New - 10. Bluestone Dam to Sandstone


New, West Virginia, US

 Disclaimer

10. Bluestone Dam to Sandstone

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

Sandstone Falls


Sandstone Falls
Photo of Adam Lewis by Pauley taken 06/22/03 @ 12 ft @ Thurmond

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
NEW RIVER AT HINTON, WV
usgs-03184500 1.35 - 5.90 ft I-III(IV) 01h15m 2.86 ft (rc= 0.3 )


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


StreamTeam Status: Verified
Last Updated: 2004-08-05 01:05:46

Editors



Dropping Sandstone

Detail Trip Report  Dropping Sandstone  New River AB, WV(116.64KB .gif)

Brooks Falls river left line

Detail Trip Report  Brooks Falls river left line  New River, WV(71.84KB .jpeg)

Brooks rapid view from center of river

Detail Trip Report  Brooks rapid view from center of river  New River, WV(64.20KB .jpeg)

Brooks rapid play wave

Detail Trip Report  Brooks rapid play wave  New River, WV(63.53KB .jpeg)

Brooks Falls left line from above

Detail Trip Report  Brooks Falls left line from above  New River, WV(64.26KB .jpeg)

Brooks bow stall

Detail Trip Report  Brooks bow stall  New River AB, WV(149.68KB .jpeg)

Brooks Falls from river right cliff

Detail Trip Report  Brooks Falls from river right cliff  New River AB, WV(89.64KB .jpeg)

Brian hitting the boof.

Detail Trip Report  Brian hitting the boof.  New River AB, WV(346.68KB .jpeg)

Dropping Sandstone

Detail Trip Report  Dropping Sandstone  New River AB, WV(344.49KB .jpeg)

Sandstone Falls

Detail Trip Report  Sandstone Falls  New River, WV(156.85KB .jpeg)

Sandstone Falls

Detail Trip Report  Sandstone Falls  New River, WV(178.01KB .jpeg)

above Brooks Falls

Detail Trip Report  above Brooks Falls  New River, WV(65.62KB .jpeg)

Better view showing foam pile.

Detail Trip Report  Better view showing foam pile.  New, WV(38.31KB .jpeg)

Nice wave at high water

Detail Trip Report  Nice wave at high water  New, WV(52.96KB .jpeg)

Sandstone Falls

Detail Trip Report  Sandstone Falls  New River, WV(36.12KB .jpeg)

slide above Sandstone Falls far left

Detail Trip Report  slide above Sandstone Falls far left  New River, WV(41.98KB .jpeg)

Sandstone Falls runnable section entire view

Detail Trip Report  Sandstone Falls runnable section entire view  New River, WV(59.84KB .jpeg)

QUMEg

Detail Trip Report  QUMEg  New River, WV(507.37KB .wmv)

Feeling good!

Detail Trip Report  Feeling good!  New, WV(501.45KB .jpeg)

Popping through a hole river right

Detail Trip Report  Popping through a hole river right  New, WV(456.41KB .jpeg)

Wishing I had brought floatation

Detail Trip Report  Wishing I had brought floatation  New, WV(354.68KB .jpeg)

Approach 2 to Brooks Falls

Detail Trip Report  Approach 2 to Brooks Falls  New, WV(321.05KB .jpeg)

Approach to Brooks Falls River Right

Detail Trip Report  Approach to Brooks Falls River Right  New River AB, WV(406.21KB .jpeg)


Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

The Hinton gauge is located on the reach on river right 1.5 miles below the confluence of the Greenbrier River. 1.35' = 798 cfs and it has not been that low since 1988. 5.90' = 30,400 cfs. The cfs is based on rating curve #27 for the Hinton gauge.

Hinton gauge stages can also be obtained by calling 304-466-0156. The recorded message is updated every morning before 9:00 AM. Courtesy of the USACE the Bluestone Dam.

There is no real max on this run for advanced boaters; in fact, this run is at its best when extremely high. Just be sure to scout Brooks Falls and Sandstone Falls. Ran it at around 7ft and it was BIG WATER for sure.

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
NEW RIVER AT HINTON, WV
usgs-03184500 1.35 - 5.90 ft I-III(IV) 01h15m 2.86 ft (rc= 0.3 )

RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
1.35 -5.90 ft barely runnable-high runnable I-III(IV)

Report - Reports of New 10. Bluestone Dam to Sandstone and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
New River [WV] Brooks park & play approx. 2.8 ft Adam Lewis
New River [WV] Sandstone Falls runnable section entire view 4.2 ft @ Hinton Adam Lewis
New River [WV] Sandstone Falls 12 ft @ Thurmond Adam Lewis
New River AB [WV] Dropping Sandstone 12ft @ Thurmond Adam Lewis
7y153d11h13m New [WV] Better view showing foam pile. 5.6 Adam Lewis
8y95d11h13m New River AB [WV] Brian hitting the boof. 3.7 ft @ Hinton Adam Lewis
8y111d11h13m New River AB [WV] Brooks Falls from river right cliff 2.3 ft @ Hinton Adam Lewis
8y117d11h13m New River AB [WV] Brooks bow stall 2.8 Adam Lewis
8y133d11h13m New River [WV] Brooks Falls river left line 2.72 Adam Lewis
8y137d11h13m New [WV] Feeling good! 4.25 David Edelblute
8y157d11h13m New River AB [WV] Approach to Brooks Falls River Right 4.25 David Edelblute
8y202d11h13m New River [WV] above Brooks Falls 5.5ft @ Thurmond Adam Lewis
8y235d11h13m New River [WV] Sandstone Falls 12 ft @ Thurmond Adam Lewis

