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Wet WanderLove on the New

The New River Water Trail connects you with public and private access points to enjoy a variety of floats as summer winds down. Fishing, floating, or fun times are to be found along this 37 mile stretch through Giles County, Virginia.

Photo by Aspire for Giles Tourism

Floating

Peaceful, yet dramatic the New River has scenic floats for you! The most popular float trip for kayakers, canoes, and rafts tends to the Eggleston to Pembroke section. You can scope out the best section for you based on length, activity, or location. Giles County has public access approximately every 5-7 miles. If you don’t have your own gear- don’t worry, visit any one of our outfitters for rentals!

man fishing in river
Photo by Jonathan Roberts.

Fishing

The New River has long been known as an excellent fishery. Beyond the banks of the New the many mountain tributaries also offer fishermen and women something extraordinary. From the bank, from a boat, or with a guide, the New River is a fishing destination.

As with all natural resources, care is given to support this ecosystem. ReNew the New is a community of volunteers with the support of many local organizations that remove trash from the river twice a year. Fishermen will also find used fishing line receptacles at all public boat landings.  

Bringing the whole family to enjoy the fishing in Giles? If so, then you may enjoy the trek off the beaten path to the Glen Alton Farm along Big Stoney Creek. The youth fishing ponds are just one fun feature to find on this USFS Day Use property.

Paddle on the fifth oldest river in the world with Tangent Outfitters in Pembroke. The river, lined with cliffs, rock outcrops and train tracks, is truly stunning! The occasional beaches allow for great picnic and camping spots. Virginia Tourism Corporation, www.Virginia.org

Where to Stay

If we head back to the New River you can find many public and private campgrounds along the waterfront to enjoy a multi-day float. But if you’re hoping to get water frontage, but don’t want to camp, consider any one of our beautiful cabin properties.

Food

Because every good adventure has food! If you’re hoping to pack a lunch and head out on the water, you would enjoy the boxed lunches from Tangent Outfitters & Cascade Café. Also in Pembroke, following your Eggleston to Pembroke float you can enjoy Bluegrass BBQ, Scoops for great ice cream, or Solo’s. All easy access options in the area.

Venturing a little father away to find local joints with pizza, burgers, salads, and more. The drive to our destination dining options is another excuse to take in all the adventure in Giles!

Not playing in the water? Not a problem… Still a lot of fun!

Foot Traffic

Maybe you want to experience the New River, but from close proximity… Wrapping up your adventure in Giles. Enjoy a walk in our river front parks. Whitt-Riverbend Park in Pearisburg, Camp Success in Narrows, and Glen Lyn Town Park in Glen Lyn all offer riverside walking trails and parking to enjoy the water year round, while being outside.

Safety

As with all adventure activities users should be aware of the dangers that could arise. We want everyone to find their adventure in Giles, but do so safely. If you are heading out on the New River remember we are greatly affected by the weather systems to our south. River levels can change quickly due to factors relating upstream (in North Caroline). It’s best to check the river status before you head out and if ever concerned, call a local guide or outfitter for expert advice.

Same concept applies to hiking or nature walking along the riverbank. Travel with a buddy, let people know where you are going, and be aware of your surroundings- just a few tips to keep in mind.

Conclusion

Some days you just need a playday… Find yours in Virginia’s Mountain Playground. As part of our Wanderlove series we hope you enjoy these ideas and tips for a wet and wild adventure in Giles County, VA! We’ll see you soon…

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Improving New River access points in Giles County | WDBJ7

Improving New River access points in Giles County

GILES COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) The New River is a popular spot for people in Giles County. Now, officials are taking steps to make it easier for boats to come and go.

“I love the outdoors, I really love being on the water,” Randy Fuqua said, admiring the scene around him.

 

Fuqua and Austin Cunningham took a group of out-of-towners on a fishing tour of the New River in Giles County. They pushed off from the Whitt Riverbend boat landing in Ripplemead where there’s a concrete boat launch.

 

See full video HERE.

 

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Boat landing in Giles County, Virginia
Picture from WDBJ7.

Randy and Austin guide fishing trips for New River Outdoor Company located in Pembroke. The New River Water Trail has pubic access points along the 37 miles of New River in Giles, approximately every 5-7 miles. The newest boat landings will improve safety, ease of access, and help minimize impacts on river banks.

disc golf
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Narrows Day Trip

Suggested Itinerary | Narrows Day Trip

Find this & and other day trip ideas to CRUSH FRIDAY here!

logo branding for Narrows

Morning- A visit to Narrows can begin at the Narrows Town Office and Visitors Center, located at 210 Main Street.

Just around the corner on Monroe Street are Centennial Park and The Mural of Narrows.  Next door to The Mural is the Narrows Farmer’s Market (open Friday 8am-5pm and Saturday 8am-noon; April thru October) where visitors can shop for local produce and handmade items. The Veterans Memorial Park is just a few steps away. This is the end of the Veterans Mile, which begins with the Route 61 bridge over New River. Across the street, enjoy the scenery at the duck pond and Mill Dam on Wolf Creek. Don’t forget to snap a picture with the LOVEWorks at the pond.

