WVWA’s Ranked Lists of , and Creeks

The following two lists are a ranking of sections by paddling difficulty, from easier to more difficult.

The rivers were ranked at a flow that a paddler is likely to encounter at an enjoyable level. The sections of larger rivers were ranked assuming a flow somewhere between 1,000 and 3,000 cfs. The creeks and smaller rivers were ranked with a flow somewhere between 200 and 1,000 cfs. A minimum stage or flow is also listed but was not used for ranking purposes. This minimum level may be easier or more difficult and is only listed to indicate a minimum "doable" level.

When a classification appears in parentheses it indicates one rapid which is harder that the on the rest of the run. For example, Class II-III+(IV) indicates that one rapid of class IV difficulty may be expected.

An * appearing after a river name indicates that adjoining river mileage may be paddled but the additional mileage is harder and may affect the ranking of the river.

An ** appearing after the minimum level indicates that a visual gauge is commonly used and a paddler may have to use a conversion factor to obtain that reading.

These ranking began with a compilation of rivers and creeks by WVWA member Turner Sharp. The compilations were sent to 25 WVWA members for ranking. Eleven were returned and were used in these rankings.

These ranked lists are an attempt to have a consistent method of labeling rivers by difficulty when organizing a trip schedule. It also permits the paddler to assess the river difficulty relative to rivers which he or she has run. It was inspired by similar compilations by the Blue Ridge Voyagers, the Monocacy Canoe Club, and the Keelhaulers. Also consulted was Monte Smith’s Southeastern Rivers (Trip) Rating Scale.

The first list appeared in the 2001 WVWA Roster book. It has been slightly revised over the years.

Additions and comments should be sent to Chuck Brabec.

Beginner

Minimum River Section Class Miles Gauge Level St. George to Erwin I 19.6 Cheat River at Parsons 600 cfs Guyandotte River Justice to Gilbert I 5.1 Guyanandottte below RD 4.0’ Bailey Dam Swiss to Gauley Bridge I 9.6 Gauley River above 600 cfs Belva Goose Creek Petroleum to Freeport I 10.0 Denmar to Renick I 17.5 Greenbrier River at 3.5’ Buckeye Greenbrier River at Knapp Creek Huntersville to Marlinton I 7.1 6.0’ Buckeye Little at Little Kanawha River Wildcat to Falls Mill I 12.0 5.5’ Wildcat WVWA’s Ranked Lists of Rivers, Streams and Creeks

Novice

Minimum River Section Class Miles Gauge Level Blue Bend Recreational Area Anthony Creek I-II+ 5.4 to Greenbrier River Big Coal: Arnett to Dry Creek I-II+ 6.3 Coal River at Tornado 11.5’ Marsh Fork Cora Brown bridge to bridge Elk River below Webster Birch River * I-III- 6.1 5.0’ at Herold Springs Buffalo Creek of Taylor Creek to Elk River below Webster I-II 4.7 6.5’ (Elk ) Swandale Springs Buffalo Creek Elk River below Webster Cressmont to Clay I-II 8.2 6.2’ (Elk Tributary) Springs Snyder Road (CR 32/4) Cheat River: bridge over Dry Fork to I-II 7.0 Dry Fork at Hendricks 3.3’ Dry Fork Jenningston Elk River: Big Sycamore to Webster Elk River below Webster I-II+ 5.8 5.0’ Back Fork Springs Springs Elk River: Confluence of Crooked Fork Elk River below Webster I-III 8.2 7.5’ Old Field Fork to town of Slatyfork Springs Donaldson to Camden-on- Gauley River near Gauley River I-II(III) 10.5 11.9’ Gauley Craigsville Camden-on-Gauley to Curtin Gauley River near Gauley River I-II 9.8 11.7’ Bridge (Rt 20) Craigsville Talcott to Willowood Bridge Greenbrier River at Greenbrier River I-II 5.5 1.5’ (WV 12 & 3 Hilldale Willowood Bridge Greenbrier River at Greenbrier River I-II 5.5 1.5’ (WV 12 & 3) to Bellepoint Hilldale Greenbrier River at Greenbrier River Ronceverte to Fort I-II 9.2 1.5’ Hilldale Greenbrier River at Greenbrier River Fort Spring to Alderson I-II 6.1 1.5’ Hilldale Laurel Fork to Audra State at Middle Fork River I-III 5.0 3.0’ Park Audra Glade Creek to Grandview 1.25’ ** New River I-II(III) 4.7 New River at Thurmond Sandbar (728 cfs) 1.25’ ** New River Thurmond to Cunard I-II(III) 7.2 New River at Thurmond (728 cfs) Potomac: North Branch at Luke, Bloomington to Keyser I-II 7.5 400 cfs North Branch MD : to head of I-III 8.5 North Fork at Cabins 5.4’ NFSB Hopeville Potomac: South Big Bend CG to US 220 I-II South Branch at Franklin 2.5’ Branch bridge south of Petersburg (III-) Potomac at Potomac River Dam #3 to US 240 bridge II+ 2.5 2.8’ Shepherstown U.S. 219 bridge to Greenbrier Second Creek I-II 8.8 Visual staff gauge 1.5’ River Bridge at Clifton Run to I-II 13.1 Shavers Fork at Bowden 4.9’ Porterwood Bowden to bridge at Clifton Shavers Fork I-II+ 14.6 Shavers Fork at Bowden 5.0’ Run Bridge at Three Forks to the Williams River I-III 10.2 Williams River at Dyer 2.8’ Gauley River Youghiogheny River Youghiogheny River Confluence to Ohiopyle I-II 10.4 1.5’ (Middle) below Confluence, PA WVWA’s Ranked Lists of Rivers, Streams and Creeks

