New, West Virginia, US |
|
| Usual Difficulty | III-IV(V) (for normal flows) |
|---|---|
| Avg. Gradient | 20 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 27 fpm |
| Name | Range | Difficulty | Updated | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New at Fayette Station | ||||
| virtual-6362 | -2.00 - 12.00 ft | III-IV(V) | 00h56m | 6.8179 ft (running) |
The section from Thurmond to Fayette Station is 14 mi. long; however ,most paddlers shorten the
trip by running the 6.5 mi. section from Cunard to Fayette Station. This section contains all of
the rapids except for one called Surprise. The put in at Cunard takes out all of the long pools.
Plus, as a bonus the Park Service has built the best bathrooms I have ever seen at a National
Park! Great for those first-timer jitters! For more information on the "upper" section
see the Thurmond to Cunard
page.
This is a big volume powerful river and can be run over a wide range of river levels. All of the
descriptions of the rapids are at the level of 2 ft on the Fayette Station gauge.
Most agree that the optimal level is 2ft. At this level the Kenneys, Double Z, and Fayette
Station are really stompin'. The lower the river is, as you would expect, things get smaller.
The weird thing is the higher the river goes the smaller features disappear and in my opinion
things get easier. You have HUGE holes, but you have forever to make your move around them. Above
10 ft there are no real eddies and the river is really wide. That spells disaster for swimmers.
If you do not have big water paddling skills then stay off above 6ft. The high max level is set
at 12ft because that is the Park Service cutoff for rafting trips.
Thank you to the Keelhauler Canoe Club for a very nice shuttle map.
New River Gorge National River
NPS Guide to
paddling the New River-Hinton to Thurmond
FYI: According to the people who know such things, the New River is the second oldest river in
the world.
Geology of the New River
Gorge
THE
ORIGINS OF RAPIDS IN THE LOWER NEW RIVER GORGE, WEST VIRGINIA -- Dawn
Anne Moore
| Mile | Rapid Name | Class | Features (Legend) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | Cunard Putin | ||
| 0.3 | Pinball | III | |
| 0.5 | Upper Railroad | III | |
| 1.0 | Lower Railroad | III | |
| 1.5 | Swimmers | II | |
| 1.8 | Strippers | III | |
| 2.0 | Ender Waves | III | |
| 3.0 | Upper Keeney | III | |
| 3.1 | Middle Keeney | IV | |
| 3.2 | Lower Keeney | IV | |
| 3.3 | Lollygag | II+ | |
| 3.8 | Duddley's Dip | III | |
| 4.0 | Double Z | IV+ | |
| 4.5 | Halls of Karma | II | |
| 5.0 | Hook 99 | III | |
| 5.2 | Greyhound Bus Stopper | IV | |
| 5.5 | Upper Kaymoor | III+ | |
| 5.6 | Lower Kaymoor | III+ | |
| 6.0 | Miller's Folly | IV | |
| 6.3 | Thread the Needle | ||
| 6.5 | Fayette Station | IV |
You know you are here when you see a large rock on the left that looks like a whale. It is apptly named Whale Rock. This rapid is best if you run Upper and Middle Kenney as one rapid. Get with the main flow going around the right side of Whale Rock and brace down through the waves. After passing Whale Rock turn up stream and get left of center. You will now be set up for Middle Kenney.
At flows of 5ft and above the eddy line behind Whale Rock is nasty. A swim here will be long! Best to swing wide of the eddy line. At levels above 9ft Whale Rock becomes Whale Hole!. There no choice but to run all three of the Kenneys together as one large rapid at this level.
FYI: Kenneys Creek enters on the right.
Once you are set up after running Upper Kenney head down left of center. After going over the second rolling wave you will drop into a LARGE breaking wave hole. Depending on where it is at in the cycle, it maybe a wave. In that case you should go over it with no problem. However if it is a hole, there is a 50/50 chance that it will flip you. If you do flip, just wait for things to calm down and time your roll with the wave train below. If you make it upright just paddle through the maddness and eddy out in the large eddy on the right. The more skilled and daring paddlers like to try and catch this wave hole and surf it, but beware, just like Ender you cannot see upstream. The good news is most rafts take the center line so they are not a factor.
