Spring seems to be here, at last. It conjures the image of folks drifting down the New River in canoes, hands lazily dangling in the cold, clear water. It is easy to picture yourself sitting comfortably around a fire at our Blue Ridge Mountains cabins, tired after a day on the river.
The New River’s North and South Forks gently meander 100 + miles through a wonderland of dense woods and pastoral valleys, until they join just south of the Virginia border. The South Fork is generally a forgiving river; it tends to be shallow, and it’s rapids are most exciting for the faint of heart. In short, it is an ideal place to canoe no matter your age – toddlers, parents and grandparents will all feel at ease once settled in a secure canoe.
New River Outfitters opens for the season in April. It isn’t too early to start planning for a trip, for advance reservations of at least two days are required. You design the canoe trip you want; it can be as brief as two hours, or as long as several days. You can float down river, or paddle up river. Many folks opt to float for a while, stop for lunch, and float a while longer. Bring your own lunch, or purchase it at the General Store at New River Outfitters.
Time spent on the New River is always time well spent. True, it may be too cool yet to jump in the river, or float in a tube. It is also unlikely to be uncomfortably hot. In the event excessive rain or snow creates dangerous conditions on the water, New River Outfitters will schedule rainchecks.
Plan to spend some time this spring at our Blue Ridge Mountains vacation cabins. Ride your bike, take a hike, or paddle the New River. Bring the whole family, or plan a romantic retreat. Either way, you’ll be happy you did.