2013 Coal River Group, Inc.2013 Coal River Group, Inc.

Gateway Shopping Center/St. Albans

Public Access

* Camping permitsrequired

DANGER/Dam

South Take Out

North Launch

Lock 4 Launch

Reservations

Reservations

Kates CabinsPrivate/Rooms

Go to www.coalrivergroup.com for detailed information regarding accomodations, travel planning, details on gear rentals, food and services.

COAL RIVERKAYAK & CANOE RENTAL

Rentals - Transport - Guides304-722-3055 www.coalrivergroup.com

181 Pettigrew Ln, Tornado WV 25202

Big Coal RiverTrip B-­1 11 milesWhitesville  water  intake  to  Orgas  Community  Center,  WV  Rt.  3.  This  is  approximately  11  miles.    Put-­in,  Whitesville  behind  funeral  home.  37º  58’  18”  /  81  º31’  40”    Take-­out,  Orgas,  Community  Center  38º  03’  52”  /  81º  34’  31”

Trip B-­2 13.25 milesOrgas  Community  center  to  John  Slack  Park,  Racine  -­  WV  Rt.  3,  11  mile  trip  may  be  shortened  to  10.25  miles  by  put  in  at  Boone  County  Transfer  Station.  Put-­in,  Orgas,  Community  Center.  38  º  03’  52”  /  81º  34’  31”  Alternate  put-­in  Fosterville  dog  pound.  38º  04’  35”  /  81  º35’  59”Take-­out,  John  Slack  Park,  Racine.  38º  08’  14”  /  81º  39’  02”

Trip B-­3 10.5 milesJohn  Slack  Park,  Racine,  WV  Rt.  3  to  Dartmont  Ballpark,  Boone  County,  Rt.  1/1.  Trip  may  be  shortened  to  7  miles  by  put-­in  at  Peytona  old  Rt.  3  bridge.Put-­in,  John  Slack  Park,  Racine.  38º  08’  14”  /    81º  39’  02”Alternate  put-­in,  Peytona  old  Rt.3  bridge.  38º  08’  22”    /  81º  41’  00”  Take-­out,  Dartmont  Ballpark,  Boone  County  Rt.  1-­1.  38º  11’  48”  /    81º  43’  38”

Trip B-­4/B-­5 14.5 milesDartmont,  Ballpark  Boone  County      Rt.  1/1  to  Sproul  Rd  to  Lions  Park,  Alum  Creek,  Lincoln  County,  Rt.  8  Presently  14.5  miles  (Sproul  under  negotiation).  Put-­in,  Dartmont  ball-­park,  Boone  County  Rt.  1-­1  38º  11’  48”  /    81º  43’  00”Sproul  Road,  Kanawha  County.  38º  14’  46”    /  81º  46’  44”          No  Public  AccessTake-­out,  Lions  Park,  Lincoln  County  Rt.  8.  38º  17’    54”  /  81º    48’  36”

Little Coal RiverTrip L-­1 9.5 milesMadison  City  Park,  WV  Rt.  17  to  Donald  R.  Kuhn  Juvenile  Center  on  Corridor  G  (U.S.  Rt.  119)  9.5  miles,  trip  may  be  shortened  to  6  miles  by  putting  in  at  the  Danville  Community  Center  on  Lick  Creek  –  across  river  from  Danville.Put-­in,  Madison  City  Park  38º  03’  32”  /    81º    49’  28”Alternate  put  in,  Danville  Community  Center.38  º  05  ’11”  /    81  º  50  30”    Take-­out,  Donald  R.  Kuhn  Juvenile  Center.  38  º  08’  12”  /    81  º  50’  12”

Trip L-­2 7 milesDonald  R.  Kuhn  Juvenile  Center  to  Little  Coal  River  Campground  U.S.  Rt.  119  to  Boone  County  Water  Park,  U.S.  Rt.  119  drift  is  5  or  7  miles  depending  on  which  side  of  the  Waterways  Park  you  take    out  on.Put-­in,  Donald  R.  Kuhn  Juvenile  Center.  38  º  08’  12”  /    81  º  50’  12”Take-­out,  Boone  County  Water  Park.  38  º  10’  52”  /    81  º    50’  54”  Trip L-­3 14.5 milesBoone  County  Water  Park  north  access  ramp  in  campground  U.S.  Rt.  119  to  un-­derneath  Corridor  G  bridge  (unimproved  access),  approximate  15  mile  trip,  4  to  5  

