3 rivers here in Virginia, all within an hour of me.  The shenanadoah boasts the most canoed waters in VA.  Scenery is great on the river, if you like it about 5'6" Blonde and in a bikini.  Fishing is good for smallies if you are into Quantity.  Average smallie is about 12-15" and fight great on a 4-5' ultralite setup.  I know, nothing like what's up there, however on a so highly used river, its still nothing to do a 3-4 day trip and catch hundreds (litterally) of fish.  Had several days where the fish numbered over 100 in just 3 or 4 hours.  Granted some of them were very small, but who cares as long as they are biting and I'm catching.  The shenandoah between Luray, VA and Front Royal, VA has several plots of federal land and national forest where camping is permitted.  The potomac is a little more difficult to camp on, however I have been told that you can camp on any one of the islands in the river although I've never tried it.  The fishing in the upper potomac (not the nasty water down by DC) is slower than the shenandoah, but the quality of smallie is better, averaging 1-2lbs (I know, still nothing like up there) Now the confluence of the rappahannock and the rapidan is halfway between Warrenton, VA and Fredericksburg, VA and can be quite fun.  24 Mile trip in 2 days with plenty of goofing off.  If you plan to hit these rivers, leave your pretty canoes at home, lots a navagable, but shallow class I-II rapids that will scratch the hell out of your nice shiny canoe.  Anyone interested in any of these trips can hit me up with an email (singletjeff@hotmail.com) and I'll tell you what you want to know and give you some of the fishing secrets that I've learned over the past 20 years of fishing the rivers.

jeff

A map showing mile markers, rapids, and camp sites on the upper section of the South Fork of the Shenandoah:   (You need to Login or Register

Kick ass, I have the paper maps, guess I have it in a softcopy now.  Nice, and by the way the only (to my knowledge) river in the northern Hemisphere that flows South to north, so no, the map isn't wrong, the top of the map at riverton is at the confluence of the north and south for of the shenandoah is the northernmost part of the two forks

The New River, in West Virginia also flows south to north.  Its a lot too big water for a canoe trip, but the kayaking and rafting is superb.

  (You need to Login or Register  From what I see, the river has stretches where it runs south to north, but the overall flow of the river heads South and east.  Mileage counts higher as you go south....unless this map is completely screwed up.  But I could be wrong.  And yes, the new river has way too much Whitewater and way too big for a canoe, well for me in a canoe anyhow, I'm sure there are plenty of fools that will try it

I think you have the flow direction wrong for the New River. It originates in North Carolina and ends up in West Vrginia, flowing North and West.

The National Pak Service website describes the New as "A rugged, white water river, flowing northward through deep canyons, the New River is among the oldest rivers on the continent."

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I've rafted it three times on guided 8 man rafts and would go again in a heartbeat.  Grade IV and V rapids.  I left the tin hat at home.

LOL who knew :)  learn something new every day.  Guess its a good thing that I don't paddle that river.....Thanks

I've had a few opportunities to look over and "scout" the upper reaches of the Potomac while abord the train going between Chicago & Washington DC.  Very scenic.  It has also given me the chace to watch others do their share of river running while I'm protected from the elements.  It looked like fun, & I look forward to a paddle on the Potomac some day.  The Shenandoah, too.   :)