State routes

West Virginia Rivers

Compare 34 tracked West Virginia paddle routes with route links, water-level context, difficulty, and access planning details.

Paddle Today only lists routes when the gauge, threshold, and source support are defensible enough for live route scoring.

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34 routes12 rivers31 regions16 beginner routes

Loading supported rivers and route reaches.

Coverage snapshot

Explore supported West Virginia rivers

Scan the highlighted river network from above, then use the route guides and access markers to find a supported reach.

34 route markers5 multi-route rivers16 beginner routes

Supported riverSelected reach80Paddle · Strong60Tradeoffs40Skip today

Logan County / Guyandotte River Water Trail 5 Upper Cheat River Water Trail 3 Lower Elk / Elk River Water Trail 2 Middle Greenbrier 2 Southern West Virginia / Guyandotte River Water Trail 2 Central West Virginia / Down Elk 1 Central West Virginia / Elk River Water Trail 1 Cheat Canyon 1

Live conditions

Best West Virginia routes today

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Central West Virginia / Down Elk

Elk River

Webster Springs Park to CR 7 / Clifton Ford bridge

Moderate | 17.3 mi | About 9–14 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing

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Southern West Virginia / Big Coal Water Trail

Big Coal River

John Slack Park to Dartmont Park

Easy | 10.5 mi | About 6–9 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing

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Kanawha County / Walhonde Water Trail

Coal River

Meadowood Park to Lower Falls

Easy | 6 mi | About 3–5 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing

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Lower Elk / Charleston urban water trail

Elk River

Blue Creek DNR Access to Charleston Civic Center Access

Easy | 13.8 mi | About 7–11 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing

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This panel hydrates from live Paddle Today scores. The route links above remain useful when JavaScript or the score API is unavailable.

Best route options

Good starting points in West Virginia

Ranked from route metadata, source support, difficulty, and logistics.

Placeholder river image for Elk River - Webster Springs Park to CR 7 / Clifton Ford bridge.

West Virginia routeCentral West Virginia / Down ElkElk RiverWebster Springs Park to CR 7 / Clifton Ford bridgeGauge-backed Down Elk run with a broad 4.5–8.0 ft planning band, intermediate Class II-III water, and a long shuttle.

Route facts

Moderate | 17.3 mi | About 9–14 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timingofficial source support

Placeholder river image for Big Coal River - John Slack Park to Dartmont Park.

West Virginia routeSouthern West Virginia / Big Coal Water TrailBig Coal RiverJohn Slack Park to Dartmont ParkLong beginner Class I Big Coal Water Trail reach from John Slack Park to Dartmont Park with a direct nearby Ashford gauge.

Route facts

Easy | 10.5 mi | About 6–9 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timingmixed source support

Placeholder river image for Coal River - Meadowood Park to Lower Falls.

West Virginia routeKanawha County / Walhonde Water TrailCoal RiverMeadowood Park to Lower FallsSix-mile Coal C-2 flatwater/shoal reach from Meadowood Park below Upper Falls Dam to the Lower Falls pull-off, supported by the nearby Tornado gauge.

Route facts

Easy | 6 mi | About 3–5 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timingmixed source support

Placeholder river image for Elk River - Blue Creek DNR Access to Charleston Civic Center Access.

West Virginia routeLower Elk / Charleston urban water trailElk RiverBlue Creek DNR Access to Charleston Civic Center AccessThirteen-point-eight-mile lower-Elk float from Blue Creek into Charleston, using a near-take-out USGS discharge reference and a strict motorboat/barge c...

Route facts

Easy | 13.8 mi | About 7–11 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timingmixed source support

Placeholder river image for Elk River - Frametown Bridge public access to Duck public access.

West Virginia routeCentral West Virginia / Elk River Water TrailElk RiverFrametown Bridge public access to Duck public accessNine-mile public Elk River Water Trail float from Frametown to Duck with a direct Frametown gauge and conservative stage screen.

Route facts

Easy | 9 mi | About 5–7 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timingmixed source support

Placeholder river image for Guyandotte River - Baileysville public access to Guyandotte Campground.

West Virginia routeSouthern West Virginia / Guyandotte River Water TrailGuyandotte RiverBaileysville public access to Guyandotte CampgroundShort 5.5-mile Guyandotte float from Baileysville to the developed Guyandotte Campground, stopping before the downstream R.D. Bailey lake/tailwater haza...

