The refreshing, wild waters of the Shenandoah Valley are ideal for cooling off this summer. Swimming, paddling, floating … let us guide you to a livery or a put-in point to get your heat-busting adventure started.
Shenandoah River
This river flows south to north and is one of the most popular waterways in Virginia. The North Fork and South Fork meet near Front Royal to create the main stem of the Shenandoah River. The Shenandoah flows into West Virginia and into the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry.
Outfitters
Front Royal Outdoors | Front Royal, VA
Tackle the South Fork with Front Royal Outdoors. Rent a specialty fishing kayak, solo or tandem kayak, canoe, tube, raft, or stand-up paddle board for a day of fun on the water. A cottage, cabin, or glamping tents are available for overnight trips.
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Massanutten Adventures | McGaheysville, VA
Canoe, kayak, or tube the South Fork with Massanutten Adventures, the premier outfitter of Massanutten Resort. In fact, all river trips depart from the resort after a safety orientation.
Outdoor Adventure Experiences, Inc. | Dayton, VA
Guided trips are king with Outdoor Adventure Experiences, and there are very interesting options with them. Sure, you can do all the same on-the-water stuff as the other outfitters, but OAE also offers guided swimming hole experiences and guided water caving trips. Meet up with Derek and away you go!
Shenandoah River Adventures | Shenandoah, VA
Available by reservation only, Shenandoah River Adventures launches boats every hour until 2 p.m. Want to tube? Take two runs if launched by 2 p.m., too. Everyone is expected to be out of the water and back to the livery by 5 p.m. Overnight tent camping is available. All river experiences are self-guided.
Shenandoah River Outfitters | Luray, VA
Take your river fun up a notch with a cabin rental on the Shenandoah by Shenandoah River Outfitters. Day trips and tent camping are absolutely do-able with this outfitter, too, of course! Rent a canoe, kayak, raft, or tube for the day or longer, and don’t forget to add on a steak lunch or dinner as part of your river experience (select dates only).
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WildGUYde Adventures, LLC | Harrisonburg, VA
More than a relaxing float (though you can do that, too), WildGUYde Adventures teaches you the skills necessary to be safe and successful on the water. For a rush of adrenaline, try Pick-Up-The-Pace Paddling, which is a full day of exciting runs and pools.
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Play On Your Own
Float the South Fork of the Shenandoah River on your own using these suggested in-and-out launches provided by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. There are also five suggested trips for the main stem of the Shenandoah River itself.
To enjoy the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, VisitShenandoahCounty.com has a great list of public access points.
Lake Laura is the shimmering jewel of Bryce Resort, and it’s open to the public. Rent a paddle board, paddle boat, kayak, or canoe by the hour. Tubes are available for rent for the whole day. Splish splash on your own accord!
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Launch a kayak, canoe, or tube from the car-top day-use area at Shenandoah River State Park. There are no rentals available.
Sherando Lake in Augusta County is managed by U.S. Forestry Service and features a swimming lake and beach area. Kayaks and canoes can be carried into the lake, or take advantage of the upper lake for paddling as well. Camping is available, as are picnic spaces and restrooms.
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Lake Arrowhead in Luray offers 34 acres of water to enjoy by beach or boat landing. Kayaks and canoes are available to rent on-site.
The Waynesboro Water Trail highlights the South River from Ridgeview Park to Basic Park. It’s four miles of Virginia Scenic River with Class I and Class II rapids along the way.
The popular Goshen Pass picnic area in Rockbridge County is known for big boulders as well as big rapids after a substantial rain. Summer is a great time to splash around some of the deeper swimming holes of Maury River in the Goshen area or to paddle the flat waters between Lexington and Buena Vista. Maury River was just designated a Virginia Scenic River in April 2022.
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Stay cool and enjoy your summer in the Shenandoah Valley.
Header photo of the Shenandoah River by Cameron Davidson and courtesy of Virginia Tourism Corporation.