Roanoke, North Fork

Paddled 8 miles starting at Falls Ridge to the Rt. 603 bridge at 2.2 on the Ironto gauge, 900 at Glenvar. This was a sufficient level but not high. Most of the whitewater is in the two miles between the Falls Ridge bridge and the Seneca Hollow bridge. There is a class III just below the Falls Ridge put-in which can be scouted from the railroad track; the rest of this section is II or II+. Lots of good surfing waves. Below Ironto proper, there were two portages due to logjams, and a few other spots where you can narrowly get through. Also not mentioned in any guides is a class III slide of 4-5 feet. In a long straight section with the railroad tracks on your left, the river narrows and picks up speed with some standing waves followed by a horizon line. Catch one of the micro-eddies on the right bank and take a look. It's straightforward but can't be boat scouted. Great surfing wave in the run-out. The Rt. 603 bridge is oddly low with just enough clearance; at high water you may need to get out upstream of it.

I've run it many times. It's a beautiful run through sparsely habited woods. You'll need three days of solid rain for the water level to be high enough. As of Aug. 3, there hasn't been one runnable day in 2010. If you live in Roanoke/Salem, you can check the river level at W. Riverside Dr. across from the James Moyer Sports Complex in Salem. Usually the river only occupies the far 1/3rd of the channel with the near 2/3rds being mud and rocks. If the river fills the whole channel, you're probably good to go. If you can make it through the rock gardens along State Rt 603 (N. Fork Rd.), then its running. Be careful at Seneca falls, there may be a pinning rock dead center.

I drove along 603 today between Falls Ridge Rd and Blacksburg, and was surprised to see a landowner's fence through the river/creek. Watch out for it- major strainer.

Surprise rapid downstream of Ironto