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West Virginia | New River Gorge / Sandstone
New RiverGlade Creek River Access to Grandview Sandbar
New River Glade Creek River Access to Grandview Sandbar is a 4.51 mi Class II-III run documented by American Whitewater and official access partners.
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Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Safety
Route safety
Advanced routeThis route has hazards that can create serious consequences if missed or misjudged. Paddle only with appropriate skill, equipment, and current local information.
Safety details
Grassy Shoals and Quinnimont are Class III features requiring scouting and a whitewater plan.
- High water increases swim consequences and can make the take-out ramp difficult to catch.
- The New River is powerful and remote between gorge access points; use a fitted PFD and a conservative go/no-go call.
Keep New River handy
Save this route in PaddleToday and check its conditions before your next paddle.
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.
Waiting on forecast.
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Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Compact New River Gorge run with Class III shoals and camping opportunities at both endpoints.
Access map
Put-in
Glade Creek River AccessCheck the Glade Creek launch and Grandview Sandbar ramp before committing; high water can make the ramp easy to miss.
Take-out
Grandview Sandbar River AccessConfirm current NPS road, campground, and parking status.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
Access caveats
- Check the Glade Creek launch and Grandview Sandbar ramp before committing; high water can make the ramp easy to miss.
- Confirm current NPS road, campground, and parking status.
Watch for
- USGS discharge outside 800–17,550 cfs or rapidly rising water.
- Grassy Shoals, Quinnimont, strong current, and a missed high-water take-out.
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.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
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Conditions
Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
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
New River at Thurmond, 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 note
Preferred range: 1,000 cfs to 12,000 cfs · New River at Thurmond, WV
Does this gauge apply to my trip?
Use USGS 03185400 as the live planning gauge. Recheck current discharge, trend, rainfall, access, shuttle roads, hazards, and daylight immediately before launch. Same-river proxy only: the Thurmond telemetry is not a route-endpoint measurement, so pair it with a same-day visual, rainfall, and access check.
New to reading stage or flow? Read the paddler's gauge guide.
Gauge
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
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Route gallery
Photos
Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

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.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | New River at Thurmond, 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 | 1,000 cfs to 12,000 cfs |
| Low threshold | 800 cfs |
| High threshold | 17,550 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater reach 2416 discharge range 800–17,550 cfs |
| 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 corridorGlade Creek River Access to Grandview Sandbar; 4.51 mi; Class II-III
American Whitewater documents the reach and 800–17,550 cfs planning range.
- Camping contextGlade Creek and Grandview Sandbar have NPS camping context
NPS lists camping at both endpoint areas; verify current availability and restrictions.
- 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.
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.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.
Quick answers
New River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Glade Creek River Access to Grandview Sandbar route on the New River?
Paddle Today watches New River at Thurmond, WV and treats 1,000 cfs to 12,000 cfs as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does the Glade Creek River Access to Grandview Sandbar route on the New River start and end?
This route starts at Glade Creek River Access and ends at Grandview Sandbar River Access, 4.51 mi on the water.
Is the Glade Creek River Access to Grandview Sandbar route on the New River suitable for beginners?
This is listed as a hard route. Treat the live score as a planning aid, then confirm conditions, hazards, access, and group skill before launching.
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