Boat Ramps Nearby
Illustration Life jackets
The life jacket rule for every paddler
What the Coast Guard requires on kayaks and canoes, and kids' vests with head support.
Life jacket rulesBoat ramps in Charleston, WV
Charleston has 7 public boat ramps and launches. Another 8 are within 25 miles.
Search the map around Charleston Fishing piers in Charleston
More boat ramps around Charleston
- 2.4 mi Cambell's Creek Fishing Area Coal Fork Fishing pier
- 13 mi Meadowood Park Boat Ramp Tornado Boat ramp
- 13 mi St.Albans Boat Ramp Saint Albans Boat ramp
- 14 mi Ridenour Memorial Park Kayak Launch Nitro Kayak launch
- 14 mi Ridenour Memorial Park Boat Ramp Nitro Boat ramp
- 21 mi Walhonde Water Trail Access Ramp Madison Boat ramp
- 22 mi Hurricane City Park Fishing Dock Hurricane Fishing pier
- 24 mi Off the Hook Fishing Lake Hurricane Fishing pier
What Charleston offers on the water
| Boat ramps | 2 |
|---|---|
| Fishing piers and access | 5 |
Lakes, rivers and bays near these launches: Kanawha River, Coonskin Park Pond, Elk River.
See every ramp on Kanawha River.
West Virginia rules to know
- Anyone born on or after Dec 31, 1986 must complete a boating safety course before operating a motorboat or personal watercraft.
For closures and rules check West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
New to the ramps in Charleston? what ramps cost, kayak launches and ramp etiquette.
Illustration 
Illustration Ramp etiquette
12 rules regulars expect you to know
Staging, courtesy docks and the Clean, Drain, Dry laws that can bring a fine.
Ramp etiquetteBoat ramps in Charleston: questions and answers
Where can you launch a boat in Charleston, WV?
We list 7 launches in Charleston, including Coonskin Boat Launch, Coonskin Park Boat Ramp and Marmet Lock and Dam Fishing Area. Another 8 are within 25 miles.
Where is the nearest kayak launch to Charleston?
Ridenour Memorial Park Kayak Launch in Nitro, about 14 miles away. You can also put in at the side of most boat ramps.
Is there a fishing pier in Charleston?
Yes: Marmet Lock and Dam Fishing Area, Marmet Lock and Dam Fishing Area (Downstream), Mouth of the Elk Fishing Area and Wheelchair Access Fishing Pier (Southwest) and 1 more.
Which lakes and rivers can you launch on in Charleston?
The launches in Charleston give access to Coonskin Park Pond, Elk River and Kanawha River.
Did a launch close, or is one missing? Tell us and we'll add it.