Trout Run
Halfmoon Trail to WV 55/259 bridge
| Difficulty | II-IV |
| Length | 8.7 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 75 fpm |
| Gauge | Waites Run Near Wardensville, Wv |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 12 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | November 6, 2023 |
River Description
Briefly, Trout Run is a fast-moving stream of mostly continuous Class II-III water with a couple sections that reach Class IV in difficulty. Anyone running it should be prepared for the usual small stream demons - strainers, limited eddies, low water bridges, water flowing through trees along the bank, etc. In February, 2003, two groups that ran the stream reported no tree-induced portages, but some limbo.
Lat/longitude coords are approximate, from TopoZone.
River Features
Put In - Long put-in
Long Put-in - from Trout Run Rd 1.5 miles upstream from Thorn Bottom Rd intersection.
Thorn Bottom Rd. - Short put-in
Thorn Bottom Rd. Short Put-in
Take Out - Wardensville, WV
Take-out on WV 55 just west of Wardensville, WV
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportWhen I did it, Waites run gauge was probably around 4.25 and dropping. There is a steep, congested section toward the bottom where logs can jam, followed by a nasty hole at the top of a very large pool, followed by a big log jam that I barely snuck under and which could easily change. On site, when I did it, the low-water bridge at the Hemlock Wilderness Brigade had the barest, unrunnable trickle passing over the bridge; this level was somewhat abusive, but passable. If there's enough water to paddle over the road, that would probably be a good level. If there's an ugly hole behind the road, that might be intense! I didn't see a gauge at Rt 55, but maybe I missed it, even though I took out there.