West Virginia | North-central West Virginia / West Fork River Water Trail

West Fork RiverWorthington City Park to Monongah Public Access

West Fork River Worthington City Park to Monongah Public Access is a 5 mi Class I-II run documented by American Whitewater and official access partners.

Route location

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Distance5 mi
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAbout 3–4 hr depending on flow
ShuttleCar shuttle
The West Fork River at River Bend City Park in Clarksburg, West Virginia.
Route photoWest Fork River at Clarksburg; same-river contextPhoto by Wikimedia Commons contributor

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
DifficultyeasyEasy Class I-II moving water for prepared beginners, with short riffles and dam/wood hazards requiring active boat control.
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.
CampingDay tripNo on-route camping is assumed. Use verified lodging or campgrounds around Fairmont, Worthington, or the wider West Fork corridor; confirm availability, fees, water quality, and overnight parking.
SeasonApr-OctLate spring through fall; September is attractive when Enterprise telemetry is stable, recent rain is limited, water is clear, and both public access sites are open.

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

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Plan your trip

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

Access and shuttle

Five-mile beginner-friendly West Fork River float below Worthington Dam to Monongah, using the upstream Enterprise proxy and a conservative 150–5,000 cfs planning screen.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Worthington City Park public access below Worthington Dam

Worthington City Park is below the dam; confirm the public ramp, parking, and carry path and keep all boats downstream of the dam structure.

Finish

Take-out

Monongah Public Access Site

Monongah Public Access is a community endpoint; confirm ramp condition, parking, and any event or maintenance closure before leaving a shuttle.

Road shuttle

Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • Worthington City Park is below the dam; confirm the public ramp, parking, and carry path and keep all boats downstream of the dam structure.
  • Monongah Public Access is a community endpoint; confirm ramp condition, parking, and any event or maintenance closure before leaving a shuttle.
  • Do not substitute private riverbank carries or treat intermediate banks as automatic bailouts.

Watch for

  • USGS 03061000 discharge outside the 150–5,000 cfs conservative screen, a sharp rise, or a mismatch between the upstream Enterprise proxy and local water.
  • Low water, short riffles, strainers, submerged debris, bridge turbulence, private banks, cold water, and limited cell service.

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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Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

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Hourly forecast

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Short-route forecast

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Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

What 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 corridorWorthington City Park to Monongah Public Access; 5 mi

    Guardians publishes the five-mile distance, beginner-friendly flatwater/short-riffle profile, and both GPS endpoints for the community float.

    Source

  • Gauge relationshipEnterprise 03061000 upstream same-river proxy

    USGS metadata places Enterprise upstream of the Worthington–Monongah reach; use the gauge as a planning proxy, not a route-endpoint measurement.

    Source

  • GaugeUSGS 03061000 discharge telemetry

    Official same-river gauge used for the route planning screen; verify current value and trend before launch.

    Source

Check the source links

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West Fork River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Worthington City Park to Monongah Public Access route on the West Fork 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 Worthington City Park to Monongah Public Access route on the West Fork River start and end?

This route starts at Worthington City Park public access below Worthington Dam and ends at Monongah Public Access Site, 5 mi on the water.

Is the Worthington City Park to Monongah Public Access route on the West Fork River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a easy route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

See something outdated?

Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.