Virginia whitewater - Jackson River, Alleghany County
Alleghany
county,
Gathright Dam to James River section whitewater kayaking, rafting, and paddling information.
CLASS I-II 42.5 miles
I'm looking for a good two-night float on the Jackson, trout fishing along the way. Should I look above or below the dam? Thanks! Says Matthew Steilberg
The Gathright Dam to James River section of Jackson River is 42.5 miles long and is a class I-II section of whitewater according to American Whitewater. The wonderful Virginia scenery and the beautiful way the water current moves down the stream are reasons enough to come here and paddle. If you're a camper you can camp at one of the great campgrounds nearby. There are a few other sections in
this river system that can be paddled as well. If you've been whitewater rafting and kayaking outside this state you might find the rivers here a bit more forgiving, so if you're visiting here do keep in mind that many of the rivers here are not very demanding. Great exercise and
a chance to spend some time outdoors are great attractions for lots of people. There aren’t any hotels right nearby but if you're willing to drive a short distance then no problem and if you make reservations in advance you're all set. A stretch of this length does require some preparations, so better bring your camping gear along. Whether you're whitewater rafting or kayaking this area has a large number of paddling rivers.
Briefly about the general area: Nearby McGraw Gap is a brilliant site to go if you're at Jackson River, and there are
great spots to look at along the Sandy Gap Trail. Jackson River frequently gets a good deal of precipitation; most of the rain falls throughout July; the driest of the months is February. Don't leave Jackson River without first going for a hike along the Stony Run Trail. The
warmest time of the year brings highs in the 80's to Jackson River, and during summer nights temperatures are in the 50's. The wintertime comes with highs in the 30's; all through the dark hours in the wintertime at Jackson River temperatures plunge to the 10's.
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All Virginia Whitewater Complete list of all the whitewater paddling spots in Virginia.Books about whitewater paddling on Jackson River, Virginia List of books from Amazon.com that cover whitewater paddling on Jackson River, Virginia.Find a whitewater outfitter in VirginiaWhitewater Basics If you're new to whitewater paddling please take a look at this basic whitewater info.Outdoors Recreation Near Roanoke, Virginia Very comprehensive list of a variety of outdoors recreation in the vicinity of Roanoke, Virginia, the metro area neareast to Jackson River. Find info on campgrounds, hiking trails, ski resorts, lakes, beaches, parks, whitewater and more.
These outdoors activities are available near Jackson River.