Put-­in,  Boone  County  Water  Park  north.  38  º  10’  52”  /    81  º    50’  54”Take-­out,  Corridor  G  U.S.  Rt.  119.      38  º  15’  57”/      81  º  49’  16”                  Trip L-­4 3 milesCorridor  G  bridge  at  U.S.Rt.119  to  Lions  Park,  Alum  Creek  -­  Lincoln  County,  Rt.8Put-­in,  Corridor  G  at  U.S.  Rt.  119.  38  º  15’  57”/    81  º  49’  16”        Take-­out,  Lions  Park,  Lincoln  County  Rt.  8.  38º  17’  54”  /  81º    48’  36”

Coal RiverTrip C-­1 6.75 milesLions  Park  at  Alum  Creek,  Lincoln    County,  Rt.  8  to  Upper  Falls,  Tornado,  Kanawha  County,  Rt.  9/1.  Public  access  at  Meadowood.  Danger  at  dam.    Put-­in,  Lions  Park,  Lincoln  County,  Rt.  8.  -­  38º  17’  54”  /  81º    48’  36”Take-­out,  Under  construction.    Portage  now  available  at  dam.

Trip C-­2 7 milesPublic  access  behind  playground  at  Meadowood.  Trip  is  6  miles  to  the    upper  shoals  of  the  Lower  Falls  area    on  the  west  side  of  the  Coal  River.    Look  for  the  last  small  island  (Historic  log  boom)  structure  and  prepare  to    take  out  at  ramp.Put-­in,  Meadowood  Park,  Tornado.    38º  20’  34”  /  81º  50’  26”Take-­out,  Lower  Falls.    38º  22’  45”  /  81º  51’  26”

Trip C-­3 6 milesLower  Falls  Kanawha  County,  Rt.  60/2  to  St.  Albans  is  6  miles.  Take  out  near    Gateway  Shopping  Center  in  St.  Albans.  Site  is  the  area  adjacent  to  the  Rt.  60  bridge.Put-­in,  Lower  Falls.  38º  22’  45”  /  81º  51’  26”Take-­out,  Gateway  Shopping  Center.  38º  23’  29”  /  81º  50’  29”

TRAIL SEGMENTS Coal River Little Coal River Big Coal River C1, C2, C3 L1, L2, L3, L4 B1, B2, B3, B4, B5

The community of St. Albans is the largest town in the Coal River watershed. Located on the Midland Trail (U.S. Rt. 60), the historic town o!ers visitors a host of restaurants, museums and river-based recreation oppor-tunities. The community’s Annual Riverfest celebration draws over 40,000 visitors and many privately-owned sternwheelers are on display.

Enjoy the region either by boat or by car and experi-ence the uniquely southern West Virginia culture.

Boats and SafetyThe Big and Little Coal rivers "ow through wilderness areas and have many shallow rapids. The type of craft you select is important. The shallow depths found on the Big and Little Coal rivers require either a canoe or kayak. Be prepared for strainers in the many sharp turns of the rivers and look out for sunken objects with sharp edges. The Coal River is a larger stream with many deep areas in excess of 6 feet. The lower areas of Coal River are navigable by motorcraft. Tubes are not recommended. Normal boat safety rules should be followed at all times. Remember, a river is a river, not a man-made protected area, so be prepared for encounters with wildlife of all types and natural and man-made hazards. Many of the areas are not accessible by highways or roads.

About the TrailThe Coal River Water Trail is new and considered a work in progress. The Trail Guide attempts to present general information regarding launch locations, trip planning, tips for safety and equipment requirements. It is im-portant to remember that the Big and Little Coal river

Touring Southern West Virginia by boat or by car...The Coal River Watershed is located in the heart of the historic southern West Virginia coal mining region.

