Cheat, Dry Fork, West Virginia, US
|
|
4. Jenningston to Hendricks
| Usual Difficulty |
III-IV (for normal flows) |
| Length |
12 Miles |
Surfing the Dry Fork
Surfing the Dry ForkPhoto of Ted Rowe (BOCC) in OC-1 taken 04/04/01 @ 3.5 ft
Gauge Information
River Description
Alternate put-in at head of river road. Alternate takeouts at end of river road, at confluence with
Otter Creek
(footbridge and parking lot access to Otter Creek trail) and at AW takeout at
foot of 2nd street in Hendricks
(footbridge).
The lower Dry Fork starting at head of river road is an excellent intermediate training run and a
surfer's paradise with numerous holes and waves, some of which are even fine park and play.
Though not a wilderness run, it's still very scenic with creeks entering from both sides and
several waterfalls cascading in from the left. In addition, this may be the safest class III run
in WV, since it harbors little in the way of large boulders,undercuts,strainers or recirculating
holes. It has been run at very high levels by strong advanced paddlers. River road runs
streamside for approx 5 miles.
The popular takeout 1 mile downstream of Otter Creek is not recommended since there have been
several incidents of vandalism to paddlers vehicles there. CJ's Pizzeria in Parsons is the
post-paddling spot for food and libations.
Directions from AW takeout in Hendricks: Take Rte. 72 South to river road (1st right after
crossing bridge over Red Run) and put in at AWFS flood gauge where this road becomes private
property. To put in at Jenningston, turn left at the AWFS flood gauge and then right onto Rte. 72
south and follow Rte. 72 to a right on the Jenningston road (yes, there is a sign). Cross the
bridge in Jenningston and turn downstream to a small parking area in approx 200 yards.
For advanced/expert paddlers looking to boat the Dry Fork as a dessert run, the Blackwater River and Otter Creek are nearby.
Paul
StreamTeam Status: Verified
Last Updated: 2003-09-25 23:08:11
No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. 
User Comments
with good boat control. FWIW Mike Sawyer Edit
(this is the bridge downstream of the Laurel Fork confluence and upstream of both Gladys Fork
confluence and the roadside Elk Lick Run put in). As you're headed downstream of the bridge you'll
go down a gravel bar approaching a hard left turn where the Dry Fork runs into a cliff. Immediately
after making that turn there is a large boulder in the middle of the river. Approximately 2 or 3
feet to river left of the boulder is a tree lodged parallel to the current. It can be hard to see
until the last minute. Since it is pointed upstream any object that ran into it would get wedged by
the current underwater. Either stay on far river left or run right of the boulder. Zack Fields
(current as of April 11 2009) Edit
are great folks and very boater friendly. The sites have electricity, water and cable hookups if
you want. There are flush toilets and HOT showers. The first time we showed up there it was 2 am
and raining and the first thing we saw was two double car ports which are available at no extra
charge. The campground sits on the banks of the Cheat River. To reach the campground turn north
onto Walnut street between the courthouse and the old bank building and follow this street right
into the campground. Their website is www.fiverivercampground.com and e-mail at
joycebowers@frontiernet.net. Phone # is 304-478-3515. Check them out.
Dry Fork Hole: (good above 2,000 cfs--Dry Fork at Hendricks)<br>
Woke up and played the Dry Fork hole for about 45 minutes. The level had dropped significantly, but
it was still really good for throwing ends both ways and splits both ways. It was fun,
controllable, and powerful enough that it was unnecessary to push very hard to make the ends go
through. The second hole was REALLY shallow, so I avoided it like grandma's armpit stink. There was
no one else around...I LOVE WV!!!<br>
How to get there:<br>
From Hendricks, WV (Lower Blackwater take-out town) head south on 72 (river will be on your right)
After passing 2 Otter Creek wilderness trailheads, split off onto a much smaller road on the
right--72 will leave the river at this point, and the smaller road drops down to almost river level
and continues to follow it. Drive the smaller road for 2-3 miles. Eventually, this road will cross
a small trib, then leave the river uphill to the left. I've been told that at 5,000 cfs and higher,
an AMAZING wave forms right there at the put-in. To play the lower water spots that I played, head
back downstream to the next pull-off at the side of the river. This is right near the next rapid
below the put-in rapid. In that rapid, the stream wraps to the river left around a small island and
has 2 good holes and sometimes a wave.