Big Coal River, Marsh Fork - 3: Dry Creek to Sundial (Pettry Bottom)


Comment/Warn Report Level/Upload Photos

Big Coal River, Marsh Fork,

Disclaimer

3: Dry Creek to Sundial (Pettry Bottom)

Usual Difficulty III-IV (may vary with level)
Length 4.2 Miles
Avg. Gradient 65 fpm
Max Gradient 65 fpm

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
BIG COAL RIVER AT ASHFORD, WV
usgs-03198500 3.70 - 7.50 ft III-IV 01h12m 1.96 ft (rc= -0.5 )


River Description

Marsh Fork is considered the Mainstem of the Coal River
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2006-03-06 23:13:53

Editors

Stream Team Editor
Turner Sharp
Box 4751
Parkersburg, WV 26104


icon of message No photos found.


Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

The Tornado gauge (AW #1444) may also be used. 11.0' Minimum to 14.0 Maximum

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
BIG COAL RIVER AT ASHFORD, WV
usgs-03198500 3.70 - 7.50 ft III-IV 01h12m 1.96 ft (rc= -0.5 )

RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
3.70 -7.50 ft barely runnable-high runnable III-IV

Report - Reports of Big Coal River, Marsh Fork 3: Dry Creek to Sundial (Pettry Bottom) and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

No Reports Filed

WXPort

News





Guidebooks



Wildwater West Virginia, 4th ed.
$13.95


A Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to West Virginia, 5th ed.
$11.87

User Comments


2003-11-09 17:15:28 (2208 days ago)
Adam LewisDetails
Ran this section this spring solo and it was some of the most fun I have ever had on the water. It
definitley deserves the class IV rating but it is very forgiving class IV. Strong boaters will
never need toget out of their boats. One thing I liked was that there are numerous horizon lines
that hide rapids from view but once you are over them lines are straightforward. You get the rush
of running rapids semi-blind, but without the consequences. I bank scouted every drop on my first
trip down and this would be the safest thing to do because of the possibilty of wood but at lower
flows there would probably never be enough force behind the water so as to create a
life-threatening pin situation. I ran it at 11.3 and was scraping a bit, I would say 11.6 would be
easiest and that at higher flows there would definitley have to be more caution taken. One
interesting rapid to note is the one right below the Peachtree Rd bridge. All the water funnels
down into a bottleneck and forms a high-energy rooster tail. I got some serious air there. Great
fun! Im surprised this section does not see more boater traffic, as its like a VERY forgiving
Cranberry. Note: At the time I ran it this run was the hardest I had done, I have since ran the
NRG, LG, and UG. The guys I paddle with ran this section and it did not impress them much. I would
probably have to agree with them after the harder water that I have seen now, but I would still
have to recommend this run if you have never done it.
Add a Comment

Rapid Descriptions

icon of message No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run.


 River Alert  
 State News  
 River Links  
 NWRI - Big Coal River, Marsh Fork 3: Dry Creek to Sundial (Pettry Bottom) (mobile)