We are trying to plan a weekend for the Troop to camp and paddle. We need a put-in and a take-out with primitive camping available. (meaning the troop has no monies to pay camp fees. . .) The skill level ranges from beginner to intermediate (mostly beginner) and the rules are nothing above class II. Our travel radius can be about 2hours from Orange Va with an old bus and chase cars.
Any ideas out there from the gang?????
Troop Water Campout
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Kevin Cordray
- Coastals Member
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- Joined: Tue May 29, 2012 3:47 pm
- Location: Orange! Va.
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PrimaryColors
- Coastals Member
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- Location: Midlothian, VA
I would suggest starting with flat water, maybe camp next to a lake or pond that is good for swimming and work on the boys' basic skills, such as those in the canoeing, kayaking and whitewater merit badges' requirements. I've done that with my son's troop and we had a blast. With some basic skills and recovery practice under their belts any moving water trip is likely to be more successful.
If most of the troop is already at that level, then look for some easy trips on mostly flat but moving water. Think larger rivers like James, Potomac, Shenandoah, or (near you) Rapidan and Rappahannock. Or tidal rivers like the York and its tributaries Mattaponi and Pamunkey. Don't go if the rivers are running high. There are too many options for me to recommend just one. Check websites such as riverfriends.org, jamesriverassociation.org, dgif.virginia.gov, virginiarivers.org, americanwhitewater.org and other websites and guidebooks for information on various options for trips and putin/takeout locations. If you ask a question on this board about a specific trip you'll likely get a helpful response from someone who knows the river section well.
Have fun!
Paul
If most of the troop is already at that level, then look for some easy trips on mostly flat but moving water. Think larger rivers like James, Potomac, Shenandoah, or (near you) Rapidan and Rappahannock. Or tidal rivers like the York and its tributaries Mattaponi and Pamunkey. Don't go if the rivers are running high. There are too many options for me to recommend just one. Check websites such as riverfriends.org, jamesriverassociation.org, dgif.virginia.gov, virginiarivers.org, americanwhitewater.org and other websites and guidebooks for information on various options for trips and putin/takeout locations. If you ask a question on this board about a specific trip you'll likely get a helpful response from someone who knows the river section well.
Have fun!
Paul
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Kevin Cordray
- Coastals Member
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue May 29, 2012 3:47 pm
- Location: Orange! Va.
Another option would be the Rivanna down from Charlottesville, class II max and you can pick your length.Kevin Cordray wrote:Paul, Yesterday I went and scouted out the Shenandoah from near Luray where Rt 675 crosses, down to the end of 684. From what I can gather it will be about a 13 mile trip, all flat, and there is GWNF camping spots at the pullout.
Thanks for your response. . .
Or a low water option would be the James from the Hardware (just east of Scottsville) to new Canton (Rt 15) Plenty of camping options on the many Islands.
There are quite a few options within 2 hours. The James from Bent Creek to Howardsville is a good stretch with quite a few camping opportunities. That runs about 24 miles, but there's an access at Wingina and JRWMA that would make it shorter depending on how long of a trip you want. Good camping is near the Buford islands area.
Scottsville to New Canton on the James is a good stretch also. It's completely flat for the first 6 miles with nothing more than a riffle, but once you reach the Hardware area, it picks up a little and offers some friendly whitewater. Island camp sites are a plenty on this section.
The Shenandoah as you have found would be suitable. It's about 28 river miles from Bixler's bridge just outside Luray to Bentonville, and there are lots of accesses to customize your trip. I camped the section from Bealer's Ferry mile 8 to Batzell landing mile 19 this summer. Good National Forest camping along the left bank about half way down. There are plenty of riffles and small rapids on this section and the class II Compton rapid a couple miles from the takeout. Downriver Canoe Co and Front Royal Canoe Co have good maps on their web site.
The Rapidan/Rappahannock from Eley's Ford to Motts Run (16 miles) or the Rappahannock from Remington to Motts Run (24 miles) are good sections with probably more whitewater than the James or Shenandoah. They're on the low side now though compared to the other 2 rivers, so that would be an issue. There's plenty of good camping along the way. Friends of the Rappahannock has a downloadable map on their web site showing many of the camping locations.
If you have any specific question on sections on any of these rivers, send me a pm or email.
Daryl
Scottsville to New Canton on the James is a good stretch also. It's completely flat for the first 6 miles with nothing more than a riffle, but once you reach the Hardware area, it picks up a little and offers some friendly whitewater. Island camp sites are a plenty on this section.
The Shenandoah as you have found would be suitable. It's about 28 river miles from Bixler's bridge just outside Luray to Bentonville, and there are lots of accesses to customize your trip. I camped the section from Bealer's Ferry mile 8 to Batzell landing mile 19 this summer. Good National Forest camping along the left bank about half way down. There are plenty of riffles and small rapids on this section and the class II Compton rapid a couple miles from the takeout. Downriver Canoe Co and Front Royal Canoe Co have good maps on their web site.
The Rapidan/Rappahannock from Eley's Ford to Motts Run (16 miles) or the Rappahannock from Remington to Motts Run (24 miles) are good sections with probably more whitewater than the James or Shenandoah. They're on the low side now though compared to the other 2 rivers, so that would be an issue. There's plenty of good camping along the way. Friends of the Rappahannock has a downloadable map on their web site showing many of the camping locations.
If you have any specific question on sections on any of these rivers, send me a pm or email.
Daryl