Dan River, Section 1 (Kibler Valley)

This dam-controlled river is most popular on Saturdays in July — the one time the minimum flow required (see “Minimum flow”) is pretty much guaranteed. There are other releases but you have to call the dam (again, see “Minimum flow”) to learn when they will occur.

One of the big advantages here is that the road is a near-constant companion of the river, making for quick — and numerous — shuttles. (That’s also a plus to first-timers to Kibler Valley and newcomers to whitewater paddling who might want to do some scouting beforehand. According to our Winston-Salem store’s avid paddlers, “This tight, fast water has a couple of Class IIIs and can be run a number of times in one day. When the river is running there are usually enough people on it that a lone paddler can get on a group and grab some shuttles with little pre-planning.”
Sweet.
For a complete description of this stretch, including hazards, consult “Paddling Eastern North Carolina” (see below).

More info, including maps and access: “Paddling Eastern North Carolina,” Paul Ferguson (2007, Pocosin Press).

Getting there from downtown Winston-Salem

Photo: BetweenSwims.com
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Rating: Class II-III
Length: 8.3 miles
Drive: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Put-in: Pinnacles Hydroelectric Plant off Kibler Valley Road
Latitude: 36.4000
Longitude: 80.2685
Take-out: Saw Mill Lane (SR 813) bridge
Latitude: 36.3621
Longitude: 80.2711
Time to complete: 3 hours
Gauge: none (see “Minimum flow”)
Minimum flow: River can be run when the Pinnacles Hydroelectric Plant at the put-in is generating at least 6,000 kilowatts of power, generating flow of 122 cfs. A better run is encountered when the plant is generating 7,500 watts for a flow of 152 cfs. Call the plant at 276.251.5141.
City: Patrick County
State: VA