State routes

West Virginia Rivers

Compare 56 tracked West Virginia paddle routes with route links, water-level context, difficulty, and access planning details.

28 routes support live scores. 28 planning-only routes provide trip details and source links without a live route score.

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56 routes12 rivers30 regions35 beginner routes

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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.

56 route markers10 multi-route rivers35 beginner routes

Supported riverSelected reachAccess-point connectionStrong conditionsGood conditionsWatch closelySkip

Logan County / Guyandotte River Water Trail 9 Southern West Virginia / Big Coal Water Trail 5 North-central West Virginia / West Fork River Water Trail 4 Eastern Panhandle / lower Cacapon Water Trail 3 Lower Elk / Elk River Water Trail 3 Southern West Virginia / Little Coal Water Trail 3 Upper Cheat River Water Trail 3 Cabell County / lower Guyandotte Water Trail 2

Live conditions

Best West Virginia routes today

Loading current scores, gauge reads, and weather signals.

--Live

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 | Live score supported

View trip details

--Live

Eastern Panhandle / Cacapon Water Trail

Cacapon River

US 50 at Capon Bridge to WV 127 (Bloomery) Bridge

Moderate | 11.6 mi | About 6–9 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing | Live score supported

View trip details

--Live

Upper Cheat River Water Trail

Cheat River

Hannahsville Ford to Riverview Lounge

Moderate | 12.78 mi | About 7–10 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing | Live score supported

View trip details

--Live

Upper Cheat River Water Trail

Cheat River

Holly Meadows Bridge to St. George

Moderate | 7.95 mi | About 4–7 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing | Live score supported

View trip details

Current scores load here when available. You can still open the route links to check details and sources if this update fails.

Best route options

Good starting points in West Virginia

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

The Elk River Water Trail runs through a forested West Virginia corridor.

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 timing | Live score supportedofficial source support

The Big Coal River passes through Whitesville, West Virginia.

West Virginia routeSouthern West Virginia / Big Coal Water TrailBig Coal RiverDartmont Park to Sproul Road LaunchShorter Big Coal B-4 reach with a named Brier Creek trestle portage and a Sproul pull-off take-out.

Route facts

Easy | 6.5 mi | About 4–5 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing | Planning only · no live scoremixed source support

A bridge crosses the Big Coal River at Whitesville, West Virginia.

West Virginia routeSouthern West Virginia / Big Coal Water TrailBig Coal RiverJM Protan Community Center / Orgas to John Slack ParkLong beginner Class I Big Coal Water Trail reach with a public Orgas launch, John Slack Park take-out, and a downstream Ashford gauge proxy.

Route facts

Easy | 13.25 mi | About 7–11 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing | Planning only · no live scoremixed source support

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 timing | Live score supportedmixed source support

West Virginia routeSouthern West Virginia / Big Coal Water TrailBig Coal RiverSproul Road Launch to Alum Creek Lions Club ParkFull Big Coal B-5 beginner reach from the Sproul pull-off to Alum Creek Lions Club Park, with Lock 4 as a shorter decision point and an upstream Ashford...

Route facts

Easy | 6 mi | About 3–5 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing | Planning only · no live scoremixed source support

West Virginia routeSouthern West Virginia / Big Coal Water TrailBig Coal RiverWhitesville Public Access to JM Protan Community Center / OrgasBeginner-friendly Big Coal Water Trail reach with a route-specific American Whitewater flow screen and a downstream Ashford gauge proxy.

Route facts

Easy | 9.22 mi | About 5–8 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing | Planning only · no live scoremixed 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 RiverDartmont Park to Sproul Road LaunchSouthern West Virginia / Big Coal Water Trail | 6.5 mi Big Coal RiverJM Protan Community Center / Orgas to John Slack ParkSouthern West Virginia / Big Coal Water Trail | 13.25 mi Big Coal RiverJohn Slack Park to Dartmont ParkSouthern West Virginia / Big Coal Water Trail | 10.5 mi Big Coal RiverSproul Road Launch to Alum Creek Lions Club ParkSouthern West Virginia / Big Coal Water Trail | 6 mi Big Coal RiverWhitesville Public Access to JM Protan Community Center / OrgasSouthern West Virginia / Big Coal Water Trail | 9.22 mi Cacapon RiverCacapon Crossing public access to Fishers Ford Bridge public accessEastern Panhandle / lower Cacapon Water Trail | 18 mi Cacapon RiverFishers Ford Bridge public access to Cacapon Power Plant public accessEastern Panhandle / lower Cacapon Water Trail | 8.5 mi Cacapon RiverWV 127 Bridge public access to Cacapon Crossing public accessEastern Panhandle / lower Cacapon Water Trail | 9 mi

Showing 8 of 35 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.

Big Coal RiverDartmont Park to Sproul Road Launch6.5 mi | About 4–5 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing Big Coal RiverSproul Road Launch to Alum Creek Lions Club Park6 mi | About 3–5 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing Big Coal RiverWhitesville Public Access to JM Protan Community Center / Orgas9.22 mi | About 5–8 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing Cacapon RiverCacapon Crossing public access to Fishers Ford Bridge public access18 mi | About 9–14 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing Cacapon RiverFishers Ford Bridge public access to Cacapon Power Plant public access8.5 mi | About 5–7 hr depending on flow, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing 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

Browse coverage

Rivers and regions

Expand a river or region to browse its routes.

