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West Virginia | Kanawha County / Walhonde Water Trail
Coal RiverLower Falls to St. Albans Coal River Group access
Coal River Lower Falls to St. Albans Coal River Group access is a 6 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
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Six-mile lower Coal C-3 reach from the Lower Falls pull-off to the St. Albans Coal River Group/Gateway-area access, using Tornado as an upstream gauge proxy.
Access map
Put-in
Lower Falls public pull-offLower Falls is listed as a pull-off, not a developed ramp; confirm the carry path and safe shoreline egress before launching.
Take-out
St. Albans Coal River Group / Gateway-area public accessThe brochure uses a Gateway Shopping Center-area description while WVDNR names the St. Albans Coal River Group lot. This card uses the WVDNR coordinate and treats the brochure wording as a nearby landmark, not permission to use private shopping-center property.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Lower Falls is listed as a pull-off, not a developed ramp; confirm the carry path and safe shoreline egress before launching.
- The brochure uses a Gateway Shopping Center-area description while WVDNR names the St. Albans Coal River Group lot. This card uses the WVDNR coordinate and treats the brochure wording as a nearby landmark, not permission to use private shopping-center property.
- This card begins below Lower Falls and ends at the St. Albans access. Do not continue beyond the named take-out or land on private/industrial banks without separate permission.
Watch for
- USGS 03200500 discharge outside the 200–5,000 cfs conservative screen, a sharp rise, or a mismatch between upstream Tornado telemetry and lower-river conditions.
- Lower Falls shoals, shallow riffles, strainers, submerged debris, private banks, bridge/rail crossings, urban/industrial shoreline hazards, cold water, 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.
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
Coal River at Tornado, 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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Short-route forecast
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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 corridorLower Falls to St. Albans Coal River Group access; 6 mi C-3
The current Coal River Water Trail brochure names C-3 as a 6-mile trip from Lower Falls to the Gateway-area St. Albans take-out; WVDNR reports the same corridor as 5.5 miles, so the brochure distance is retained and the discrepancy is documented.
- Public access endpointsLower Falls 38.3775,-81.8567 to St. Albans 38.3910,-81.8401
WVDNR District 5 lists Lower Falls as a Coal River pull-off and the St. Albans Coal River Group site as a public lot. Confirm shoulder egress, parking, signage, and any event/maintenance closure before staging.
- GaugeUSGS 03200500 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.
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Quick answers
Coal River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Lower Falls to St. Albans Coal River Group access 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 Lower Falls to St. Albans Coal River Group access route on the Coal River start and end?
This route starts at Lower Falls public pull-off and ends at St. Albans Coal River Group / Gateway-area public access, 6 mi on the water.
Is the Lower Falls to St. Albans Coal River Group access 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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