Big Coal River, Marsh Fork, West Virginia, US

1: Fairdale to Arnett

Usual Difficulty	II-III (for normal flows)
Length	8.5 Miles
Avg. Gradient	60 fpm
Max Gradient	60 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
BIG COAL RIVER AT ASHFORD, WV
usgs-03198500	4.50 - 8.50 ft	II-III	00h43m	3.22 ft (rc= -0.3 )

River Description

A two mile shorter and slightly less difficult run may be paddled by puting in at the Saxon bridge.
A 4.5' minimum reading on the Ashford gauge is for a put-in at Saxon. Boaters will need 5.0'if using a put-in near Fairdale.
This run is heavily timbered and strainers are occasionally a problem down to the confluence of Sandlick Creek. It has been clean for the past several years
Take-out river left at bridge in Arnett or 100 yards downstream on river right at volunteer fire department.
Marsh Fork is considered the mainstem of the Coal River.