By river

Guyandotte River15

Guyandotte River hub Barboursville Park public access to Farmdale Bridge public access Branchland public access to West Hamlin public access Chapmanville public boat slide to Harts access Earling public access to Three Mile Curve access Farmdale Bridge public access to Guyandotte–Ohio River confluence ramp Four Seasons Country Store to Peach Creek access Harts public access to Branchland Park access Logan County Farmers Market to Chapmanville access Man public access to Earling public access Peach Creek access to Logan County Farmers Market Salt Rock public access to Barboursville Park public access St Rt 16 Bridge at Mullens to Pineville public access Three Mile Curve access to Four Seasons Country Store West Hamlin public access to Salt Rock public access Wylo public access to Man public access

Elk River6

Elk River hub Blue Creek DNR Access to Charleston Civic Center Access Clendenin South DNR Access to Blue Creek DNR 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

Big Coal River5

Big Coal River hub Dartmont Park to Sproul Road Launch JM Protan Community Center / Orgas to John Slack Park John Slack Park to Dartmont Park Sproul Road Launch to Alum Creek Lions Club Park Whitesville Public Access to JM Protan Community Center / Orgas

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

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

Cacapon River4

Cacapon River hub Cacapon Crossing public access to Fishers Ford Bridge public access Fishers Ford Bridge public access to Cacapon Power Plant public access US 50 at Capon Bridge to WV 127 (Bloomery) Bridge WV 127 Bridge public access to Cacapon Crossing public access

Greenbrier River4

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

West Fork River4

West Fork River hub Good Hope Public Access to West Milford Public Access Jackson’s Mill Public Stream Access to Good Hope Public Access Weston public parking below Weston Dam to Jackson’s Mill Public Stream Access Worthington City Park to Monongah Public Access

Coal River3

Coal River hub Lower Falls to St. Albans Coal River Group access Meadowood Park to Lower Falls The Forks of Coal public access to Alum Creek Lions Club Park

Little Coal River3

Little Coal River hub Boone County Water Park to The Forks of Coal public access Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center to Upper Waterways Park Madison City Park to Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center

Gauley River1

Curtin Bridge to DNR Persinger Creek Fishing Access

Tygart Valley River1

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

By region

Cabell County / lower Guyandotte Water Trail2

Guyandotte River: Barboursville Park public access to Farmdale Bridge public access Guyandotte River: Salt Rock public access to Barboursville Park public access

Cabell County / lower Guyandotte and Ohio confluence1

Guyandotte River: Farmdale Bridge public access to Guyandotte–Ohio River confluence ramp

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 Trail3

Cacapon River: Cacapon Crossing public access to Fishers Ford Bridge public access Cacapon River: Fishers Ford Bridge public access to Cacapon Power Plant public access Cacapon River: WV 127 Bridge public access to Cacapon Crossing public access

Kanawha County / Walhonde Water Trail2

Coal River: Lower Falls to St. Albans Coal River Group access 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 Trail1

Guyandotte River: West Hamlin public access to Salt Rock public access

Logan County / Guyandotte River Water Trail9

Guyandotte River: Chapmanville public boat slide to Harts access Guyandotte River: Earling public access to Three Mile Curve access Guyandotte River: Four Seasons Country Store to Peach Creek access Guyandotte River: Harts public access to Branchland Park 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 Guyandotte River: Wylo public access to Man public access

Lower Elk / Charleston urban water trail1

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

Lower Elk / Elk River Water Trail3

Elk River: Clendenin South DNR Access to Blue Creek DNR Access 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 Trail4

West Fork River: Good Hope Public Access to West Milford Public Access West Fork River: Jackson’s Mill Public Stream Access to Good Hope Public Access West Fork River: Weston public parking below Weston Dam to Jackson’s Mill Public Stream Access West Fork River: Worthington City Park to Monongah Public 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 Trail5

Big Coal River: Dartmont Park to Sproul Road Launch Big Coal River: JM Protan Community Center / Orgas to John Slack Park Big Coal River: John Slack Park to Dartmont Park Big Coal River: Sproul Road Launch to Alum Creek Lions Club Park Big Coal River: Whitesville Public Access to JM Protan Community Center / Orgas

Southern West Virginia / Little Coal Water Trail3

Little Coal River: Boone County Water Park to The Forks of Coal public access Little Coal River: Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center to Upper Waterways Park Little Coal River: Madison City Park to Donald R. Kuhn Juvenile Center

Southern West Virginia / Walhonde Water Trail1

Coal River: The Forks of Coal public access to Alum Creek Lions Club Park

Southern West Virginia / upper Guyandotte Water Trail1

Guyandotte River: St Rt 16 Bridge at Mullens to Pineville public access

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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All tracked routes

Every West Virginia route on Paddle Today

56 routes with condition and access details.

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Quick answers

West Virginia paddling FAQ

How does Paddle Today choose West Virginia paddle routes?

Paddle Today lists source-backed routes with reviewed access and trip information. This page includes 28 routes with live-score support and 28 planning-only routes across 12 rivers. Planning-only routes do not have a live route score.

Are these West Virginia river conditions live?

Scored routes show the latest available conditions, subject to data availability. Planning-only routes provide trip information and source links without a live route score. Check update times and missing-data notices, and verify conditions with the linked managers before leaving.

Can I request another West Virginia route?

Yes. Use the request form to send the river, reach, access points, and any source links. Requests help prioritize useful additions with verified public access and route evidence.