New
15. New River Dries: Hawks Nest Dam to Gauley Bridge
| Difficulty | III-IV |
| Length | 6 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 18 fpm |
| Gauge | New River at Thurmond, Wv |
| Flow Rate as of 15 minutes | 2330 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | July 16, 2025 |
Projects
American Whitewater worked through the federal dam relicensing process to restore flows and access to the 5.3 mile New River Dries. The Hawks Nest Hydropower Project has diverted up to approximately 10,000cfs around this section of river for generations, leaving it too low to offer paddling opportunities except when [...]Read More
River Description
The New River Dries is renown for its world class wave surfing when high inflows overwhelm Hawks Nest Dam and water spills into the Dries. American Whitewater negotiated seven summer releases were initiated in 2019 at the natural base flow of 2,200 to 2,500 cfs. At these flows the river is technical Class III+ with some largely out-of-play undercuts to avoid. At all flows the river offers paddlers some good surfing, fun moves, gorgeous scenery, and an easy quick shuttle. At summer release levels expect a river more like the Lower Yough than the Upper Gauley, and at high flows expect the opposite.
American Whitewater negotiated scheduled releases on the New River Dries, two in March and 7 in late June through August, and the relatively low flow of 2200-2500 cfs. These releases will not occur if flows are above or below certain flow thresholds. Releases will be provided if inflows to the dam are between 3,800cfs and 12,500cfs. At flows under 3,800 there is insufficient flow to provide releases, and above 12,500 the dam is spilling and releases are moot. The USGS gage at Thurmond is the best predictor, but more information on releases is available at https://www.safewaters.com/facility/hawks-nest
At release levels you can expect technical moves, and many choices of different slots, generally with lots of eddies and time to make your moves. Note that some slots appear obviously sieved and some rocks are obviously undercut, though there are clear routes through each rapid. If you hike up and put in at the dam you'll get a nice challenging rapid immediately below the dam, a small ledge drop, and some good surfing before arriving at Cotton Hill Bridge. Immediately below the bridge is a fun rapid ending in a good surf wave that has tricky but doable eddy access. Some easy rapids lead a convoluted section of tightly-spaced boulder strewn rapids that at high flows is one rapid called Mile-Long, then a
...River Features
Cotton Hill Put In
This is the 'normal' put in for those not wanting to hike up the road to the base of the dam.
Put In Waves aka Cotton Hill Bridge Rapid
Non existent at low water, Class 5 at huge flows.
Big Kahuna Waves
A series of 3 to 5 big wide waves depending on water level (high). Epic playspot at high water. There is also a nice surfwave in this vicinity at low water, right below the Cotton Hill put-in.
Large / Raft Put In
Large parking area and put in that is the best suited access area for rafters.
Take Out
There is a new public takeout as of 2020-2021, just upstream of the campground, river right.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportThis is the gauge for the new river dries https://safewaters.com/facility/54 The 'Current flow in the bypass reach' is the amount of water going into the dries.
During current temporary dam/flume construction period, you can use the New cfs at Thurmond as the actual Dries gauge. Ran it at 6800 cfs on 9/16/2020, put-in at the bridge. First note, it doesn't look like the power company wants you to park there. COVID concerns? The baddest rapid by far is the rapid a few hundred yards below the bridge put-in, I think the Cotton Hill Bridge Rapid. The 'surf hole' is almost river wide. The far left run is the way to go at 6800 (unless you really want to surf this monster) and even then it looks manky. If you start moving to the far right really early, you can pick your way down the right side or there is a green water break between the big holes that you can see and catch. Me, i hesitated and would up in the hole. It's huge, the width of a two lane road. You won't side surf out, the only way to get out is to spin and then flip. Could be that it is always that simple to get out of but I do wonder if at a different level, that would not work. Very deep hole, looks like a horrible place to swim. 'Mile Long' (aka Super Savage) is squirley, lots of whirlpools and a weird shaped flippy hole at the bottom. Landslide looks scary at this level. Suggest you scout it on the far left side. There is a nice tongue you can run on the left side slot.
FYI gauge is wrong for rafts, 10' is small, 12' is medium, 14'+ is getting burly.
low flow dries gauge info
5 ft is a good level for a low flow run, 4 ft is too low- it requires walking or wading your boat in a couple of places
low flow runs are considered class III with class IV consequences because some of the slots are blind and some undercuts are in play.
We paddled the Dries last weekend at lower flows. The approach to Landslide rapid has changed some with some shoals appearing on the river right above the slots river left. Beware of the wood and some shifting of rocks in the three far left slots.
FYI, the gauge reading here on AW is incorrect. A 3.85 level means there is no water in the dries and should be considered paddling zero. Anything above that indicates there is water flowing in the dries.
HIGH FLOW, New River Dries, gauge/stage below Hawks Nest dam converted to CFS.
This graph is 'PRELIMINARY' information and may be revised. It was supplied to participants in the New River Dries Flow Study in late 2013. USGS below Hawks Nest: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wv/nwis/uv?site\_no=380649081083301
LOW FLOW, New River Dries, gauge/stage below Hawks Nest dam converted to CFS.
This graph is 'PRELIMINARY' information and may be revised. It was supplied to participants in the New River Dries Flow Study in late 2013. USGS below Hawks Nest: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wv/nwis/uv?site\_no=380649081083301