The Big Coal River begins near Whitesville, WV. Route 3 borders the Big Coal River from Peytona to Whitesville. Boone County’s John Slack Park is located at Racine and o!ers public boat access, picnic shelters and has a public swimming pool. Visit beautiful Drawdy Falls at Peytona and imagine 100-foot long riverboats pushing coal barges through the locks near the Peytona Bridge in 1855. Sylvester, Comfort and Orgas are also located along this stretch of WV Rt. 3.

The Little Coal River begins near Madison, the home of the historic Boone County Courthouse and the Boone County Coal Museum. Follow WV Rt. 85 through the commuity of Danville to the junction of U.S. Rt. 119 (Corridor G). The river "ows north along the Corridor and passes the Boone County Water Park, the trail head for the Hat#eld and McCoy ATV Center and joins the Big Coal River at Alum Creek.

The Little and Big Coal Rivers create the Coal River, which extends from Alum Creek to the Kanawha River at St. Albans. Along the way, the river and the parallel County Rt. 3 (Coal River Road) passes four sites of the historic 1855 locks and dam. The community of Tor-nado a!ords views of the picturesque Upper Falls Dam, Meadowood Public Park and Big Bend Golf Course. Lower Falls, located on Strawberry Road o! of Coal River Road, is another lock and dam site.

segments of the trail "ow through extremely remote areas with no access roads and no cell phone service. The Coal River area "ows through more populated areas with public roads along most of the river’s path. Plan carefully when "oating the rivers. Use caution and respect along the way for private landowners; the trail is new to them also. The forest bordering the river provides a wonder-ful array of wild"owers, tree specimens and, of course, snakes, bears, deer and other wildlife. It is a river, so treat it with respect. Most of all, enjoy your paddling in beauti-ful Boone, Lincoln and Kanawha counties.

Personal SafetyLife vests and other normal boating safety equipment are highly recommended. The rivers have many, very deep holes and the rapids are swift. Fresh water, #rst aid kits, and adequate food and snacks are important. No stores or other supply centers are available along most of the river, so be prepared. Plan ahead and paddle safely.

Camping and LodgingThere are no public camping areas on the Walhonde Trail at this time. Commercial lodging and campsites are available at the Water Park on Corridor G and others are available in the region. Remember, most of the land along the trail is private so please be respectful of the property owners and their property. Nothing left behind is our motto.

FishingThe West Virginia Division of Natural Resources #sheries management programs are designed to provide a vari-ety of #shing opportunities and experiences for anglers.

Coal River Group Partners:West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection

West Virginia Division of Natural ResourcesWest Virginia Division of Highways

Mid-Atlantic Highlands Action ProgramU.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. National Park ServiceBoone County Commission

Lincoln County Parks and RecreationKanawha County Parks and Recreation

City of St. AlbansWest Virginia REAP Program

Moses Ford City National Bank St. Albans Historical Society

Travel Information WV Tourism call 800-Call-WVA (800) 225-5982

Hat!eld-McCoy Trails (800) 592-2217/www.Trailsheaven.com

Boone county Tourism (304) 369-6125/www.waterwayspark.com

Boone County Coal Museum (304) 369-5180/www.coalmuseum.org

Coal River Group (304) 722-3055/www.coalrivergroup.com

Midland Trail (304) 343-6001/www.midlandtrail.com

Lincoln County Travel www.lincolncounty.wv.us

St. Albans, WV Travel (304) 727-7251/www.stalbans.com

Charleston Convention & Vistitors Bureau www. Charlestonwv.com

Welcome to Wild, Wonderful West Virginia!The Coal River (Walhonde) Water Trail is a unique and emerging new recreational asset for southern West Virginia. The trail follows the meandering channels of two beautiful rivers which join together at the Forks of Coal to form the Coal River. The Coal River becomes a much larger river that "ows approximately 18 miles to St. Albans, where it joins the Kanawha River.

Be prepared to be amazed and exhilarated by the steep mountains, lush forests and natural rock forma-tions throughout the trail. Enjoy the experience of visiting areas that have had few tourists in hundreds of years and get ready to learn the value and impact of the area’s coal industry on this region.

