access to Alum Creek Lions Club Park route on the 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 The Forks of Coal public access to Alum Creek Lions Club Park route on the Coal River start and end?

This route starts at The Forks of Coal public access and ends at Alum Creek Lions Club Park public boat access, 3 mi on the water.

Is the The Forks of Coal public access to Alum Creek Lions Club Park route on the 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.

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