Through Paddling the New River Full Documentary

The New River is one of the lifeblood rivers of southern Appalachia. Stretching 360 Miles across North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, the New River is steeped in Appalachian history and passes through many diverse ecosystems in these southern mountains. It offers incredible recreational and commercial opportunities to communities sprinkled along this gem of a river. Not often paddled in its entirety, it passes through small mountain towns, cities, major dams, million-dollar mansions, and many historical sites. Much of what was on the river was a mystery to us as we stared at the little line on the map we hoped to follow North.

We became friends in college and decided after we graduated in 2021 to make a big trip down this river, which we had really only visited the headwaters of. We wanted to see all it had to offer! Paddling from the little stream that we struggled to get our boat down all the way to the major rapids of America’s newest National Park at the time. This trip was a bucket list item, and a river we won’t soon forget. It was challenging at times but the incredible whitewater, scenery, and people along the river made it all worth it. We hope you enjoy following our journey down the New River!


Trip Notes:

We paddled 340 of the 360 miles as the last 20 miles had large rapids that aren’t suitable for an open canoe.

We started in the city limits of Boone, NC at the first section of the South Fork with enough water to float our boat and finished at the Cunard takeout in the New River Gorge in West Virginia.

We camped at a mix of local campgrounds and sandbars along the river when needed.