 

Creekside Classics (on Monroe Street across from the Farmer’s Market) offers primitive décor and some antiques. You may also enjoy Ms. Audre’s Fabrics & Fellowship on Main Street, just down from the Town Hall. If you’re looking for more riverside fun, enjoy the Camp Success Disc Golf for free!

 

disc golf

Lunch-Anna’s Restaurant on Monroe Street (open Tuesday-Sunday 11am-8pm and Sunday 12-4pm) has been an historic staple in downtown Narrows for many years. If alfresco dining suits better, make up a picnic lunch from Grant’s Supermarket and head to Centennial Park or the Narrows Town Park (follow Route 61W for about a quarter mile, sidewalks the entire way) and enjoy dining alfresco on the banks of Wolf Creek. The park also offers swimming in the creek, playground equipment and basketball courts.

 

Afternoon-Walk off that lunch with a hike at Mill Creek Nature Park. This park is located on the edge of town at the end of Northview Street and offers over 40 acres of natural beauty along Mill Creek. There are about miles of trails that are available for hiking or mountain biking. There are four waterfalls of varying sizes scattered along the trail that provide perfect settings for photographs. Fishing for native trout in the stream that runs through the park is also permitted (with appropriate licenses).

 

 

Evening-Return to Anna’s for your evening meal. Overnight accommodations are available at The Historic MacArthur Inn located downtown. If it’s a Thursday evening you can enjoy the Old Time Jam and dinner beginning at 5pm. This beautiful structure was built as a hotel in the 1940s.

 

For the more adventurous, Camp Success is located on Lurich Road at the confluence of Wolf Creek and the New River.  The campground offers primitive campsites along the river.  Registration can be made at the town office.

 

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Giles County, Virginia is located in Southwest Virginia approximately 40 minutes south of Roanoke and just west of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. With easy access to the New River, world class dining and lodging properties, and historical attractions for the entire family, Giles offers adventure in Virginia’s Mountain Playground™. Come find your playground at our Visitors Center located at 203 N Main Street, Pearisburg, VA 24134 or find us online at gilescounty.org or by calling 540-921-2079. For interviews or onsite visits, please contact Cora Gnegy, Tourism Marketing Director. We can arrange and assist with any media needs. For more information about planning your visit to Giles County or about activities and events, please visit www.gilescounty.org or contact us at tourism@gilescounty.org.

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“Keep Virginia Beautiful” Grant Awarded to Giles County

Giles County Awarded “Keep Virginia Beautiful” Grant

 

Giles Administration was pleased to learn a few months ago that they would be recipients of a Keep Virginia Beautiful – 30 Grants in Thirty Days program grant.  Giles had applied for funding in the recycling category.

 

The project award enabled construction of monofilament and fluorocarbon fishing line recycling tubes for all boat ramps on the Giles’ section of the New River, which did not yet have them. The funding has additionally enabled tubes to be constructed for future boat ramps that are now in the planning stages.

 

 

As well as recycling tubes, the funds have allowed an informational brochure to be developed that describes the environmental importance of keeping fishing line out of our waterways.  Used fishing line is harmful to wildlife, boats and humans. It can endanger fish, birds, turtles and other aquatic mammals.  Swimmers can become entangled and it can wrap around boat propellers. Giles County is fortunate to have several outdoor outfitters that have taught environmental stewardship for many years. These brochures are intended to further expand the reach of this message.

 

When a significant amount of the fishing line is collected from the tubes, it will be boxed and sent to Berkley Fishing where it is melted down and recycled into items such as fish habitat structures, tackle boxes, etc.

 

Collaborators in this venture, in addition to Keep Virginia Beautiful, the Giles County PSA, and ReNew The New, include the Berkley Fishing/Conservation Institute and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.  Additionally, some content for the brochures was utilized from the excellent programs of Florida Fish and Wildlife and Washington State Fish and Wildlife.  Finally, the BoatUS Foundation provided instructional stickers for the tubes.

 

Please join in the effort to keep the 37 miles of the Giles County New River beautiful for all to enjoy.

 

To learn more about the New River and the Giles County area and activities, please visit online at:  www.GilesCounty.org; ReNewtheNew.org; or NewRiverWaterTrail.com

 

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Giles County, Virginia is located in Southwest Virginia approximately 40 minutes south of Roanoke and just west of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. With easy access to the New River, world class dining and lodging properties, and historical attractions for the entire family, Giles offers adventure in Virginia’s Mountain Playground™. Come find your playground at our Visitors Center located at 203 N Main Street, Pearisburg, VA 24134 or find us online at gilescounty.org or by calling 540-921-2079. For interviews or onsite visits, please contact Cora Gnegy, Tourism Marketing Director. We can arrange and assist with any media needs. For more information about planning your visit to Giles County or about activities and events, please visit www.gilescounty.org or contact us at tourism@gilescounty.org.