Nottoway River — Stony Creek: River Level Today — Can You Paddle It?
Verdict · updated Aug 26, 7:30 PM UTC
Too low to paddle
Not enough water to float well — expect scraping and walking. Wait for rain or a dam release.
Estimated range
42 cfs
2.1 ft gauge height
USGS gauge 02045500
Runnable 60 – 3,000 cfs
What this means today
At 42 cfs the Nottoway River is 18 cfs short of the 60 cfs this reach needs to float — that is the gap between today's reading and the bottom of the runnable range, not a small margin you can paddle through.
Over the last 24 hours it has barely moved, 41 cfs to 42 cfs. Daily means over the past 7 days have run between 41 cfs and 58 cfs, 29% lower at the end of the week than the start.
Paddling Stony Creek
Nottoway River at Stony Creek is a 10-mile Flatwater float in Virginia — no rapids under normal flows, just moving water and the odd riffle. Most paddlers put in at Rt 40 / Stony Creek access and take out at Cutbank / Rt 653 access, a trip that runs about 5 hours at a relaxed pace.
Whether it's worth the drive comes down to flow. This section generally paddles well at 60–3,000 cfs (a conservative estimate — see our methodology). Much below that and the Nottoway River gets low and bony, so you end up scraping gravel and walking the shallows; well above the top of the range it turns fast, cold and pushy, which is a more serious day than most casual boaters want. We read USGS gauge 02045500 about every 30 minutes and compare the live number to that window, so the verdict at the top of this page reflects conditions right now rather than a monthly average.
Flows here are usually most dependable March–November. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt, and late summer often drops too low to float well — but the gauge always beats the calendar, so check today's reading before you go.
7-day flow trend
Section facts
- Difficulty
- Flatwater
- Length
- 10 mi
- Float time
- ~5 hr
- Best months
- March–November
- Put-in
- Rt 40 / Stony Creek access
- Take-out
- Cutbank / Rt 653 access
Reading USGS gauge 02045500 — NOTTOWAY RIVER NEAR STONY CREEK, VA ↗ · runnable range is an estimate (see methodology)
FAQ
- What water level is good for paddling Nottoway River — Stony Creek?
- This section is generally runnable at 60–3,000 cfs (a conservative estimate — see our methodology). Below that it gets too low and bony; well above the top of the range it becomes pushy and then dangerous. We compare the live USGS reading to that range to produce today's verdict.
- How do I check Nottoway River levels?
- We read USGS gauge 02045500 — the same public data USGS publishes — about every 30 minutes and compare it to the runnable range for this reach. You can also view the raw gauge yourself at waterdata.usgs.gov.
- Is Nottoway River — Stony Creek good for beginners?
- This is a flatwater section — no rapids under normal levels — so it's beginner-friendly when the gauge is in range. High water changes everything: cold, fast water is dangerous for anyone.
- When is the best time to paddle Nottoway River here?
- Typically March–November, when flows are most reliable for this section. Spring can run high after rain or snowmelt; late summer can drop too low. Always check today's gauge reading rather than assuming.
- How long does it take to float Nottoway River — Stony Creek?
- This reach is about 10 miles, roughly 5 hours at a relaxed pace. Higher water is faster; low water and headwinds are slower. Add time for stops.