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Special River Trips:
By Appointment
Our Quick Trip (1.5 hours on the water), is perfect for those
who want to try a new experience, or who want to get out and enjoy themselves
on the river but don't have a lot of time. You'll start your 2.5 mile trip at
the our shop and float the Smith river to the Dan. Enjoy the wild flowers and
wild life (you will be sure to see ducks and geese and might see an osprey or
bald eagle.
White Water Special
Spray Dam to 3RO 1 mile
Third Sat. mornings (depending on water level)
Try some fun Class II white water! We provide sit on top kayaks and
shuttle for this great little run. Or bring your own boat and use
our shuttle.
Check
out out Class IV play spot for the experts!
Regularly Scheduled Trips
Smith
River Trips:
Mitchell
Road to Eden 12
miles 4 to 5 hours
Put in at the Mitchell road bridge (Va Rt 636). This is a beautiful
stretch of rive with
good fishing and lots of wild life. We often see bald eagles and osprey
on this section. Check out the larger side creeks for interesting
rock formations. An island about 4 miles along (just past "whale
rock") makes a good lunch stop. Look for the remains of Goodwin's
Mill circa 1728. Morgan Ford bridge is 7 1/2 miles from the put
in. Look for the tree on top of the old stone pier. This bridge
was erected in 1953 from parts of 3 older bridges, the center section was
built in 1887. You will pass under 2 more bridges before taking out at
a private landing just before the Spray Dam in Eden.
Add another hour to the trip
Marrowbone Creek to Mitchell Road
2 1/2 miles 1 hour
Put in is at the Henry County (Va) access on Marrowbone Creek just below Eggleston Falls (great Class II white
water). As you start down the river, the Gravely Nature Preserve is on
river right. The high rocky slopes are lovely all year with mountain
laurel and rhododendron. About 1 1/2 mile down river Leatherwood Creek
enter from river left. Near here is where Patrick Henry had his
plantation "Leatherwood".
Dan
River trips
Madison to Settles
Bridge 8 1/2 miles 3 to
4 hours
About 1/4 mile below the put in, the Mayo River
enters on river left. Next you pass under the US220 bypass
bridges. Downstream of these bridges is Slink Shoals Sluice - the
"Crown Jewels" of the batteau navigation system in Rockingham County. Just below the large
rock outcrop on river right a 900' long sluice hugs the right bank and takes
you around the shoals. Then you enter the rapids where 4 pairs of wing
dams channel all the water to the center of the river. Don't worry,
these navigation structures are what make it possible for novices to run the shoals
and rapids on the Dan River. Lone Island
makes a good lunch stop. Be sure to take the right channel as the left
one is blocked by trees. The take out
at Settles Bridge is about 100' below the bridge
on river right.
Settles Bridge to Eden 10 miles 4
to 5 hours
Just below the put in is a small rapid created by the rubble from the
original bridge. The easy channel is
on river left near the bank. Eagle Falls island is about a mile
farther. The “falls” are
in the right channel only create a problem during low water. The batteau sluice is on the left of the
left channel. This was the site of the
town of Jackson
located at the then head of navigation on the Dan. Here you enter “The Bent” a
large bend where the river turns first due east then due west. You will travel 3 mile by river to cover ¼
mile as the crow flies. Whetstone
creek on river left marks the half way point.
The NC770 (loop road) bridge is at mile 8. Take out is under the Leaksville Landing
bridge in river left.
Add another 1 ½ miles
Leaksville Landing to Eden Wildlife Access About ½ mile below the Leaksville
Landing bridge is a large stone tower.
It is from the Leaksville Toll bridge built in 1838. The batteau sluice is on river right. The Smith river enters from river left ¼
mile later. You will see Lynrock golf
course on the left. The take out is on
river right just past the overhead power lines.
Mayo River Trips:
Anglin
Mill to US220 Bus 9 miles 3 to
4 hours
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