Russell Fork, |
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| Name | Range | Updated | Level |
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| Russell Fork Gorge | 400 - 1500 cfs | 02h32m | 428 cfs (rc= 0.0 ) |
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The Russell Fork from Bartlick Bridge to Garden Hole makes for a nice intermediate whitewater paddle for those not comfortable running the more challenging Russell Fork Gorge section. There are several nice rapids in the Bartlick to Garden Hole reach which is sometimes run in conjunction with stretch from the Flannagan Dam on the Pound River tributary during the annual fall whitewater releases every weekend in October.
Check out the RussellFork.info for a wealth of info & photos.
Shuttle Directions
Garden Hole Takeout:
Driving east from the Breaks Interstate Park on VA80 look for the gravel Garden Hole Rd on your
right. This is a steep in spots road (2-wheel drive is ok but if it's raining the mud might
make it interesting for some) that is often used as a putin for the RF Gorge section.
Bartlick Putin:
Following VA80 east towards Haysi,VA look for VA611 on the right about 5-6miles past the Breaks
Park. follow VA611 till it crosses the Russell Fork at the Bartlick Bridge.
Haysi Putin:
Stay on VA80 into Haysi. Do not turn off the road (VA80 veers away in downtown) and follow the river through downtown. The road continues on river right past downtown, parking is about a half mile from downtown on the left side of the road across from an appliance store.
| Name | Range | Updated | Level | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Fork Gorge | |||||||||
| virtual-6393 | 400 - 1500 cfs | 02h32m | 428 cfs (rc= 0.0 ) | ||||||
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| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Russell Fork [VA] |
20 Stitches |
900 cfs | Barry Grimes | |
| 28d10h10m | Bartlick Dam [VA] |
Bartlick Dam Hole |
n/a | n/a |
| 1y30d07h25m | Russell Fork Gorge [VA] | Account of 05/29/09 | 0.00 ft | Linda Tribble |
| 4y27d08h59m | Russell Fork [VA] |
All together now... |
release | Spalding Hurst |
| 4y41d08h59m | Russell Fork [VA] |
the rendevous at triple drop... |
fall release | Brian Mattingly |
| 6y38d08h59m | Russell Fork [VA] |
Ryan - 20 Stitches |
800 cfs | Jared Ebelhar |
| 6y39d08h59m | Russell Fork [VA] |
Bartlick Dam |
800 cfs | Jared Ebelhar |
| 8y37d08h59m | Upper Russell Fork [VA] |
Look Downstream from 20 Stitches |
800 cfs | Barry Grimes |
User Comments
Gorge with the output from the Pound river (they reduced the normal flow). We putin outside of
Haysi, and had a very nice run (class II-III with two 3-4+ ft ledges back-to-back that were a
little bony). We took out at Garden Hole after running the usual section from Bartlick bridge on
down. It made for a trip of about 8 miles or so that was very enjoyable and very much preferable to
the Pound river.