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West Virginia | New River Gorge / Hinton
New RiverTug Creek River Access to Hellems Beach
New River Tug Creek River Access to Hellems Beach is a 2.11 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
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
Short, technical New River Gorge day run with a consequential Class III feature and a verified Hellems endpoint.
Access map
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.
Road shuttle
Access notes and hazards
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.
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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Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
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
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
Recent trend
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Gauge source
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Hourly forecast
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Short-route 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.
- 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 |
| 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 |
| Preferred range | 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.
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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.
Quick answers
New River paddling FAQ
What water level is best for the Tug Creek River Access to Hellems Beach route on the 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 the Tug Creek River Access to Hellems Beach route on the New River start and end?
This route starts at Tug Creek River Access and ends at Hellems Beach River Access, 2.11 mi on the water.
Is the Tug Creek River Access to Hellems Beach 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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