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Access Site WV

Put In

Elk River - Elk City Lake

Source: american_whitewater Updated 3 months ago

City: WV
County: Webster
Type: Whitewater Put In
Location: 38.47820000, -80.41610000
Air Temp: --
Location
Nearby Gauge Conditions
Whitewater Run
II-III Put-in Elk River - 4. Webster Springs to CR7 bridge and gauging station
25 ft/mi
View Run
Current Conditions
Whitewater Runs on Elk River
3 runs
There are no whitewater runs within 50 miles of this access site.
These whitewater runs are on the same river but located more than 50 miles from this access site.
Difficulty Classes
I Easy II Novice III Intermediate IV Advanced V Expert/Extreme VI Unrunnable
Whitewater data from American Whitewater
About This Access Site
This put-in provides access to the Elk River, a significant tributary in West Virginia that offers whitewater paddling opportunities. The Elk River is a large stream (Stream Order 6) with substantial flow averaging 2758 cubic feet per second, making it a powerful waterway suitable for intermediate to advanced paddlers. With an average gradient of 12 feet per mile and a total elevation drop of 2100 feet over its 175-mile length, the river presents dynamic water conditions with faster currents typical of whitewater environments.

The site is located in Webster County and provides direct water access for kayakers and canoeists seeking whitewater paddling. The river's average velocity of 4.17 feet per second combined with its steep gradient indicates consistent moving water and technical sections that require paddling experience. Boaters should expect variable conditions depending on recent rainfall and seasonal water levels, as the river drains a 1533 square mile watershed.