Happy paddling!

The Coal River watershed has a diverse #shery o!ering angling opportunities for spotted and smallmouth bass, channel cat#sh, striper, walleye and muskie. To learn more about #shing the Coal Rivers and how to obtain a West Virginia license, call (304) 558-2758, write to WVDNR at Capitol Complex, Bldg. 3, Room 624, Charleston, WV 25305 or email: www.wvdnr.org

River/EnvironmentThe rivers provide an exciting number of easy to negoti-ate rapids, with the exception of the Coal River’s Upper Falls due to the existing dam and dangerous sluice way. The Upper Falls are Class 2 rapids, but can be treacher-ous for beginners. Take caution at both locations. The rivers are generally clean and mostly free of dangerous pollutants, but they are rivers and e-coli counts have been high at various times on the lower Coal River. The rivers reach "ood stage very quickly after heavy rains and can rise as high as 16 feet above normal levels in just a few hours. Check local weather when planning a trip and look up recommended river depth for trips on the Coal River Group website: www.coalrivergroup.com

Communities and ParkingThe Coal River Water Trail is new to the communities in the region. Please be respectful of the local residents and their culture and customs. The region is the largest coal producing area in West Virginia and the coal mining business is important to the area. Be careful and watch for large coal trucks on the access roads to the trail. Park only in public parking areas or right-of-ways. Use cau-tion when leaving a vehicle for long periods of time in isolated areas. Plan ahead for trips and have a pickup car available to return you to your put in site. There are very few access roads between public put-in sites.

Bringing life back to the Coal Rivers

The Coal Rivers (Big, Little and Coal) have served the southern West Virginia region as a transportation network, a source of drinking water, a center for recre-ational swimming, #shing and boating. Unfortunately, the rivers have also been mistreated by industry, local residents and businesses for many years.

The non-pro#t Coal River Group was formed in 2004 by concerned local citizens with the goal of “Bringing Life Back to the Coal Rivers”. The Coal River Water Trail is a great example of how e!ective the group has been.

Donations are graciously accepted to help with trail maintenance and river restoration programs. To get in touch with us, go to www.coalrivergroup.com

Join the Coal River Water Trail Adventure!The Coal River (Walhonde) Water Trail is bound to be an

adventure regardless of what section you choose to "oat. There are over 88 miles of river to explore and approxi-mately 17 locations with West Virginia Division of Natural Resources’ constructed small boat launches available.

Recreation development, preservation of river his-tory, and regular cleanup programs in three counties have helped establish the Coal River Group as a major factor in improving the future of the entire 850-square mile Coal River watershed.

VISIT THE COAL RIVER GROUP SCIENCE & EDUCATION CENTERCALL 304-722-3055 FOR DIRECTIONS OR RESERVATIONS.

The Coal River Science & Education Center has become a destination for visitors to learn more about the history of the rivers and the Coal River “Walhonde” Water Trail.

Located in Meadowood Park in Tornado, WV, the Center serves as the headquarters of the Coal River Group. CRG volunteers provide tours of the facilities, the park, and the Renewable Energy Center. A gift shop features unique merchandize including Coal River Water Trail t-shirts, books, and paddling supplies.

The building is open weekdays from 9:00am to 4:00pm and weekends from 1:00 to 4:00.

The 1,700 sq. ft. log building was donated to the Coal River Group by Appalachian Log Structures and

built by volunteers. The facility is available for rental to groups, reunions, and weddings.

COAL RIVER KAYAK AND CANOEThe COAL RIVER KAYAK AND CANOE rental business

is operated out of the Coal River Group headquarters in Tornado, WV. Rental boats and livery services are avail-able from this location.

Coal River Kayak provides limited shuttles for two trips: Lock 4 to Upper Falls and Upper Falls to Lower Falls. To rent boats for other parts of the Water Trail, renters must provide their own shuttles.

Hours are from 9:00am to 4:00pm and weekends from 1:00 to 4:00.Contact: 304-722-3055