Rafting the New River in Virginia

Rafting The New River in SW Virginia

About Our Canoe Trips

Discounts

Our outfitting services are in full operation for 2008.

About Our New River Rafting Trips

The New River attracts canoeists, anglers, rafters, kayakers, rock climbers, bird watchers, and a host of other outdoor enthusiasts from across the country. Our raft trips are self-guided. Each rafter will be given a thorough river orientation and a detailed map of the river trip they are undertaking. In addition, basic rafting instruction can be provided to the novice rafter. Next, you will be shuttled to the launch site where you will embark on your adventure. Please note that the lengths of the trips noted below is an estimate of how long they may take you to float. How fast or slow you paddle and the river level are just two factors that can cause your trip to be shorter or longer. For all trips, there will be a negotiated pick-up time at the take-out.

Rafting Details: Our rafting trips are DAY trips only for the family or group looking for a casual float in a more stable vessel. These boats are not set up to fish out of, and NO fishing from our rafts will be allowed due to safety/liablity concerns.

Notes: There is NO Public Restroom at our town shop. We are located on the New River in Virginia, NOT the New River National Gorge Park which is about 1.5 hours Northwest of our location.

2008 Discounts

-10% discount on livery services, any day, regardless of group size for: Virginia Tech or Radford students wth valid college ID, Boy and Girl Scout troops on official troop outings, church youth groups in which at least half the participants are under 18, and active military. (Excludes guided fishing trips.)

2008 Pricing (Excludes 5% Sales Tax)

Rafting Trips (Weekend: Fri - Sun)	$30/person	Minimum 3 persons/Maximum 5 persons
Rafting Trips (Mid-Week: Mon - Th)	$25/person	Minimum 3 persons/Maximum 5 persons

Trip Descriptions

Day Trips - All of our rafting day trips run on these three sections.

Trip #6: (6 miles)
Time: Rafters can expect a three to five hour trip if casually floating.
Description: This run has one strong Class II, two milder class II's, and several Class I's and riffles.

Trip #7: (2.5 miles)
Description: One class II at the put-in, but the rest are easy riffles and Class I's.

Trip #8: (8.5 miles)
Description: Some of the best paddling in Virginia. There is one strong Class II rapid and numerous milder Class II's and I's that liven up this float. An overall great paddling trip.

Preparation

Equipment:
What is included in the rental fee?
The basic rental fee includes the use of raft; paddle(s); personal flotation device(s); maps; drybag; and shuttle service. We can provide helmets upon request.

Things to Bring:
1. Bathing suit or shorts & T-shirt.
2. Old tennis shoes, water shoes, or sandals - NO FLIP FLOPS!
3. Sun screen and a hat.
4. If you wear glasses, a retainer strap is recommended.
5. Towel and dry clothes for after the trip.
6. In cool weather, you should wear wool clothing and a windbreaker or a rain jacket.
7. Please do not bring along any jewelry or other valuables.
8. Plenty to drink!! Cold drinks for hot weather and warm drinks for cold weather. (You can even pack a picnic.)
9. Valid Virginia Fishing License is required for all persons age 16 or older planning to fish. If you are a non-resident of Virginia, you are required to have a permit if you are 12 or older.

Things to Remember:
1. No glass containers or Styrofoam coolers.
2. No pets.
3. No littering.
4. Drugs and alcohol have no place near a river.
5. Age, height, and weight requirements vary by activity. Please call for details.
6. Trips run rain or shine. We reserve the right to cancel or postpone any river trip due to unfavorable river levels and/or weather conditions (your choice of a refund or a voucher).
7. Deposit is forfeited in the event of a "no show."

