Flatwater
& Canoe Trips in
West Virginia
#1.
North Branch of
the Potomac River: Henry
to Old Town, MD
The North Branch defines
the border between Maryland
and West Virginia until
its confluence with the
South Branch in Old Town,
creating the main branch
of the Potomac River. This
branch of the Potomac...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to West Virginia"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Henry , WV - Whitewater
Paddling - 76.7 miles
#2. South Branch
of the Potomac River:
Above the US 220 Bridge
Near Upper Tract and Smoke
Hole Canyon to below Romney
The South Branch starts
just inside Virginia with
the confluence of Straight
Creek and the East Branch
Potomac River. From here,
the water drifts, rumbles,
and rolls for 130+ miles
to its confluence w...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to West Virginia"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Franklin, WV - Whitewater
Paddling - 130 miles
#3. North Branch
of the Blackwater River:
Cortland to Camp 70
The North Branch at Cortland
also travels through the
Canaan Valley National Wildlife
Refuge. This area was set
aside for the protection
of the region’s unique
plant and animal species.
It is possible...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to West Virginia"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Cortland, WV - Flatwater
Paddling & Canoeing
- 9 miles
#4. Shenandoah River:
VA 7 to Sandy Hook, MD
The river below the WV 127
bridge has very little gradient
all of the way to the mouth
of the Potomac at Great
Cacapon. It transcribes
huge loops through the mountains
and ridges with a few mild
rapid...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to West Virginia"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Millville, WV - Whitewater
Paddling - 23.5 miles
#5. Greenbrier:
The Greenbrier Forks and
Little River and Durbin
to Bellepoint
From its source the Greenbrier
winds its way for 150 miles
through some of the most
beautiful and productive
land in the state to meet
the New River in Hinton.
It begins high in the mountains
at the “...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to West Virginia"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Durbin, WV - Whitewater
Paddling - 166.5 miles
#6. Laurel Fork
of the Cheat River:
Laurel Fork Campground to
Jenningston
Both sections of this river
carry a paddler back to
the eighteenth century.
The upper Laurel Fork is
an intimate, easy stream
flowing through the Laurel
Fork-North Wilderness area.
The lower section i...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to West Virginia"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Wymer, WV - Whitewater Paddling
- 29 miles
#7. Cheat River:
Parsons to Cheat Lake
The Cheat begins in the
real mountains of the state
as four big forks: Shavers,
Glady, Laurel, and Dry,
each separated from its
neighbors by high mountain
ridges. Shavers Fork actually
flows on top of...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to West Virginia"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Parsons, WV - Whitewater
Paddling - 69 miles
#8. Coal River:
Whitesville to the Kanawha
River
Marsh Fork and Clear Fork
combine just above Whitesville
to form the Coal River.
After merging, the gradient
slacks considerably. The
water is Class 1 with fair
current and some tricky
eddies, making ...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to West Virginia"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Whitesville, WV - Flatwater
Paddling & Canoeing
- 54.5 miles
#9. Cacapon River:
Above Cacapon Bridge to
Potomac River
This is a very popular canoeing
stream, with good rapids
and exquisite scenery. It’s
often up in the winter;
the snow-covered banks combine
with the unusual rock formations
for a wonderfully scenic
ru...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to West Virginia"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Cold Stream, WV - Whitewater
Paddling - 70 miles
#10. Bonds Creek:
Pike to Cornwallis
The first half of this run
has good current carrying
the boater over gravel bars
and past boulder-studded
banks, small cliffs, and
interesting side ravines.
Remains of the area’s
oil and gas boom are ...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to West Virginia"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Cornwallis, WV - Flatwater
Paddling & Canoeing
- 8 miles
View other
paddling in West Virginia
Running
the Rivers of North America