Intermediate

Minimum River Section Class Miles Gauge Level CR 17/2 bridge to Runa near Mt. Anglins Creek II-IV 5.8 6.5’ bridge (CR 24/7) Lookout Big Coal: Clear Creek to Ameagle II-III- 9.4 Clear Fork at Whitesville 14.5’ Clear Fork Big Coal: Saxton to Arnett II-III 6.5 Coal River at Tornado 12.0’ Marsh Fork * Elk River below Webster Birch River Boggs to Skyles Creek III-IV 4.2 7.0’ Springs Eads Mill to tramway at Bluestone River near Bluestone River II-III- 10.9 4.0’ Mountain Creek Lodge Pipestem Beaver Branch to CR 3 Bluestone River near Brush Creek * III-IV 5.6 6.0’ bridge Pipestem at Buckhannon River Alton to Tenmile I-III 6.1 7.0’ Buckhannon Buckhannon at Buckhannon River Tenmile to Sago III-IV 4.7 7.0’ Buckhannon Church near Camp Creek Bluestone River near Camp Creek II-III 2.0 6.0’ Exit to Bluestone Pipestem Cheat River at Albright Cheat River Limestone Mine to Lick Run II-III 5.0 0.6’ ** Power Station Cheat River: Elklick Run to Hendricks II-III 8.4 Dry Fork at Hendricks 3.0’ Dry Fork Cheat River: Gandy Creek to former I-III 12.0 Dry Fork at Hendricks 3.5’ Dry Fork wayside park Gauley River near 11.6’ Richwood to Curtin bridge Cherry River II-III 9.0 Craigsville; also visual (WV 20) gauge at Fenwick 0.0’ Cherry River: Gauley River near Third bridge to Richwood II-IV 13.0 14.0’ North Fork Craigsville Gauley River near 13.5’ Cherry River: Beech Lick Run to Richwood II-III 6.0 Craigsville; also visual South Fork gauge at Fenwick 2.5’ Elk River below Webster Elk River Slatyfork to Elk Springs II-III 10.4 6.2’ Springs Elk River below Webster Elk River Elk Springs to Bergoo II-III (IV-) 11.8 5.4’ Springs Elk River below Webster Elk River Bergoo to Webster Springs II-III (IV-) 11.6 5.0’ Springs Elk River below Webster 4.6’ Elk River Below Webster Springs II-III 10.0+ Springs (456 cfs) Elk River: Confluence of Big Run to Elk River below Webster II-III (IV) 8.6 6.5’ Back Fork Sugar Run Springs Curtin Bridge (WV 20) to Gauley River near 11.0’ Gauley River * II-III- 4.6 Panther Creek Craigsville (510 cfs) Gauley below Gauley River Summersville Dam plus Mason Branch to Bucklick II-III+(IV) 6.0 600 cfs (Middle) Meadow near Mt. Lookout Holly River: Elk River below Webster Hacker to Mill Dam II-III 10.3 6.0’ Left Fork Springs Hominy Falls to Summersville Gauley River near Hominy Creek II-III (IV) 13.8 13.0’ Lake Craigsville WVWA’s Ranked Lists of Rivers, Streams and Creeks

Intermediate (continued)

