Tygart Valley River — Valley Falls & Releases
Randolph / Barbour Co. · 162 mi · Class II–IV
867CFS/ 3.66 ft
Optimal
Stable
Water temp: 56°F
Optimal: 800–3000 CFS · USGS #03061000
Flow data is live from USGS·Rapid classifications and CFS ranges need community verification·Know this river?
162 mi
Length
Class II–IV
Difficulty
800–3000 cfs
Optimal
1,650 cfs
Avg Flow
1,500 cfs
Hist. Median
#03061000
USGS Gauge
Tygart Lake State Park · Valley Falls State Park

The Tygart Valley River cuts a long, varied path through central West Virginia with multiple classic whitewater sections fed by dam releases from Tygart Lake. The Arden section (Class III–IV) and the dramatic Tygart Gorge below Valley Falls (Class IV–V) are both popular with Mid-Atlantic boaters. The river also holds a strong smallmouth bass fishery through its middle reaches.

Trip sections
Arden Section — Arden to Philippi, Class III–IV, scheduled releases
Tygart Gorge — Valley Falls to Hammond, Class IV–V, expert dam release
Middle Tygart — Philippi to Grafton, Class I–II, smallmouth water
Outfitters
Mountain State Adventures
Tygart River whitewater trips
72-Hour Flow Forecast
NOAA NWPS
Loading forecast...
10-Year Flow Patterns
See 10 years of flow patterns for this river — historical analysis is a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Your Optimal Range
Set your personal optimal CFS window per river — custom ranges are a Pro feature.Upgrade to Pro →
Data Quality

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.