Whitewater
Kayaking & Rafting 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. 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
#4. 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
#5. 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
#6. 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
#7. 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
#8. Bluestone River:
Spanishburg to Bluestone
State Park
The Bluestone River, named
Momongoseneka by local American
Indians, which means “big
stone,” meanders a
bit in the highlands, collecting
water before it carves a
deep valley on its way to
the New. The...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to West Virginia"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Eade Mill, WV - Whitewater
Paddling - 29.5 miles
#9. North Fork of
the South Branch of the
Potomac River: Cherry Grove
to Petersburg
This is the most famous
whitewater in the Eastern
panhandle, providing miles
of bouncy Class 2–3
whitewater in one of the
state’s most beautiful
mountain valleys. Discovered
by canoeists from Washingt...
From the guidebook "A
Canoeing & Kayaking
Guide to West Virginia"
Running
the Rivers of North America
Circleville, WV - Whitewater
Paddling - 43 miles
#10. 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
More whitewater
paddling and rafting in
West Virginia Running
the Rivers of North America