Minimum River Section Class Miles Gauge Level Gauley River near 13.2’ Laurel Creek (Cherry Jettsville to Fenwick III+ 5.3 Craigsville; also visual tributary) gauge at Fenwick 3.0’ Elk River below Webster Leatherwood Creek Forks of Creek to Bergoo III-IV 3.3 8.0’ Springs Lick Creek Green Sulphur to New River II-III (IV) 5.8 Loop (Loup) Creek North Page to Deepwater II-III (V) 9.3 Meadow River Meadow River at Mt. Nallen to US 19 bridge III-IV 5.0 4.4’ (Middle) Lookout Mill Creek (New Hopewell Road bridge to II-III 5.0 Visual gauge 9” River tributary) Chestnut bridge at Ansted Below Rt 41 bridge to Gauley River near Muddlety Creek III-IV 3.5 12.5’ Craigsville Cotton Hill bridge to Gauley New River at Thurmond New River II-IV 4.6 600 cfs Bridge less 10,000 cfs 1.25’ ** New River McCreery to Stonecliff II-III- 10.8 New River at Thurmond (728 cfs) 13.5’ Clear Fork at Whitesville. Laurel Grove Church to low Water on Paint Creek II-IV 4.6 Also, culvert bridge below water bridge below Mossy surface of Mossy bridge 12.8’, 3” below Clear Fork at Whitesville; Mossy to culvert bridge below bridge surface Paint Creek II-III 4.1 Culvert bridge below former coal yard on upstream Mossy side 12.7’ Clear Fork at Whitesville. 4” below Culvert bridge at former coal Paint Creek II-IV 6.4 Also, culvert bridge below bridge surface yard to Mahan Mossy on upstream side North Branch below Potomac: Barnum to Bloomington II-III 6.5 Jennings Randolph Dam 400 cfs North Branch at Barnum Head of Hopeville Canyon to Potomac: NFSB II-III 6.1 North Fork at Cabins 5.4’ Hopeville Potomac: U.S. 220 bridge north of I-III 16.0 South Branch at Franklin 2.5’ South Branch upper Tract to Big Bend CG Potomac: Fort Seybert to Milam II-III (IV) 12.1 South Fork at Brandywine 2.0’ SFSB Savage River Dam to Bloomington III-IV 4.5 Savage at Bloomington 300 cfs Second Creek Hollywood to US 219 bridge I-III 8.2 Visual staff gauge 1.5’ Forest Service CG to Seneca Seneca Creek II-III+ 6.2 North Fork at Cabins 6.0’ Rocks Shenandoah River at Shenandoah River Millville to Harpers Ferry II-III- 7.0 1.5’ Millville Williams River Tea Creek CG to Three Forks III-IV 11.0 Williams River at Dyer 3.0’ Youghiogheny River at Youghiogheny River Ohiopyle to Bruner Run II-III+ 7.5 1.2’ Ohiopyle WVWA’s Ranked Lists of Rivers, Streams and Creeks

Advanced

Minimum River Section Class Miles Gauge Level Big Coal: Dry Creek to Sundial (Pettry III-IV 4.2 Coal River at Tornado 11.0’ Marsh Fork Bottom) 13.3’ Gauley at Craigsville; Big Beaver Creek Alderson Church to Gauley III-IV (V?) 5.5 Water on the Visual at the put-in iron pins Cheat River at Albright Cheat River Albright to Jenkinsburg III-IV 11.0 0.5’ ** Power Station Cranberry Recreation Area to Cranberry River III-IV 6.0 Cranberry near Richwood 3.5’ Big Rock camping area Dunloup Creek Harvey to Thurmond III-IV (V?) 6.0 Elk River: Back Fork Elk River below Webster Sugar Creek to Big Sycamore III-IV 6.4 6.0’ (incl. Sugar Creek) Springs Gauley below Gauley River Summersville Dam plus Bucklick to Swiss III-IV 11.0 600 cfs (Lower) Meadow near Mt. Lookout Laurel Creek Elk River below Webster Erbacon to Centralia III-IV 9.4 6.0’ (Elk River tributary) Springs Claypool to town of Meadow Meadow Creek * III-IV 4.0 Creek Meadow River Meadow River at Mt. Corliss to Russellville III-IV 8.0 4.8’ (Upper) Lookout 1.25’ New River Cunard to Fayette Station III-IV 7.3 New River at Thurmond (728 cfs) Above Arden to Big Cove at Tygart Valley River III-IV 8.0 400 cfs Run Phillipi

Expert

Minimum River Section Class Miles Gauge Level Gauley River Summersville Dam to Mason Gauley below III-V 9.8 600 cfs (Upper) Branch Summersville Dam Glade Creek (New Reservoir to New River III-V 10.5 Piney Creek at Raleigh 3.0’ River tributary) Laurel Creek (New WV 41 bridge to Quinnimont III-V 5.0 River tributary) U.S. 19 bridge to Gauley Meadow River near Meadow River III-V ? 250 cfs River Mt. Lookout Piney Creek Beckley to McCreery III-V 12.0 Visual gauge at takeout 1.5’ Belington to confluence with Tygart Valley River at Tygart Valley River III-V 11.6 3.5’ Buckhannon River Belington