Take Out

Mason Creek is a large river-class waterway in Roanoke County, Virginia, with significant gradient and flow characteristics typical of Appalachian mountain streams. This take-out site provides access to a creek that drops nearly 1,400 feet over its 23-mile course, creating dynamic water conditions with an average gradient of 59.9 feet per mile. The creek originates as a headwater stream in elevated terrain, with elevation ranging from approximately 4,300 feet at its source to around 2,900 feet in the Roanoke County area. Boaters should be aware that the average velocity of 1.25 feet per second combined with the steep gradient indicates moderate to fast-moving water that may include rapids and technical sections typical of whitewater paddling areas in the Virginia Blue Ridge region.