About the Shenandoah River in Virginia
The South Fork of the Shenandoah River is a flowing mountain river of unparalleled beauty. A steady current of surprisingly clear water passes over an uneven rock bottom, creating many riffles and small rapids followed by calm pools of deeper water.
The water depth will vary from just a few inches to some wonderfully deep swimming holes in the deeper pools, but will average about 3 feet deep in most places. Summertime water temperature will usually hover in the upper 70’s Fahrenheit (the upper 20’s Celsius). Although the uneven river bottom makes footing tricky, it creates a wonderfully diverse river environment supporting a great fishery.
Wildlife abounds. You may expect to see lots of turtles, ducks, geese, kingfishers, herons, osprey, and even bald eagles. Often beaver, mink, and river otter are present as well, with deer and even an occasional black bear.
You are surrounded and immersed in a natural environment much as it was 100 years ago, or even 10,000 years ago (but without the saber tooth tigers of course). Let your imagination wander!