About
Greenbrier River, West Virginia — 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant. Through Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties, the Greenbrier River runs 170 miles of Class I-II water alongside a 78-mile rail-trail that connects Durbin to the Potomac confluence. At 840 CFS average flow, optimal conditions fall between 300-1500 CFS on gauge 03184000. The upper section from Durbin to Marlinton cuts through intimate forested corridors, while the middle stretch from Marlinton to Alderson parallels the converted railroad grade of the Greenbrier River Trail State Park. Below Alderson to Hinton, the river widens and slows through its lower valley. The Shawnee used this drainage as hunting grounds before the C&O Railroad arrived in the 1890s to transport the last major spruce harvest from the high country. In June 2016, catastrophic flooding struck the basin—the worst natural disaster in West Virginia history—reshaping channels and access points throughout the system. Greenbrier River Outfitters operates on the water, though paddlers should verify current conditions given the ongoing recovery from flood damage.
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.