• About Us
• River Information
• Recreation
• Barnette Preserve
• Science Center
• Merchandise & Classifieds
• Links & Partners
• Contact Us

Quick Links

• Big Coal Branch
• River Scouting Reports
• Walhonde River Trail Map
• Member Float Trips
• Water Level Information

Coal River-Walhonde Water Trail

VISIT OUR NEW WATER TRAIL WEB SITE

WWW.COALRIVERWATERTRAIL.COM 

 

Coal River-Walhonde Water Trail

The Walhonde Water Trail was created by the Volunteer members of the Coal River Group to help "Bring Life Back to the Coal Rivers".

The volunteers spent two years floating the 88 miles of navagable waters in the Big, Little and Coal Rivers. The group identified all of the existing WV DNR public Access sites and located potential new sites. They incorporated GPS readings into their reasearch and identified significant landmarks, historical sites and found many new fishing holes.

 The founders of the Coal River Group enjoyed floating and fishing so the exploration of the rivers included testing the waters fish productivity as well as identifying trail aminities. The volunteers conducted reasearch on water trail developments both in the US as well as Europe and Australia. They reasearched signage programs for similar trails and they met with community officials and citizens living along the rivers inorder to determine the level of support a water trail could expect if one was created.

The final plan was presented to State, County and local officials for their review. The result was that the Walhonde Water Trail was acknowledged officially by the WV DNR and it became the first Water Trail to earn that designation on a totaly inland WV Water system.

Through the efforts and support of the WV DEP working with the US Environmental Protection Agencies Mid-Atlantic Highlands program the necessary financial support was secured. Ed Hamrick headed up the WV EPA program and selected the Coal River Group as one of two watershed groups for that program. Thanks to Ed (former Director of the WV DNR) and his vital assistance the Trail and the Coal River Group was able to move its plans forward for the Water Trail development.  It should be noted that  the County commission of Boone County and the Lincoln County Parks and recreation department were the first offical organizations to recognize the value of the trail and together provided a cash matching fund of $6,000  to support the water trail plan.

TRAIL DEVELOPMENT

The Coal River Group developed a comprehensive map of the rivers and with volunteer support from David Short a seasoned Graphic Artist. Mr. Short working with the two founders of the Coal River Group prepared an attractive Trial Guide for public use.

The Walhonde Water Trial Guide provides the visitor  with detailed information regarding the region, the communities and provides important safety information for paddlers and first time visitors to southern West Virginia.

The flip side of the brochure provides the trail user with a comprehensive map of the three Rivers. The detailed map uses an easy to follow identification system for the eleven detailed trail segments. Each of the trail segments begin and end at WV DNR public access sites. Helpful information regarding the length of each trail segment along with GPS coordinates are also provided.

Click here to download map.

 The Walhonde Water Trail utilizes a variety of signs to assist the visitor find public access sites and to identify the trail segment by the trail code labels provided in the Trail Guide. Eight large regional Kiosks have been located along the major highways that travers the 88 mile trail region. These Kiosks provide the vital trail information found in the trail brochure along with information about tourist sites in the area and other points of interest. Note that each of the regional Kiosks are labeled with the name of a prominent family or location in that region.

The  Public access sites also have helpful signs that provide details regarding the trail segment by code and also provide signs facing the river denoting the landing for arriving paddlers.

Marketing and Promotion = Economic development for Southern West Virginia

The Coal River Group understands the value of marketing and promotion. The Walhonde Water Trail is quickly becoming a significant recreational asset to the region. The fact that over 18,000 trail brochures have been distributed through most of the WV Travel information centers, regional promotional organizations and local business located near the trail is important.

Equally important the CRG has worked hard to see that the water trail is recognized on a national basis. The trail is now featured on national internet sites including AmericanRivers.com and Paddler.net. The Coal River Group has sponsored annual river based events for the past 5 years. The groups Tour De Coal event held on Coal River near Tornado annually draws several hundred paddlers. Local organizations up and down the Big and Little Coal river likewise have begun hosting river paddle events. The Big Coal Branch of the Coal River Group recently held a paddle event that hosted over 175 people.

State wide publications such as Wonderful West Virginia Magazine the Charleston Gazette and Daily Mail, The Coal Valley News regularly feature news stories about the river and the water trail. Recently the Midland Trail National Scenic Byway publication featured the Walhonde Water Trail in its annual marketing publication. Over 100,000 of the Midland Trail Publications are printed each year.

It's all about the river. Come join us and float the Coal Rivers ....!

 

 

myspace hit counter