Route facts

Easy | 5.5 mi | About 3–5 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timingmixed source support

Beginner routes

West Virginia beginner routes

These routes are tagged easy in the route data. Today's water can still change the call.

Big Coal RiverJohn Slack Park to Dartmont ParkSouthern West Virginia / Big Coal Water Trail | 10.5 mi Coal RiverMeadowood Park to Lower FallsKanawha County / Walhonde Water Trail | 6 mi Elk RiverBlue Creek DNR Access to Charleston Civic Center AccessLower Elk / Charleston urban water trail | 13.8 mi Elk RiverFrametown Bridge public access to Duck public accessCentral West Virginia / Elk River Water Trail | 9 mi Elk RiverKing Shoals DNR Access to Queen Shoals DNR AccessLower Elk / Elk River Water Trail | 3.5 mi Elk RiverQueen Shoals DNR Access to Clendenin North DNR AccessLower Elk / Elk River Water Trail | 3 mi Guyandotte RiverBaileysville public access to Guyandotte CampgroundSouthern West Virginia / Guyandotte River Water Trail | 5.5 mi Guyandotte RiverBranchland public access to West Hamlin public accessLincoln County / lower Guyandotte Water Trail | 5.7 mi

Showing 8 of 16 beginner routes. Use the Easy difficulty filter below to see the full set.

Weekend planning

Routes with practical logistics

Use the live weekend board for score-based recommendations.

Cacapon RiverUS 50 at Capon Bridge to WV 127 (Bloomery) Bridge11.6 mi | About 6–9 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing Cheat RiverAlbright FOC / Muddy Creek access to Jenkinsburg Bridge9.35 mi | About 5–8 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing Cheat RiverHannahsville Ford to Riverview Lounge12.78 mi | About 7–10 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing Cheat RiverHolly Meadows Bridge to St. George7.95 mi | About 4–7 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing Cheat RiverRowlesburg City Park to Preston FOC8.0 mi | About 4–7 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing Cheat RiverSt. George to Hannahsville Ford8.29 mi | About 5–7 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing

Browse coverage

Rivers and regions

Compact directory links for crawlers and planners.

By river

Guyandotte River8

Guyandotte River hub Baileysville public access to Guyandotte Campground Branchland public access to West Hamlin public access Four Seasons Country Store to Peach Creek access Logan County Farmers Market to Chapmanville access Man public access to Earling public access Peach Creek access to Logan County Farmers Market Pineville public access to Baileysville public access Three Mile Curve access to Four Seasons Country Store

Cheat River5

Cheat River hub Albright FOC / Muddy Creek access to Jenkinsburg Bridge Hannahsville Ford to Riverview Lounge Holly Meadows Bridge to St. George Rowlesburg City Park to Preston FOC St. George to Hannahsville Ford

Elk River5

Elk River hub Blue Creek DNR Access to Charleston Civic Center Access Frametown Bridge public access to Duck public access King Shoals DNR Access to Queen Shoals DNR Access Queen Shoals DNR Access to Clendenin North DNR Access Webster Springs Park to CR 7 / Clifton Ford bridge

New River5

New River hub Cunard River Access to Fayette Station Glade Creek River Access to Grandview Sandbar McCreery River Access to Stone Cliff Thurmond River Access to Cunard River Access Tug Creek River Access to Hellems Beach

Greenbrier River4

Greenbrier River hub Fort Spring to Alderson Ronceverte City Park to Fort Spring Spring Creek to Anthony Talcott to Willowwood

Big Coal River1

Big Coal River hub John Slack Park to Dartmont Park

Cacapon River1

Cacapon River hub US 50 at Capon Bridge to WV 127 (Bloomery) Bridge

Coal River1

Coal River hub Meadowood Park to Lower Falls

Gauley River1

Curtin Bridge to DNR Persinger Creek Fishing Access

Little Coal River1

Little Coal River hub Madison City Park to Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center

Tygart Valley River1

Valley Falls State Park to Hammond / Twist and Shout take-out

West Fork River1

West Fork River hub Weston public parking below Weston Dam to Jackson’s Mill Public Stream Access

