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Big Coal River, Marsh Fork, WV

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3: Dry Creek to Sundial (Pettry Bottom)

Class III-IV
4.2 Miles
Avg Gradient 65 fpm
Max Gradient 65 fpm

Gauge Information

Big Coal River, Marsh Fork
low
2.77
7/24 15:30

Min Sug. Level:  3.7 ft Max Sug. Level:  7.5 ft

River Description

Marsh Fork is considered the Mainstem of the Coal River
StreamTeam Status: unverified
Last Updated: 2006-03-06 23:13:53

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Gauge

Gauge Description:

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

BIG COAL RIVER AT ASHFORD, WV [ WV ]

Current Conditions

Stage Flow Updated
2.77 336 7/24 15:30

Station Graphs


Linked Reaches

Search Results

Level Legend: Running Below Minimum Recommended Flow Above Maximum Recommended Flow Unknown
Descriptions of reaches with River Name in bold have been verified by a regional StreamTeam member.

State River Name/Section Class Level Rel. Level Updated
WV Big Coal River, Marsh Fork— 1: Fairdale to Arnett II-III 2.77 ft   low 7/24 15:30
WV Big Coal River, Marsh Fork— 2: Arnett to Dry Creek II+ 2.77 ft   low 7/24 15:30
WV Big Coal River, Marsh Fork— 3: Dry Creek to Sundial (Pettry Bottom) III-IV 2.77 ft   low 7/24 15:30
WV Big Coal River, Marsh Fork— 4: Sundial (Pettry Bottom) to Whitesville I-II 2.77 ft   low 7/24 15:30
WV Peachtree Creek— Pineknob to confluence of Marsh Fork of the Big Coal River II-III(IV) 2.77 ft   low 7/24 15:30
WV Sandlick Creek— Dameron to confluence with Marsh Fork of Big Coal River II-III 2.77 ft   low 7/24 15:30

Station Description

AW Gauge ID:8265
USGS Station:03198500
HUC:05050009
Latitude:38.1797
Longitude:-81.7117
Class:

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 (1718 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.
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Disclaimer Data Sources

EPA Surf This Watershed

USGS Page for This Station

NPS WV Rivers Inventory


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