Elk River, Back Fork

you can add some class III water by continuing to drive up the road to the gate (just below Leo's ledge). As 0f 6/20/20 the road was in good shape and they were replacing a swinging bridge that leads to the now fallen big sycamore.

Robert Farmer---I did this about 12 years ago, when I ran all 3 sections together, but, based on a recent visit, I think there are 1 or 2 small ledges and then there is just a long, easy (but scenic and twisty) float out, usually with a good current. It's probably perfect at calm levels for beginners, but, at the time, I was getting impatient to take out. I seem to remember some greenery-covered cliffs where the river bends in various places. These rivers, the Elk and the Back Fork have intact watersheds, so the water is a very pretty, clear green---the Back Fork more-so than the main Elk. So it is an unusually pretty river, with a quiet dirt road nearby for access---what more could you want? Across the footbridge at the put-in, the sycamore tree there is believed to be the largest in WV, perhaps more than 18 feet in circumference (?). We saw it from the far side of the river, and it did look unusually large. Anyway, this section would make a nice summer tubing trip, probably.

see the link for a video of this rum..........

http://youtube.com/watch?v=LfjIEr8tcY8

got to look at this run on the way to the back fork section, would be a great lil run for beginers or intermediates. At 6.4 it looked like almost constant 2+ rapids, perhaps a few class 3 due to the wave sizes but looks like a fun lil rolercoaster ride with little manuvering required.