Smoke Hole Canyon — one of the deepest and most remote river gorges east of the Mississippi. The South Branch Potomac flows 130 miles through the Allegheny Mountains along the Virginia-West Virginia border, with the 25-mile Smoke Hole section delivering Class I–III whitewater through a 1,000-foot-deep canyon. Wild trout, cave formations, and zero road access make this one of the most wilderness-like rivers in the East.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and trip sections may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level. If you spot an error, use the Improve This River button at the top of the page — your local knowledge is what makes this atlas accurate.