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Description
The South River is one of three very comparable Rapidan watershed river sections that can be scouted from Route 230. The other two nearby rivers are the Conway, also known as the Middle Fork, and the Rapidan itself.
Start your trip by scouting from the Rt. 230 bridge. There is an RC gauge on the downstream side of the bridge. A zero level on this gauge is sufficient for both the upstream and the downstream sections.
This river uses its gradient very consistently to provide lots of Class II rapids. You also get lots of creeky challenges like low water bridges and strainers galore. At the beginning the rapids are pretty much continuous. Even though the gradient slows down a bit, there is plenty to keep you thinking for the whole nine mile run.
Doing all 9 miles can be somewhat of a mild epic, so you could break it up and just do the top half by taking out at Rt. 230 even though the takeout isn't much here.
See Also:
_Virginia Whitewater_, Roger Corbett (2000 ed.), p. 184.
_Exploring Virginia's Waterways_, Ed Gertler (2022 ed.), p. 146.