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West Virginia | New River Gorge / Lower New

New RiverCunard River Access to Fayette Station

New River Cunard River Access to Fayette Station is a 6.84 mi Class III-IV run documented by American Whitewater and official access partners.

Route location

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Distance6.84 mi
DifficultyHard
Typical timeAbout 4–6 hr depending on flow
ShuttleCar shuttle
Lower Railroad rapid on the New River just downstream from Cunard access in New River Gorge, West Virginia.
Route photoLower Railroad rapid just downstream from Cunard accessPhoto by Ken Thomas via Wikimedia Commons

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 distance6.84 miCunard River Access to Fayette Station
DifficultyhardAdvanced/expert Class III-IV water requiring appropriate boat, rescue training, and team discipline.
ShuttleCar shuttleUse a high-clearance, shuttle-ready vehicle for Cunard Road and verify the seasonal road status before committing.
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.
CampingOptions nearbyNearby basecamp only; use separately verified NPS or local lodging/camping.
SeasonApr-OctLate spring through fall; current weather, road, and rescue conditions matter more than calendar season.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

Waiting on forecast.

WeekendChecking

Waiting on forecast.

Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

Expert Lower New run with powerful hydraulics, accident history, and a demanding Cunard shuttle.

Access map

Skip map

Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.

End of map
Start

Put-in

Cunard River Access
Open mapDirections to put-in

Verify Cunard Road status, vehicle suitability, parking, and Fayette Station access with NPS before travel.

Finish

Take-out

Fayette Station River Access
Open mapDirections to take-out

Carry a complete rescue and communication plan; do not launch solely from a favorable gauge reading.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Verify Cunard Road status, vehicle suitability, parking, and Fayette Station access with NPS before travel.
  • Carry a complete rescue and communication plan; do not launch solely from a favorable gauge reading.

Watch for

  • USGS discharge outside 500–15,250 cfs or rapidly rising trend.
  • Powerful hydraulics, boulders, undercuts, cold water, and accident history.

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.

Trip schedule

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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.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

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.

Lower Railroad rapid on the New River just downstream from Cunard access in New River Gorge, West Virginia.
Lower Railroad rapid just downstream from Cunard accessPhoto by Ken Thomas via Wikimedia Commons
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 corridorCunard to Fayette Station; 6.84 mi; Class III-IV

    American Whitewater documents the reach, discharge range, expert difficulty, and accident history.

    Source

  • Access warningCunard Road is steep, gravel, one lane, and seasonally restricted

    NPS road and access notices must be checked before travel.

    Source

  • GaugeUSGS 03185400 discharge telemetry

    Official same-river proxy used for the route planning screen; it is not a route-endpoint measurement. Verify current value and trend alongside weather, visual conditions, and access.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

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

Reports

Paddler reports

See recent photos and notes from people on the route.

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Photos

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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.

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Nearby routes within 75 miles

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Quick answers

New River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Cunard River Access to Fayette Station route on the New 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 Cunard River Access to Fayette Station route on the New River start and end?

This route starts at Cunard River Access and ends at Fayette Station River Access, 6.84 mi on the water.

Is the Cunard River Access to Fayette Station route on the New River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a hard 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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