FYI: Most beginners walk this rapid only to run Lower Kenney. This rapid is not very hard but the out flow leads directly into the Meat Grinder in Lower Kenney. This was a fatality here in 2004. Swimmers need to swim hard to the eddy on the left. This eddy is huge and allows a nice place to rest and watch some carnage comming down the river. Great photo op!
This rapid is very hard to scout, but it can be done if you insist. The best line is to stay in the flow that is going to the left hand side. Stay in the middle and float along with right hand angle. As soon as you can see down the rapid you will see a large curler wave that is breaking to the left. You do NOT want this wave to take you that way. This will take you to a large rock called Washup Rock and a seive called the Juicer, bad place to be! Paddle hard from left to right and punch the wave. After you make that move just ride the rollercoaster down to the bottom. Catch the large eddy on the right to set up for surfing at Lollygag!
Just after the wave train after Lower Kenney there will be 2 holes, one on each side of the river. The river left hole is not for surfing. The river right hole can produce dynamic, but enjoyable surfs! If you don't want to surf just follow the large tounge between the holes.
This rapid is marked by the large rock that looks like an upside down canoe from up stream. This rock is undercut but easy to avoid. Start right of center and work left. This will set you up for the "Dip". Just stay to the right to clear it.
After Dudleys you will end up in a huge slow moving pool. If you look down stream on the right hand bank, you will see a rock that looks just like a pyramid. This tells you that you are in the pool above Double Z. This is the most technical rapid on the New, and one you also must run. There is no easy portage.
After floating or practicing flat water tricks thru the pool you will see a rock that looks like a thumb sticking out of the water about 50 ft from the right bank. This is called "Thumb Rock".
You will start your run just to the left of this rock. Go around the rock and head to the right bank. There is a pourover that you are tring to miss with this move. Once to the bank you must then ferry behind the hole to the middle of the river.
Then turn downstream and paddle HARD with right hand boat angle, you will need to punch a large and powerful curling wavehole. If you punch this then you are home free. Paddle down thru the confused water making sure you stay away from the downsteam rocks as they are undercut, and you WILL go underneath them, boat and all. (Don't ask why I know) This is the "double z" move.
If you did not punch you hole you have more work to do. You need to roll as fast as you can because you are headed for Table Rock, and that forms Chair Hole. Roll and head to the right bank.
FYI: Another name for this rapid is "Sunset". During the summer and fall months at sunset, the sun is perfectly framed in the mountains and river downstream. I recomend everyone to see it. It is breath taking!
This rapid is right at takout, but you can avoid it by taking out just above the rapid on left shore. However you will miss the fun of running down the middle into the large waves and holes.
New River Gorge Draft Plan Released (WV)
January 22, 2010
New River Gorge Meetings Scheduled (WV)
February 19, 2010
User Comments
is still reporting the flow and level for Thurmond on their web page at
http://www.lrh-wc.usace.army.mil/wc/whitewater.html
well on my way to the shore when it happened! At the level today (4") there wasn't any way for me
to get it out. If anyone sees it when the river gets to a lower level and it look extractable, can
you please let me know so I can go and try to recover it. Or if you find it floating along
somewhere please let me know as well. I never got around to putting my name in it and I think it
may have the name of the previous owner. I already reported it to the park service so they know
there's no one in danger at the scene. Thanks for any information! Craig cpp6fATvirginia.edu
river! This was the first solid Class IV that she has paddled & she did great. It'd be great to
find other kids her age that are kayaking this kind of stuff. I also have a 15yo daughter that is
paddling Class IV as well. We're planning on trips for the Lower Gauley and the Cheat in the next
couple months. djeffsmith@aol.com