Whitewater Run VA Class I-II

4. Little Niagara to Rutrough Road

Roanoke

Linked via: Proximity 97% confidence Synced 3mo ago

Monitor
Gauge Conditions
Roanoke River at Niagara, VA Upstream Primary
Runnable: 130.0 – 2,000.0 CFS
Data from American Whitewater & USGS
Run Map
Run Time Estimate
Select put-in and take-out to estimate time.
Unlock Advanced Trip Planning

See wind-adjusted speed maps, forecast planning, and detailed time estimates.

Sign Up Free
Sign in to generate an AI timing estimate for this run.
Whitewater timing varies with scouting, portages, and group pace. Use as a planning baseline.
Description
Great short run close to Roanoke.  Most of the action is in the first half mile, and to add one of the bigger rapids, carry to the base of the dam. These first two rapids are probably II+ at moderate levels.  There are several decent surfing waves all the way down.  The banks are a bit trashy due to the city upstream, but otherwise it's a nice fully forested setting. See Also: Roanoke River Blueway _Virginia Whitewater_, Roger Corbett (2000 ed.), p. 535. _Exploring Virginia's Waterways_, Ed Gertler (2022 ed.), p. 302.
Difficulty
Class I-II
Length
3.1 mi
Gradient
11 ft/mi
Rapids
0
Access Points
Put-in
37.2546, -79.8715
Take-out
37.2259, -79.8474
Shuttle Info
Put in at the Parkway bridge or parkway parking lot at the dam. Take out at the end of Rutrough Rd.  Go through explore park merge right in the park come to a stop sign left onto rougtrough rd follow till dead end 4 miles round trip or so
Difficulty Classes
I Easy II Novice III Intermediate IV Advanced V Expert/Extreme VI Unrunnable
Current Conditions
5-Day Forecast
Whitewater data from
American Whitewater