See all 3 routes on Coal River
West Virginia | Kanawha County / Walhonde Water Trail
Coal RiverMeadowood Park to Lower Falls
Coal River Meadowood Park to Lower Falls 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
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Six-mile Coal C-2 flatwater/shoal reach from Meadowood Park below Upper Falls Dam to the Lower Falls pull-off, supported by the nearby Tornado gauge.
Access map
Put-in
Meadowood Park public access (below Upper Falls Dam)Meadowood is an unimproved walk-down trail below Upper Falls Dam. Never paddle upstream toward the dam and do not assume a portage exists around it.
Take-out
Lower Falls public pull-offLower Falls is listed as a pull-off rather than a developed ramp; confirm the shoreline, shoulder parking, and safe egress before launch.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Meadowood is an unimproved walk-down trail below Upper Falls Dam. Never paddle upstream toward the dam and do not assume a portage exists around it.
- Lower Falls is listed as a pull-off rather than a developed ramp; confirm the shoreline, shoulder parking, and safe egress before launch.
- This card ends at the upper shoals/Lower Falls boundary. Do not continue downstream into C-3 or land at private banks without a separately verified access plan.
Watch for
- USGS 03200500 discharge outside the 200–5,000 cfs conservative screen, a sharp rise, or a mismatch between Tornado telemetry and the lower reach.
- Upper Falls Dam boundary upstream, Lower Falls shoals, shallow riffles, strainers, submerged debris, private banks, cold water, traffic/rail crossings, and limited cell service.
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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
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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Short-route forecast
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Route gallery
Photos
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Score & sources
Why this score
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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 | Coal River at Tornado, 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 | 400 cfs to 2,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 200 cfs |
| High threshold | 5,000 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Initial conservative Coal C-2 screen from USGS 03200500 April–October daily means (2010–2026): roughly 200 cfs low, 400 cfs planning floor, 2,000 cfs upper planning band, and 5,000 cfs high-water stop; no official C-2 runnable range published |
| 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 corridorMeadowood Park to Lower Falls; 6 mi C-2
The current Coal River Water Trail brochure names C-2 as a 6-mile trip from the Meadowood public access to the upper shoals of the Lower Falls area; WVDNR independently lists the same endpoints and distance.
- Public access endpointsMeadowood Park 38.3393,-81.8402 to Lower Falls 38.3775,-81.8567
WVDNR District 5 lists Meadowood as a Coal River lot and Lower Falls as a pull-off. Meadowood is below Upper Falls Dam and uses an unimproved walk-down; confirm carry path, parking, and take-out shoulder conditions 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
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Quick answers
Coal River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Meadowood Park to Lower Falls route on the Coal River?
Paddle Today watches Coal River at Tornado, WV and treats 400 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 Meadowood Park to Lower Falls route on the Coal River start and end?
This route starts at Meadowood Park public access (below Upper Falls Dam) and ends at Lower Falls public pull-off, 6 mi on the water.
Is the Meadowood Park to Lower Falls route on the 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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