By region

Cabell County / lower Guyandotte Water Trail0

Cabell County / lower Guyandotte and Ohio confluence0

Central West Virginia / Down Elk1

Elk River: Webster Springs Park to CR 7 / Clifton Ford bridge

Central West Virginia / Elk River Water Trail1

Elk River: Frametown Bridge public access to Duck public access

Cheat Canyon1

Cheat River: Albright FOC / Muddy Creek access to Jenkinsburg Bridge

Cheat Narrows1

Cheat River: Rowlesburg City Park to Preston FOC

Eastern Panhandle / Cacapon Water Trail1

Cacapon River: US 50 at Capon Bridge to WV 127 (Bloomery) Bridge

Eastern Panhandle / lower Cacapon Water Trail0

Kanawha County / Walhonde Water Trail1

Coal River: Meadowood Park to Lower Falls

Lincoln County / lower Guyandotte Water Trail1

Guyandotte River: Branchland public access to West Hamlin public access

Lincoln/Cabell County line / lower Guyandotte Water Trail0

Logan County / Guyandotte River Water Trail5

Guyandotte River: Four Seasons Country Store to Peach Creek access Guyandotte River: Logan County Farmers Market to Chapmanville access Guyandotte River: Man public access to Earling public access Guyandotte River: Peach Creek access to Logan County Farmers Market Guyandotte River: Three Mile Curve access to Four Seasons Country Store

Lower Elk / Charleston urban water trail1

Elk River: Blue Creek DNR Access to Charleston Civic Center Access

Lower Elk / Elk River Water Trail2

Elk River: King Shoals DNR Access to Queen Shoals DNR Access Elk River: Queen Shoals DNR Access to Clendenin North DNR Access

Lower Greenbrier1

Greenbrier River: Talcott to Willowwood

Middle Greenbrier2

Greenbrier River: Fort Spring to Alderson Greenbrier River: Ronceverte City Park to Fort Spring

New River Gorge / Hinton1

New River: Tug Creek River Access to Hellems Beach

New River Gorge / Lower New1

New River: Cunard River Access to Fayette Station

New River Gorge / Sandstone1

New River: Glade Creek River Access to Grandview Sandbar

New River Gorge / Thurmond-to-Cunard transition1

New River: Thurmond River Access to Cunard River Access

New River Gorge / Upper New1

New River: McCreery River Access to Stone Cliff

North-central West Virginia / Valley Falls1

Tygart Valley River: Valley Falls State Park to Hammond / Twist and Shout take-out

North-central West Virginia / West Fork River Water Trail1

West Fork River: Weston public parking below Weston Dam to Jackson’s Mill Public Stream Access

South-central West Virginia / natural-flow Gauley River1

Gauley River: Curtin Bridge to DNR Persinger Creek Fishing Access

Southern West Virginia / Big Coal Water Trail1

Big Coal River: John Slack Park to Dartmont Park

Southern West Virginia / Guyandotte River Water Trail2

Guyandotte River: Baileysville public access to Guyandotte Campground Guyandotte River: Pineville public access to Baileysville public access

Southern West Virginia / Little Coal Water Trail1

Little Coal River: Madison City Park to Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center

Southern West Virginia / Walhonde Water Trail0

Southern West Virginia / upper Guyandotte Water Trail0

Upper Cheat River Water Trail3

Cheat River: Hannahsville Ford to Riverview Lounge Cheat River: Holly Meadows Bridge to St. George Cheat River: St. George to Hannahsville Ford

Upper–middle Greenbrier1

Greenbrier River: Spring Creek to Anthony

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Every West Virginia route on Paddle Today

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Quick answers

West Virginia paddling FAQ

How does Paddle Today choose West Virginia paddle routes?

Paddle Today lists West Virginia routes when the route has enough defensible gauge, threshold, source, and logistics support to make a live route score useful. The current West Virginia page includes 34 scored routes across 12 rivers.

Are these West Virginia river conditions live?

The route links on this page are server-rendered and crawlable. Each route page then checks live gauge readings, weather, water-level context, and route score data before you make a same-day call.

Can I request another West Virginia route?

Yes. Use the request form to send the river, reach, access points, and any source links. Paddle Today prioritizes routes where a public gauge or defensible threshold support can back the live score.