New, West Virginia, US

10. Bluestone Dam to Sandstone

Usual Difficulty	I-III(IV) (for normal flows)
Length	11 Miles
Avg. Gradient	10 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
NEW RIVER AT HINTON, WV
usgs-03184500	1.35 - 5.90 ft	I-III(IV)	22h48m	3.01 ft (rc= 0.4 )

River Description

Notable rapids on this stretch include:
Tug Creek Rapids
Brooks Falls
Right side of Brooks Island - two separate ledges
Sandstone Falls

The National Park Service lists Sandstone Falls as a mandatory portage.

However if you are going to run the Falls carefully scout because the wood that hangs up here both above and below the drops is constantly changing. Most boaters run the river left side, however the biggest drop is on the river right side (20' to 25'ft). After spring, high water river buoys usually mark the approach well above the falls but they can get washed away. Several boaters have mistakenly gone over the falls.

The National Park Service has developed several access points mostly on river left. There are easy access/portage/scouting above and below Brooks Falls and Sandstone Falls.

There is an alternate put in behind the Advance Auto store in Hinton if you want to skip about a mile of class II/flatwater directly below the dam.

This section (unlike the other Upper New sections) does not wash out, it only gets bigger.

For lower water runs, below 4ft, intermediate to advanced boaters will have the most fun by skipping a lot of class 1+ water and putting in right above Tug creek rapid on river left on River Rd. There is a small stream access point here complete with parking and porta-potty. Set shuttle at Brooks and then drive down to Sandstone.

NPS Guide to paddling the New River

NPS map of the New & Gauley Rivers