Assumption of Risk:
Outdoor recreational activities have inherent risks, dangers, and hazards. Your participation in such activities, including use of Canoe the New's services and equipment, may result in injury, illness, or death. Canoe the New assumes no responsibility for personal safety and/or loss of personal property. We ask that you read and sign a "waiver and release of liability form" before you make the trip. A parent or guardian must sign a "parent/guardian permission form" for those under 18. You participate at your own risk

Self-Guided Trips:
All of Canoe the New's trips are self-guided. You are responsible for yourself and your personal items on the river. You must be in good health and be physically fit. You should be in good mental condition and know your limitations. You should expect fun and relaxation, but know that there will be some challenges. You will need to be able to assist in loading and unloading your raft and carry it over short distances. Because of the risks associated with the sport, it is recommended that you be a competent swimmer. If you have any special medical conditions, consult your doctor before taking any trips and notify a Canoe the New staff member about your condition before participating

Orientation:
Before you begin your trip, Canoe the New will give you a fifteen-minute orientation. Professional paddlers have designed the American Canoe Association’s National Livery Safety System to supply you with basic skill knowledge that you will need to have a safe and pleasant experience on the river. Some of the topics you will learn about during the orientation session are:
1. The importance of wearing your life jacket and how to properly size it. It is of the up most importance to wear your life jacket at all times on the New River due to the unexpected rising river levels created by the releasing of water from Claytor Dam.
2. How to lower your center of gravity by kneeling in your boat.
3. Proper paddle selection and the basic strokes required to paddle down the river and around the rocks.
4. How to properly "swim" a rapid should your boat capsize or turn over.
5. How to properly "read" the water, how to recognize hazards, and how to locate and navigate the proper channels.
6. Do not tailgate when in a crowd or with a group. However, when in a group, keep the boat behind you and the boat in front of you within your sight.
7. If caught in a lightening storm, get off the river and do not take shelter under the tallest trees.
8. How to avoid pinning and damaging your boat or losing your boat.
9. Understanding the "things to bring."
10.Understanding the "things to remember."

American Whitewater Affiliation Scale of River Difficulty:
Class I: Easy. Fast moving water with riffles and small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training. Risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue is easy.
Class II: Novice. Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium sized waves are easily missed by trained paddlers. Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed. Rapids that are at the upper end of this difficulty range are designated "Class II+".
Class III: Intermediate. Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid and which can swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges are often required; large waves or strainers may be present but are easily avoided. Strong eddies and powerful current effects can be found, particularly on large-volume rivers. Scouting is advisable for inexperienced parties. Injuries while swimming are rare; self-rescue is usually easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated "Class III-" or "Class III+" respectively.

New River Water Levels and Weather Forecasts

Please visit our river/weather information page to view USGS and weather.com links for the current river levels and weather conditions in our area.

Terms and Conditions

Deposit:

$75 per raft due at time of reservation.

Balance:

The remaining balance is due at check-in. The overall total will include a 5.0% sales tax.

Payment Policy:

All deposits must be made with a credit card. We accept Mastercard and Visa only. Please call 540-921-7438 withh CC information. Your balance may be paid in cash, credit card, or check. A $25 fee will apply to any returned checks.

Cancellation Policy:

For all rafting trips- Before 72 hours of your reservation date: You have 3 days from the time of cancellation to reschedule a comparable trip of equal value. Your deposit (minus a $50 rescheduling fee) will be applied to the new trip. If your group does not reschedule within the 3 days, your entire deposit will be forfeited. Should your group reschedule, and have to cancel again, your entire deposit will be forfeited automatically. Within 72 hours of your reservation date: Your entire deposit will be forfeited.
*Due to scheduling limitations, there are no exceptions to this policy.*

Canoe the New reserves the right to cancel or reschedule your trip should river conditions be too dangerous for your scheduled trip. Such cancellations may occur at any time and without prior notification.

No refunds will be made because of poor fishing or swimming conditions, overcast skies, rain or chance of rain, or late arrival.

If your trip is cancelled by Canoe the New due to the aforementioned conditions, your trip will be rescheduled, any payments will be refunded, or you will be issued a voucher.

Please call us or check our website if you are unsure of the weather conditions especially in the spring when river conditions may be fluctuating. Canoe the New will make every effort to contact you ASAP if your trip is cancelled.

Liabiliy Waivers:

Please read the liabilty waiver form and/or parent permission forms. Sign the forms and either mail them to us with your deposit check or bring them with you to arrival to help speed up the the check-in process.

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