Paddling Virginia and West Virginia: A Guide to the Area's Greatest Paddling Adventures

by Johnny Molloy

Overview

Virginia and West Virginia have something for every paddler, from float trips to kayaking excursions. Paddling Virginia and West Virginia features the best and most accessible routes for avid paddlers, floaters, and anglers. Paddling Virginia and West Virginia gives you the information you need to plan the perfect day on the water: 45 paddle routes suited to every ability and desire, Detailed and up-to-date information on put-in and take-out points, Difficulty rating, rapid classes, river gauges, and overviews of the rivers, This guide leads you down rivers and around lakes to the greatest paddling adventures in the Old Dominion and Mountain State: Explore the James River, Virginia's contribution to the great rivers of the world. Travel down the venerated Shenandoah River in the shadow of the Blue Ridge and also to mountain-rimmed impoundments such as Lake Moomaw. Experience legendary mountain streams like the Greenbrier River in West Virginia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493029914
Publisher:	Falcon Guides
Publication date:	06/01/2019
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	298,969
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Johnny Molloy is a writer and adventurer based in nearby Johnson City, Tennessee. His outdoor passion started on a backpacking trip in Great Smoky Mountains National Park while attending the University of Tennessee. That first foray unleashed love of the outdoors that has led Molloy to spending most of his time hiking, backpacking, canoe camping and tent camping for the past three decades. Friends enjoyed his outdoor adventure stories; one even suggested he write a book. He pursued his friend’s idea and soon parlayed his love of the outdoors into an occupation. The results of his efforts are over 60 books. His writings include hiking guidebooks, camping guidebooks, paddling guidebooks, comprehensive guidebooks about a specific area and true outdoor adventure books throughout the eastern United States, including hiking guides to North Carolina’s National Forests, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Triad and the Triangle. Molloy writes for varied magazines, websites, and is a columnist/feature writer for his local paper, the Johnson City Press. He continues writing and traveling extensively throughout the United States, endeavoring in a variety of outdoor pursuits. His non-outdoor interests include American history and University of Tennessee sports. Molloy lives in Asheville, North Carolina. For the latest on Johnny, please visit www.johnnymolloy.com.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction x

How to Use This Guide xv

Fixing to Paddle xviii

Map Legend xxvi

Virginia Paddles

Virginia Mountain Paddles 2

1 North Fork of Pound Lake 2

2 Flannagan Reservoir 7

3 Clinch River 12

4 Hungry Mother State Park 17

5 New River: Eggleston to Pembroke 22

6 Emberson Falls at Philpott Lake 27

7 Roanoke River Blueway 32

8 Carvins Cove Reservoir 37

9 James River: Horseshoe Bend to Buchanan 42

10 Lake Moomaw 47

11 South Fork Shenandoah River near Elkton 52

12 South Fork Shenandoah River near Luray 57

13 South Fork Shenandoah River near Front Royal 62

Virginia Piedmont and Coastal Paddles 67

14 Potomac River near Leesburg 67

15 Pohick Bay 72

16 Accokeek Creek 77

17 Belle Isle State Park Paddle 82

18 Mattaponi River 87

19 Swift Creek Lake 91

20 Rivanna River 96

21 James River: Howardsville to Scottsville 100

22 Farmville Blueway 105

23 Staunton River 110

24 Banister River 115

25 Meherrin River 120

26 Nottoway River 125

27 Jamestown Island Circumnavigation 129

28 Lake Drummond 134

29 West Neck Creek 139

30 Ashville Bridge Creek Circuit 144

West Virginia Paddles

Southern West Virginia Paddles 150

31 Coal River Water Trail 150

32 Little Coal River Water Trail 155

33 Big Coal River Water Trail 160

34 Hawks Nest Lake 165

35 New River: New River Gorge 171

36 Greenbrier River 176

37 Lake Sherwood 181

Northern West Virginia Paddles 186

38 Ohio River: Middle Island Loop 186

39 North Bend Lake 191

40 West Fork River Water Trail 196

41 Cheat River 202

42 South Branch Potomac River 207

43 Cacapon River 213

44 Sleepy Creek Lake 219

45 Potomac River near Shepherdstown 224

About the Author 229