Andrea Jones related:
The first rapid mentioned below sounds like the long class II rapid that has John Boat Hole at the top right of it. JB Hole has been known to cause some long swims by inexperienced boaters. The second rapid mentioned is also known (years ago) to have some large fresh-water sponges below the ledge in the middle of the river. You'd have to have low, clear water and a snorkel to see them, if they are still there. The beach is only there at lower water levels. There is another rapid after a long, slow wide section of the river that is called Clendennin Shoals. It is about a 100 yds long and is marked by a very large rock on the shore at river left from which comes out a small ledge. Below the ledge, the current funnels to the bottom left of the rapid in a narrowing shoals with a good-sized hole at the bottom. Best place to run it is start center and end bottom left, punching the hole square. Right side is very shallow. This hole does wash out at higher levels. About 3/4 of a mile after Clendennin Shoals, there is a large island that has most of the current running to the right. There is usually enough water to run the left side, but be careful of log debris at the old mill (or something) site, just before you get back to the main current of the river. NOTE: This will bring you out just above the take out. It isn't hard to attain back upstream to reach the two large ledges mentioned below.
Will Stauffer-Norris shared:
The run is mostly easy class I-II whitewater. The rapids are almost all formed by ledges, so there will be a short rapid followed by a long stretch of flatwater. There are no named rapids along the stretch as far as I know. The largest is probably class II+, identified by a turn to the left and a large boulder in the center-right that forms a hole at high water. Another notable spot is a short, turbulent wave train (run river right) with a good-sized gravel beach on the right below it (good for eating lunch!).
Playboaters should not overlook the wave at the bottom of the last rapid; a ledge forms a nice-sized hole at levels between 2.5 and 3.5 ft. Park-and-play is very easy-- just park at the take out under the bridge and paddle up the huge eddy behind the island.
See Also:
New River Water Trail for maps and info.
New River \- maps and directions from Virginia DWR.
_Classic Virginia Rivers,_ Ed Grove (1992 ed), p. 310.
_Virginia Whitewater_, Roger Corbett (2000 ed.), p. 478.
_Exploring Virginia's Waterways_, Ed Gertler (2022 ed.), p. 343.