WXPort

News





User Comments
2008-08-18 03:23:54 (1271 days ago)
Paddled this stretch a couple days ago @1.50 ft. for the first time. Not enough water! Another
complaint is the long dead stretches between the rapids - alot of work in a whitewater boat into a
headwind! Worst spot is the last drop at Brook's rapid. If you take the traditional river left
route, make sure to scout and have a spotter below the last drop -very tricky with a keeper hole at
the bottom. Beginners and intermediates should go down the center. Scenery is nice, but alot of
campers and trailers along the shoreline. Edit
2003-10-02 18:26:50 (3053 days ago)
Adam LewisDetails
From Robert Martin 2001-01-15 19:02:34<br>
<br>
If you ever have a couple of hours to kill on a Sunday afternoon on your way home, check out
Sandstone Falls. It is awesome. They have a nice park there with a boardwalk that will give you
access to the many veiwing points. It could be run (sneaked) on the far far left. The center of the
falls is a good 20'+ vertical drop and the right line is a class VI monster. "It's not for
runnin', it's just for lookin at."<br>
Users can submit comments.

Rapid Summary

Mile Rapid Name Class Features (Legend)
4.0Tug Creek RapidIIIAccess Playspot
6.9Brooks Play waveIIAccess Playspot Photo
7.0Brooks FallsIIIAccess Photo
8.0Brooks Island ledgeII+
10.0Sandstone FallsIVPortage Hazard Waterfall Photo
10.1Tahiti RapidIIITakeout Playspot Photo

Rapid Descriptions

Tug Creek Rapid (Class III, Mile 4.0)
There are at least 5 good catch on the fly surf spots that can be seen and caught from running center to center left in this rapid. One of these is excellent allowing for multple cartwheels at prime levels. Also there is an nice playspot bottom right of rapid around 3ft. Nice wide but shallow ledge. Gentle and big enough for two boaters to play in at the same time. Excellent horizonal play. Around 4ft there is a nice wave/hole bottom left of rapid.

Brooks Play wave (Class II, Mile 6.9)

Brooks rapid play wave

Brooks rapid play wave
Photo by Adam Lewis taken 10/02/03 @ 2.72

This is a fairly good park and play spot on river left at the Brooks Daypark on River Rd going toward Sandstone Falls.video of surf Ideal between 7500 and 10000 CFS or 2.7 and 3.6 ft. Surfable down to 2.5 ft. Ends possible at 8500 to 10000 CFS 3.3 and 3.6 (in short boat).

Brooks Falls (Class III, Mile 7.0)

Brooks Falls river left line

Brooks Falls river left line
Photo by Adam Lewis taken 10/02/03 @ 2.72

The biggest waves you will see on this reach at lower levels is this river left drop of about 6-7 ft. Beware of the nasty keeper hole just to the right of this traditional river left line. It can be compared to Maytag in Upper Railroad (NRG). Beginners should run the rapid in the center.Picture of center line

Brooks Island ledge (Class II+, Mile 8.0)
This is a nice ledge drop of about 4 ft or so if run center of the right of island channel. Run left of island for a complete sneak or river right bank of island or far right to sneak this ledge hole that can get nasty. Easy boof for intermedate boaters. The Park Rangers have said that there has had to be rescues here due to unwary river users.

Sandstone Falls (Class IV, Mile 10.0)

Sandstone Falls runnable section entire view

Sandstone Falls runnable section entire view
Photo of Adam Lewis by Angela Lewis taken June 03 @ 4.2 ft @ Hinton

































There are numerous earlier takeouts that are roadside before you get to Sandstone for novices to take advantage of. Sandstone Falls (far left portion) is not much fun below 10,000 CFS or 3.5ft. It gets boney and you just end up doing a seal launch off the lip of the falls. If you do choose to run the falls stay far left, no farther than twenty ft off the river left bank. There is a 15 ft slide before you get to the pool above the baby falls. Picture of Slide Take out in the pool below this and scout the falls from the boardwalk. The preferred line is the highest drop because it is the cleanest (shown in pic). Other lines have submerged rocks and logs that change constantly with all the debris.

There are some class IV to V drops in the river right channel. I ran the far left one (of the right channel) for the first time the other day. Bring your creek boat if you are up for these.

Tahiti Rapid (Class III, Mile 10.1)

Nice wave at high water

Nice wave at high water
Photo of Adam Lewis by Angela Lewis taken 09/11/04 @ 5.6

This rapid directly below Sandstone Falls is worth checking out for those out there like me who enjoy huge surf. Great waves form above 5 ft but are not eddy accessible. Easy walk, partly on boardwalk back to put in. At extremely high levels there is one of the biggest waves I've ever seen here. It was easlily 12 ft high and surfable. I think the Thurmond gauge was reading somewhere in the 15-18 ft range.


Do more than just check gauges; join over 5,000 AW members today.

Join_or_Renew_Logo-200px

Join or Renew

Or, consider donating

Donate_Logo-200px

Donate


General Nonmember Message


 reach  
 state  
 reachlink  
  10. Bluestone Dam to Sandstone, New West Virginia, US (mobile)