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West Virginia | New River Gorge / Hinton
New River
Tug Creek River Access to Hellems Beach
Check current paddling conditions for this New River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Plan
Plan your trip
Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.
Route logistics
Access and shuttle
Short, technical New River Gorge day run with a consequential Class III feature and a verified Hellems endpoint.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Tug Creek River AccessUse only the named NPS access points after checking current road and parking conditions.
Take-out
Hellems Beach River AccessDo not continue downstream toward Sandstone Falls without planning the mandatory portage and a different take-out.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
Access caveats
- Use only the named NPS access points after checking current road and parking conditions.
- Do not continue downstream toward Sandstone Falls without planning the mandatory portage and a different take-out.
Watch for
- USGS stage outside 1.35–5.0 ft or a rapidly rising trend.
- Brooks Falls, cold water, strainers, and changing gorge access.
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | New River at Thurmond, WV |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| Discharge | 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 |
| Target band | 1.60 ft to 4.00 ft |
| Low threshold | 1.35 ft |
| High threshold | 5.00 ft |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official and local sources |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | American Whitewater reach 2415 stage range 1.35–5.0 ft |
| 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 corridorTug Creek River Access to Hellems Beach; 2.11 mi; Class II-III
American Whitewater documents the reach, distance, difficulty, gauge relationship, and Brooks Falls hazard.
- Access endpointsTug Creek River Access to Hellems Beach
NPS access references provide the named public endpoints and coordinates used here.
- GaugeUSGS 03184500 stage 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.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
New River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling New River?
Paddle Today watches New River at Thurmond, WV and treats 1.60 ft to 4.00 ft as the target band for this route, with weather and recent trend included in the final score.
Where does this New River route start and end?
This route starts at Tug Creek River Access and ends at Hellems Beach River Access, about 2.11 mi on the water.
Is this New River route good 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.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.