Due to its large watershed, the New River is runnable year-round. The biggest whitewater is during spring, but in late summer, when all else is too low, the New will still be offering a wild ride. In a real way, the sheer volume of the river constitutes a serious danger even to skilled paddlers. Some of the holes on the New River are enough to discourage even expert paddlers. Open boats will swamp quickly, so canoeists must be adept at paddling a boat full of water.
Holes can be especially grabby and lead to terminal swims.
Further downstream comes Greyhound Bus Stopper, the mother of all recirculating hydraulics. Plunge into the wrong spot here and it might be weeks before the hole releases you. But there's more downstream. Particularly dangerous is Double Z, a 100-yard long Class 5 with mean holes and a lethally undercut rock midstream. All these hazards taken together, and it's easy to understand the New River's lethal reputation.