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West Virginia | Southern West Virginia / Little Coal Water Trail
Little Coal RiverMadison City Park to Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center
Little Coal River Madison City Park to Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center is a 9.5 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
A public 9.5-mile beginner Little Coal Water Trail reach from Madison to the Donald Kuhn access, supported by the nearby Danville gauge.
Access map
Put-in
Madison City Park public accessMadison City Park and Donald Kuhn are public access anchors, not permission to use adjacent private or railroad property; confirm current lot access and carry path.
Take-out
Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center public accessThe brochure includes a shorter Danville City Launch variant; this card intentionally uses the full Madison-to-Kuhn pair to preserve distinct public coverage.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Madison City Park and Donald Kuhn are public access anchors, not permission to use adjacent private or railroad property; confirm current lot access and carry path.
- The brochure includes a shorter Danville City Launch variant; this card intentionally uses the full Madison-to-Kuhn pair to preserve distinct public coverage.
- Carry water, food, spare layers, and a repair kit for the long float; arrange the shuttle before launch because upper Little Coal cell service is unreliable.
Watch for
- USGS 03199000 discharge outside the 80–1,100 cfs conservative screen, a sharp rise after rain, or a mismatch between gauge telemetry and local conditions.
- Shallow riffles, natural-rock restoration structures, strainers, submerged debris, coal-truck traffic, private banks, cold water, and limited cell service.
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
Little Coal River at Danville, 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 | Little Coal River at Danville, 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 | 125 cfs to 400 cfs |
| Low threshold | 80 cfs |
| High threshold | 1,100 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Initial conservative Little Coal screen from USGS 03199000 seasonal statistics: about 80 cfs lower bound, 126 cfs median, 419 cfs 75th percentile, and 1,110 cfs recent maximum |
| 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 corridorMadison City Park to Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center; 9.5 mi; L-1
The current Coal River Water Trail brochure names the route and 9.5-mile distance; the WVDNR route table reports the same pair as 9.0 miles, so the product preserves the newer brochure distance and documents the discrepancy.
- Public access endpointsMadison City Park 38.0595,-81.8247 to Donald Kuhn 38.1375,-81.8365
WVDNR District 5 lists both as Little Coal River public access lots. Confirm parking, signage, and current surface conditions before unloading.
- GaugeUSGS 03199000 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
Little Coal River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Madison City Park to Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center route on the Little Coal River?
Paddle Today watches Little Coal River at Danville, WV and treats 125 cfs to 400 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the Madison City Park to Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center route on the Little Coal River start and end?
This route starts at Madison City Park public access and ends at Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center public access, 9.5 mi on the water.
Is the Madison City Park to Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center route on the Little 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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