Cranberry, West Virginia, US

AB (Middle): Cranberry Recreation Area to Big Rock

Usual Difficulty	III-IV (for normal flows)
Length	6 Miles
Avg. Gradient	80 fpm
Max Gradient	100 fpm

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
CRANBERRY RIVER NEAR RICHWOOD, WV
usgs-03187500	3.50 - 5.50 ft	III-IV	10h21m	3.13 ft (rc= -0.2 )

River Description

This section of the Cranberry is known by local paddlers as the Middle Cranberry. Some paddlers who have not paddled the section above this call it the Upper Cranberry.

This is classic creek boating in a beautiful wilderness setting. It is almost continuous class III+ ledges and boulder gardens. Probably the biggest and most difficult rapid is S-Turn (class IV at moderate levels). It is located about 2 miles downstream from the altermate putin (or about 3 miles above the takeout). It is a good idea to road scout this rapid on your way to the putin and shore scout it again on you way down the river. After this the river mellows out just a bit the rest of the way to the takeout.

Putin: Cranberry Campground on FS 76

Alternate Putin: Picnic area (about 2 miles downstream)

Takeout: First pulloff on the right upstream of where FS 76 crosses the river.