Things to do / Travel Guide
You can kayak or canoe on many of the rivers in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Just make sure you don't run into a whitewater patch - this is the mountains, after all. (None of the routes described here contain anything more difficult than Class II rapids.) The South Branch of the Potomac River and the Greenbrier River in West Virginia, the Shenandoah River in Virginia, the French Broad River and the reservoirs of North Carolina and Tennessee - all can accommodate the kayaker or canoer. Beautiful views of the mountains are around every bend, and the lush greenery has never been more beautiful.
Sea Kayaking and Canoeing in West Virginia
A good route on the South Branch of the Potomac is from Petersburg to Moorefield. It's between 12-15 miles long, and in the summertime the current is quite swift, making for a five-or-so hour trip. It can get a bit white in places, so you have to be careful. You can rent kayaks in Petersburg.
The Greenbrier contains some great runs, but things are patchy. In no place is it truly smooth sailing, but that just adds to the fun. The good runs are along the river near Cass, Marlinton, and West Sulfur Springs. These are in the southeast part of the state, so probably your best way of reaching them is on I-64. You can rent kayaks in Marlinton.
Sea Kayaking and Canoeing in Western Virginia
October-time, when fall foliage is king, floating down the Shenandoah is all the rage. This river is at its prime within Shenandoah National Park, paralleling Skyline Drive - you get great views from the vantage point of below rather than above, and you miss out on any traffic. From the water you may see deer, bald eagles, or even a bear.
There are a number of outfitters and tour guides that can take you down the river; these are based in all the big cities in the area – Luray, Elkton, Front Royal, and Fishersville. Many of these let you choose whether to go canoeing, kayaking, or even rafting, and you can choose how long the trip will be.
In addition to the Shenandoah, there are numerous lakes in western Virginia you can plunk your canoe or kayak into. Some of the most popular are those in the State Parks: Claytor State Park, Douthat, Grayson Highlands, and Hungry Mother State Park. Of these, Douthat stands out for its popularity with families, and you can rent boats at the ramp launch. The surroundings are treed and covered with low and gentle mountains.
Sea Kayaking and Canoeing in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee
This area of North Carolina and Tennessee contains three large artificial lakes, constructed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in the 1930s or thereabouts in the midst of the Depression. All of these you can paddle on, and you've also got the French Broad River passing through Asheville and the Yadkin River in wine country. Rent yourself gear in Asheville.
The lakes are Fontana Lake, Douglas Lake, and Cherokee Lake. All these are massive lakes - the largest is Douglas Lake, at over 30,000 acres of surface area. They snake like rivers, since what they are of course are dammed-up rivers. For these reasons they're great for camping, and what a lot of people do is canoe for a day and find a place to camp for the night, and repeat for a few days. All the cities in the area contain outfitters at which you can rent a kayak or canoe.
Of all the lakes, Fontana Lake may be the smallest, but it's probably the most celebrated on account of bordering some really terrific mountains - the Smokies. The morning mist, the creeks trickling down into the lake, the multiple coves where the water is crystal clear - yeah, you can spend a few days here. Your beginning point is best to be at Tsali Recreational Area. For a fee, you can actually ask the ranger to take your car to the point on the lake where you want to end your adventure.
The one major river running through this southern part of the region is French Broad River. French Broad flows somewhat northwest from Asheville, and a good put-in is at Walnut Island River Park, near Alexander. A good ending point is at Rollins, near Marshall, around eight miles downstream. There's lots of bird-life to see from and on the river, such as bald eagles, wild turkeys, and hawks.
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