New
09. Glen Lyn, VA to Bull Falls Camping Area, WV
| Difficulty | I-III |
| Length | 21 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 5 fpm |
| Gauge | New River at Glen Lyn, Va |
| Flow Rate as of 30 minutes | 3.15 ftlow runnable |
| Reach Info Last Updated | April 30, 2025 |
River Description
For a shorter run from the Glen Lyn park (about 7 miles) you can cross over the 460 bridge to river left and turn right on Rt. 648, then bear right on the gravel Rt. 649, which has several good access points. This section includes Shumate Falls and Wylie Falls with a takeout near the state line. You can also do a bike shuttle if you put in at the first access on Rt. 649, shortening the run to 5.5 miles. This is a particularly pleasant and peaceful section of the New in Virginia, since there are no houses, no highways, and no railroad tracks alongside (due to the Bluestone Project downstream).
According to the New River Atlas, this section of river is marked by batteau sluices blasted out in the 1880s, of which Wylie Falls (on the far right) is one of the best examples on the New. At Shumate Falls, blasting was begun but never completed, resulting in the U-shaped ledge on river right.
Andrea Jones reports:
Putin is at Glen Lyn park on river right, just upstream of the Rte. 460 bridge at Glen Lyn. About two miles downstream of the putin is a rapid that has a 3 - 4 ft drop on the right into a horseshoe-shaped hole / foam pile, Shumate Falls. The left side is a class II cobble bar. Most of the other rapids are class I-II with an area on the right side of the river that appears to have been blasted out at some time in the past. NOTE: This is the backwater of Bluestone Lake and, if the lake is high, the last few rapids could be swallowed by the lake. Bluestone Dam is currently used for flood control, but could be converted to power generation in the future.
Another reader reported:
There are three basic lines on the second major rapid from the putin, Shumate Falls. At 4.18 feet there are two class-II slots to the left. There is a center line which is a low class III with a sticky hole which is easy to punch through. The far right side, Shumate Falls proper, is class III+ /IV- with a major keeper hole in the horseshoe. To scout this rap
...River Features
Put In
The Glen Lyn town park entrance is next to the eastern end of the 460 bridge over the New. After turning into the park, bear right to go past the pavilion, toward the river and the row of RVs/campers. Then bear left and drive to the upstream end of the RVs. There's a concrete ramp right at the row of tall old concrete pilings in the river, with parking nearby.
Shumate Falls
Shumate Falls should be taken seriously, although it is quite wide and generally class II on the left. The right side should be avoided due to the U-shaped ledge. At lower levels (around 3 feet) there can still be a decent drop on the left side. At higher levels you should be able to run several places on the middle/left.
Wylie Falls
Wylie Falls can be run in numerous places, and probably most easily on the far right in the batteau sluice (to the right of some trees parallel to the flow) which is just a straightforward wave train. This can get difficult to access at low water though.
Access - State Line
Access river left. Last possible takeout along Shumate Falls Rd. (Route 749), just before the WV state line. Short, steep access so if you don't have 4WD there's parking along the road.
Access - Indian Creek
Indian Creek, river right.
Take Out
Bull Falls campground, river left.
Trip Reports
Log in to add a reportShumate Falls at 5.2 (Glen Lyn gauge)
Shumate Falls at 5.2 (Glen Lyn gauge)
It's really great that people are shairng this information.
There are three basic lines on the second major rapid from the put in. (Where Shumate Falls is located). At 4.18 feet there are two class II slots to the left. There is a center line which is a low class III with a sticky hole which is easy to punch through. The far right site where Shumate Falls is located is class III+ /-IV with a major keeper hole in the horseshoe. To scout this rapid you must get out out the island and cross barbed wire fence on the other side of the island. As 8/7/09 the land was not posted. I do not recommend to eddy out above the rapid. If you decide not to run the rapid there is heavy fast current and it is truly a scary ferry.
Putin is at Glen Lyn park on river right, just upstream of the Rt 460 bridge at Glen Lyn.
About a mile downstream of the putin is a rapid that has a 3 - 4 ft drop on the right into a horseshoe-shaped hole / foam pile. The left side is a class II cobble bar. Most of the other rapids are class I-II with an area on the right side of the river that appears to have been blasted out at some time in the past. NOTE: This is the backwater of Bluestone Lake and, if the lake is high, the last few rapids could be swallowed by the lake. Bluestone Dam is currently used for flood control, but could be converted to power generation in the future.
Wylie Falls; batteau sluice on far right
Shumate Falls at low water