Canoe, Kayak, Tubing, Camp the Shenandoah River in Luray, Virginia. This section of the river is also known for its reliable, great water levels all season. The Water: Dismal Swamp Canal/Lake Drummond, The Overnight Float: US 17 to Lake Drummond. Three developed campgrounds and 4 boat launches offer ideal starting points. Most of the float is a relaxing trip through rich mountain scenery and rural farm country. The six sites are accessible only during daylight hours. There are tent sites, RV hookups, and camping cabins along with a picnic area. Paddle south through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge to South Inlet and primitive campsites at False Cape State Park. Camping. On the eastern Atlantic Ocean shoreline, Kiptopeke State Park is the perfect HQ for exploring the Chesapeake Bay. CLOSED FOR THE 2020 SEASON reopening April 1 for the 2021 paddling season. Ed Allen’s Campground – Lanexa Ed Allen’s offers a tranquil, 85-acre shaded retreat, featuring some of Virginia’s finest camping, fishing, recreation and wildlife. Kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard (SUP) your way through Virginia State Parks. Encircled by the public lands of the George Washington National Forest, 2,530 acre Lake Moomaw boasts over 43 miles of shoreline. Family owned and operated, Picture Lake Campground offers a great camping experience for the whole family with so many fun things to do. Picture Lake Campground in Petersburg, Virginia. Johnny’s writings include hiking guidebooks, camping guidebooks, paddling guidebooks, comprehensive guidebooks about a specific area and true outdoor adventure books. While here, explore the park on the 15 plus mile trail system. The Overnight Float: From Eagle Rock to Snowden Dam, Outfitters: Twin River Outfitters; Wilderness Canoe Company. For Virginia Citizen And Business Services Visit www.virginia.gov. N ew River Campground is a canoeing outpost located along the New River. When visitors come to Virginia Beach, they might not immediately think of kayaking as an outdoor activity. Trips of differing lengths and difficulties can be arranged. From fishing to SUP yoga, our parks offer unparalleled access to water-based recreation. A good place to end your trip is Camp Clinch, a private campground near the Virginia-Tennessee state line where overnight parking is available for a fee. Many of the state parks have paddling destinations and kayaks for rent! Paddle approximately 2.5 miles around the park’s riverfront to primitive sites at the tip of Brewer’s Point. S pend the day (or week!) The American Canoe Association’s standard for safe paddling is that the sum of the air temperature and water temperature be greater than 120. If you bring it in, you take it out. Conservation easements protect parts of the river not publicly owned, while other places are private land. See what that means here. Twenty five parks offer paddle-craft access, and 19 of them rent boats.Beginners can get into paddle sports at one of our tranquil lakes or go with the flow on a … The Overnight Float: Back Bay to False Cape State Park, Outfitter: Wild River Outfitters; Ocean Rentals. Campers must call ahead or go online and make reservations. Pack it in, pack it out. The boats are typically rented by the hour. This trip is best done from fall through spring. Campers must call ahead and make their reservations. Shuttle service is available for canoe trips. And if you're looking for something a bit more challenging, there are longer river runs throughout the state. Visit historic Foster Falls village, bicycle the New River Trail, a converted rail line, or paddle a gentle segment of the New River from Austinville to Foster Falls. Camping by kayak or canoe separates you from the crowds, from those paddlers literally unwilling to take the extra time and preparation to load their gear and take it to their favorite Virginia river, lake or bay. He's always on time and flexible! Southwest Virginia’s scenic Clinch River is being developed into a blueway, with accesses aplenty for paddlers to float the scenic Clinch. Camping. There are no established sites within the Great Dismal Swamp itself, Your email address will not be published. Rafting, canoeing, tubing, fishing, kayaking, & much more. Bring your own water and firewood. Start at the headwaters of the James River, floating through mostly Class I rapids with a few easy Class IIs thrown in, while the mountains rise proudly above. Official Tourism Blog Of The Commonwealth Of VirginiaCopyright © 2021 Virginia Tourism Corporation, 901 E. Cary St., Suite 900, Richmond, Va 23219. Everything about this section of the New River is big – big wide waterway, big mountains rising above, and big smallmouth bass for anglers. It features camping and canoe rentals. Bring your own kayak or canoe and start at Start at Little Island Park, a Virginia Beach city park astride the Atlantic. Paddle your canoe or kayak south through the Dismal Swamp Canal then west on a feeder canal to Lake Drummond, one of only two natural freshwater lakes in Virginia, part of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. You may reserve a site by calling the Customer Service Center Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or online. A popular option here is to recreate portions of the historic Capt. For many of us, the lure of canoeing and kayaking in Virginia is not paddling the waters, but admiring the places through which the water flows. That way everyone can be on the same page when you strike out on your adventure. 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