These six river paddleboarding journeys pair superior mountain surroundings and household enjoyable
Don’t get me unsuitable. Floating a tranquil, secluded river is nice, however I’m a high-energy particular person and there are occasions when hours of canoeing with the fam leaves me feeling extra anxious than relaxed. I cherish the quiet, wildlife-rich surroundings of a backwoods waterway. However I additionally jones for the immersive physicality of browsing and wakeboarding.
Fortunately, just a few years again a good friend turned me on to river paddleboarding and every part modified. I purchased a Hala Gear Radito inflatable SUP and fell in love with the way in which it completely reworked my expertise of mountain waterways. It lets me get my adrenaline repair shredding riffles and rapids, then I can chill out and give attention to surroundings throughout gentler sections. And the Blue Ridge has loads of nice spots to carry my board. From browsing low-key rapids to coasting on breezy spans of flatwater, listed below are six of my favourite family-friendly river paddleboarding journeys across the area.
VIRGINIA
South Fork Shenandoah River, Entrance Royal
Put-in: 5 miles south of city on the Simpson’s Touchdown boat ramp off state route 623. Takeout in Entrance Royal on the ramp in Eastham Park. 6 miles, 3-4 hours.
Paddle: This clear part of the Shenandoah South Fork is comparatively shallow with lovely rock bottoms, little to no flatwater, and a great deal of riffles punctuated by peppy Class IIs. The 100-yard-wide run meanders by means of bucolic Web page Valley forests and pastureland and, sandwiched by the Massanutten Mountain vary to the west and Shenandoah Nationwide Park to the east, gives staggeringly attractive views. Need a larger day? Add about six miles to the journey by placing in on the public ramp in Shenandoah River State Park.
Go Guided: Entrance Royal Open air gives shuttles and canoe, kayak, raft, or tube leases. frontroyalcanoe.com
Higher James River, Buchanan
Put-in: On the Horseshoe Bend boat touchdown and takeout on the Buchanan City Park ramp simply earlier than U.S. 11 bridge. 9 miles, 3-4 hours.
Paddle: The run begins about 20 miles from the confluence that types the James River and brings swift however manageable present and a gentle parade of riffles and Class II rapids. Densely forested banks or excessive cliffs that tower above the river alternate with stints of open farmland that carry panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Count on loads of gravel bar seashores, crystal clear water, rocky bottoms, and numerous massive islands with cool facet channels to discover. Sparse improvement means ample alternatives to see wildlife like blue heron, inexperienced heron, dark-black minks, bald eagles, waterfowl, turtles, turkey, deer, beaver, and river otters.
Go Guided: E book a shuttle, canoe, kayak, raft, or tube rental with Twin River Outfitters. canoevirginia.web
Clinch River, St. Paul
Put-in: In downtown St. Paul on the ramp in A.R. Matthews Memorial Park. Takeout on the casual Burton’s Ford touchdown off state route 611 (discover particulars beneath). 6.1 miles, 3-4 hours.
Paddle: Go by means of the tiny, 850-person far southwest Virginia city of St. Paul into Clinch River State Park and distant territory that provides few marks of civilization past occasional railroad tracks and rural homesteads. Banks surrounded by nationwide forest lands carry implausible bird-watching — together with colourful rarities like yellow-throated warbler, black-throated inexperienced warbler, and cedar waxwing.
The present chugs steadily together with lulls and riffles giving technique to nifty runs of Class II rapids and a few borderline Class IIIs. The primary of the latter comes 3 miles downriver within the type of a 3-5-foot drop located in the midst of a tough financial institution flip. An analogous drop comes a few mile later, however has the courtesy to announce itself nicely prematurely. Greenhorns can forgo the rapids by way of fast and nicely established river-left portages. Discover the marked dust takeout at Burton’s Ford on river-left on the lifeless finish of state route 611.
Go Guided: Clinch Life Outfitters supplies information companies and shuttles, in addition to kayak and tube leases. clinchlifeoutfitters.com
WEST VIRGINIA
New River, Oak Hill
Put-in: Close to the historic village of Thurmond on the Stone Cliff Seashore Campground. Takeout on the Cunard River Entry. 8.5 miles, 5 hours.
Paddle: The New is well-known for its rugged class IV-V whitewater stretches, however this journey gives intermediate-level paddling and gorgeous surroundings within the New River Gorge Nationwide Park and Protect. Take pleasure in spans of breezy present that launch into class I and II rapids topped off by an extended class III run known as “Shock.” Right here the river stretches between 400-600 toes large and flows by means of an nearly wholly uninterrupted panorama of lush inexperienced hillsides peppered with the stays of long-abandoned mining outposts and nineteenth century stone coke ovens. Search for riparian birds like geese, mallard, wooden geese, green-winged teals, herons, kingfishers, and nice egrets, together with elusive mink, river otter, and beaver.
Go Guided: You may additionally be a part of River Expeditions on a two-hour New River Gorge Bridge Tour. raftinginfo.com
NORTH CAROLINA
Tuckasegee River, Dillsboro
Put-in: A mile south of downtown on the New Tuckasegee Put-In off North River Highway. Takeout on the touchdown at Smoky Mountain River Adventures. 5.2 miles, 3.5 hours.
Paddle: Discover this quick and enjoyable stretch of Tuckasegee deep within the scenic Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina. Considerable riffles and Class II chutes interspersed with transient spans of clean however quick-flowing present make the “Tuck” an incredible spot to hone abilities. Discover some difficult class III motion early on on the website of a dismantled dam referred to as the “Dillsboro Drop,” which gives a pair foot drop into quick, wavy chutes that give technique to 1 / 4 mile span of riffles.
Catch a breather simply exterior of city, then move below the Nice
Smoky Mountain Railroad overpass into more and more wild Nantahala Nationwide Forest lands and a span of excessive cliffs referred to as the Tuck Gorge. A close to nonstop deluge of riffles and low-grade rapids kicks in after the bridge and lasts all through the journey. However don’t fear, there are many pebbly seashores to pause and take a break from the motion to search for wildlife like roosting bald eagles or nice blue herons.
Go Guided: Smoky Mountain River Adventures gives shuttles and inflatable kayak or raft leases. raftingwithmykids.com
KENTUCKY
Pink River, Pink River Gorge
Put-in: On the Coppers Creek Canoe Launch off state route 715. Takeout on the entry at Pink River Journey outfitters. 8 miles, 4 hours.
Paddle: Tucked away within the distant hill nation of northeastern Kentucky, this float carries you deep into the Daniel Boone Nationwide Forest and a 29,000-acre designated nationwide archaeological and geological district. Paddling the pristine and wildly scenic higher Pink River gives a success parade of riffles and sophistication II rapids, together with views of the canyon’s 100-plus pure limestone arches and towering 200- to 600-foot cliffs. Remember to take within the surroundings from considered one of many beachy sandbars or leap into swimming holes from a riverside boulder. The most effective of the latter, Pink River Soar Rock, is discovered on river-left about 6.5 miles into the float.
Go Guided: E book shuttle or canoe and kayak rental with Pink River Journey outfitters. kypaddle.com
Cowl photograph: All photographs courtesy of River Expeditions.
