Gauge Description:

Look for the Powell River at Big Stone Gap to be running at least 250cfs before this one starts to run. The watershed for these two runs are very close together, making the Powell the best indicator of the water level on the Guest. There is also a gauge on the middle of the RR bridge piling crossing the Guest river on Rt. 72 before you reach the putin. For a minimum (kinda scrapy) level the gauge should read -0-. for a maximum level it should read 3.0'. Local oldskoolers have run this "creek" at 5.5-6' and say that it was one of the toughest runs they have paddled. Basically, the Guest is in flood when it gets that high. Not worth the risk associated with a tight stream such as this.

An indicator of area rainfall can be found at Automated Flood Warning System
Look at stations 1058 & 1060.

We are in the process of working out a virtual gauge for the Guest. If you are making a run here, please post the level from the Powell @ Big Stone Gap, the level from the MIDDLE of the bridge piling on Rt. 72, and the amount of rainfall on the AFWS gauges listed above, especially Fox Gap #1060. The Fox Gap gauge is located at the head of the Guest River and the Divide Ridge #1058 is located on the ridge that "divides" the Powell and Guest headwaters.
Also, we are working on installing a new paddler gauge on the Rt. 72 bridge in the very near future.

Powell River at Big Stone Gap, VA [ VA ]

Current Conditions Stage Flow Updated 2.16 64 12/4 18:15 Station Graphs

Linked Reaches

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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
VA	Crab Orchard Branch— Crab Orchard Falls	IV(V)	64 cfs	low	12/4 18:15
VA	Guest— USFS recreation area (Rt. 72) to Clinch River -- Guest River Gorge	IV-V	64 cfs	low	12/4 18:15
VA	Little Stony Creek— Little Stony Falls to Hanging Rock	V+	64 cfs	low	12/4 18:15
VA	Little Stony, Ramey Fork— Ramey Fork to Hanging Rock	V+	64 cfs	low	12/4 18:15
VA	Powell— Appalachia to Big Stone Gap (Route 23)	II-IV	64 cfs	low	12/4 18:15
VA	Powell— Big Stone Gap to Dryden	I-II	64 cfs	low	12/4 18:15
VA	Powell, South Fork— South Fork Gorge	V+	64 cfs	low	12/4 18:15

Station Description

AW Gauge ID:	7240
USGS Station:	03529500
HUC:	06010206
Latitude:	36.8689
Longitude:	-82.7756
Class: