Barbours Creek, |
|
| Usual Difficulty | II-III+(IV) (may vary with level) |
|---|---|
| Avg. Gradient | 36 fpm |
| Max Gradient | 60 fpm |
ACCESS PROBLEMS:
(see comments) The landowner that owns the entire upper section including 'The Falls' has made it absolutely clear that boaters are not allowed on 'his creek'.
So consider this wonderful little stretch of water CLOSED.
Old beta...5-2009....
Otherwise.....
Barbours Creek is a pristine mountain stream.
This run is a great intro to creeking. The most serious hazards are usually strainers. Undercuts are infrequent.
So when you drive shuttle (see directions tab) be safe and when you park get well out of the road and leave room for others. Take a trashbag and pick up around the put in especially. Wave and smile at local landowners if you pass them while paddling. Talk to them if engaged. Be friendly. Pick up trash.
Don't Even Think About Fishing Without Written Permission. To fish take your licenses and go way upstream to Nat'l Forest. 'The Pines Campground' is on Nat'l Forest up between the North and South Prongs and has plenty of free camping and good trout fishing when the prongs are stocked.
There seem to always be several natural strainers on this run so keep a close look out for wood everywhere and take it extra slow. As with most small mtn. streams, avoid large groups much over 4 people at a time; this allows everyone to spread out enough, but still stay within eyesight and earshot.
This run is about 3 miles and can be done fairly easily in about 2 hours at "0". This will be a bumpy level but you should have no trouble avoiding strainers and if you're lucky you can tunnel though most of it. After learning the run it is a blast to run laps on at a (+) level.
Local drainages to check out with online flow gauges:
Potts Creek - gauge is in Covington, VA
Johns Creek - gauge is in Newcastle, VA
Craig Creek - gauge is in Parr, VA where Roaring Run confluences.
SEE THE PHOTO GAUGE OF BRIDGE:
12'' - MAX est.
6'' - pushier, in the trees in places.
4'' - very good
2'' - ideal
0 - low
-2 -- minimum
-3 -- i've done it
-6 --- probably possible
You can also have a looksee at the low water bridge on the way in from Rt. 615. If the flow is over the bridge you are good and the bridge gauge should be around -3. If flow is over the bridge and to the entrance gate you might be seeing something near "0". If flow is over the bridge and current is around the entrance gate and closer to the road then you are in the (+) range and ready to run some quick laps.
| When | River/Gauge | Subject | Level | Reporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbours CreekRoute 611 to Route 609 [VA] |
put in bridge
|
-2 | John | |
| 197d19h26m | Barbours CreekRoute 611 to Route 609 [VA] |
low water bridge at +1
|
+1 | John |
| 198d19h26m | Barbours CreekRoute 611 to Route 609 [VA] |
local drainage area
|
n/a | John |
| 200d19h26m | Barbours CreekRoute 611 to Route 609 [VA] |
Put In Gauge
|
-2 | John |
| 252d19h26m | Barbours CreekRoute 611 to Route 609 [VA] |
one of two long slides
|
Definately scraped h | John |
No guide books for this stream. If you know of a book that describes this stream please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. No rapids entered. If you know names, and locations of the rapids please contact and advise the StreamTeam member for this run. River Alert
State News
River Links
NWRI - Barbours Creek Route 611 to Route 609 (mobile)
User Comments
[url=http://yifittaciggz.com/]yifittaciggz[/url],
[link=http://ssaxdnvkdbyo.com/]ssaxdnvkdbyo[/link], http://nzghyjgpdbwg.com/ Edit
[url=http://mywqtpvvaces.com/]mywqtpvvaces[/url],
[link=http://yxoqcohtawip.com/]yxoqcohtawip[/link], http://iubmztmiucig.com/ Edit
[url=http://glxvywefyejd.com/]glxvywefyejd[/url],
[link=http://aendbkdmsbdr.com/]aendbkdmsbdr[/link], http://mmgkcydckxrf.com/ Edit
Saturday when the land owner stopped us. He was very irritated (rude) and willing to enforce his
land owner rights. For those rolling their eyes it goes like this. We were not partying or "hanging
out". We were not littering (fact is we picked trash up) and did not have crap scattered about. We
were parked on state owned Bald Mountain Rd, not his property. We only had one vehicle there and we
were not rude at all. Once warned we left. After checking with the courthouse and the proper law
enforcement we were informed that the creek is NON-navigable. It is a King's grant issue and no one
could clearly state for sure the facts. Just clouded word of mouth from the Commonwealth
prosecuting attorney. He took my license plate number and law enforcement DID call me today just to
make sure i understood to STAY OFF. So unless someone out there is a title examiner with proof
otherwise i have been asked to pass the word on to stay off the creek. Why this happened i cant
tell you and no one knows more than i how much a loss this great little creek is. Jeff B. Edit
and likely always will be. I also had a close call with a rogue cable about 1/4 inch diameter that
wrapped me and my boat about 75 ft above Salty Pepper. When I spun it off I saw it was attached to
a tree river right.
falling. Water 3-4" above low water bridge, and 1" above concrete shelf under bridge at Forestry
road. Put-in at forestry road, took out at Rt. 609 Bridge. As all have said, riverwide strainers
are in there and several in spots in which wyou are commited and have few eddies to catch. Large
groups would have a hard time getting everyone into an eddie. To be safe, we portaged at least 3-4,
no limboing here. the worst strainer that comes to mind is across from the trailer with the big
rock and satellite dish in the front yard. You cannot see it from the road unless you pull off and
walk over to the bank. The lead in is blind, class 3, and few eddies. The river lieft portage up
the bank to the road is a tough climb. Talked to several locals and all were friendly. Edit
by 17:30 I put on around 14:30. I didn't think it would be runnable, but when I saw the amount of
brown water flowing down John's Creek, I decided to try. I cleared the low water bridge which had
several inches on it. My first time, even though I've lived up here for 6 years - put in at 611
bridge where 617 turns right. Good up top, a little boney below. I took out at the low water bridge
0.9 miles upstream of Sand Plant Rd. (609). Parking is not widely available around here, but I had
a roving Father-in-law pick me up. You might be able to pull over on the Bald Mountain forest rd
just downstream of put-in, and I've seen cars parked on 609 - can't say if its recommended. The
game warden stopped to make sure I wasn't tresspassing, and to ensure I was using a PFD. He was
nice enough. This stream is non-stop II-III, but unless you are used to bouncing your boat over
trees, be prepared to portage several times. They come up without warning, there are lots of blind
turns, and you have to make your own eddies; but I encountered no landowners, and there were no
man-made hazards. Keep in mind that landowners in this county, while often very nice, are
frequently uptight about tresspassing. Edit
earlier post figure Craig at Parr to be 1,200 cfs and rising slightly, John's Creek to be 475 cfs
and cresting, nearby but different watershed Pott's Creek to be 650 cfs and cresting.