Back Creek (afluente de Jackson)
2. De Mountain Grove (Rota 39) até a Ponte McClintic (Rota 603)
| Dificuldade | II-III |
| Comprimento | 7.4 mi |
| Gradiente médio | 20 fpm |
| Aferir | Back Creek perto de Mountain Grove, Virgínia |
| Taxa de fluxo a partir de 1 hora | 35 cfsabaixo do recomendado |
| Informações de alcance Última atualização | 18 de Junho de 2026 |
The most important thing to know about this section is that permission is needed to run it from the Boiling Springs Rod and Gun Club. In his guidebook, Gertler states that he visits the clubhouse at the head of Richardson Gorge on the Jackson River (permission is also needed for that run, which shares the same takeout).
Lower Back Creek is a great intermediate run, with nearly continuous class II from the USGS gauge put-in, with a couple of small ledges possibly easy III (see gallery). The scenery is great in this remote gorge, and you likely won't see anyone other than a couple of people fishing on river left in the first mile or so. It's a relatively short run from the gauge, so spend some time surfing the waves, taking a long lunch break, and enjoy the gorge. It's also possible to run both Back Creek and Richardson Gorge on the Jackson if you received permission for both. The shuttle is a bit long for Back Creek at about three times the length of the gorge, but is quite short for the Jackson. Since the Back Creek Pumped Storage Project is upstream, it may be worth keeping an eye on the gauge for enhanced flows or a maintenance release (unfortunately there does not seem to be any notification of these).
Veja também:
Rios clássicos da Virgínia, Ed Grove (edição de 1992), p. 196.
Águas brancas da Virgínia, Roger Corbett (ed. de 2000), p. 225.
Explorando os canais navegáveis da Virgínia, Ed Gertler (edição de 2022), p. 163.
Se você deseja uma viagem mais longa e/ou tempo para se aquecer antes do início das corredeiras, o ponto de partida fica próximo ao Mountain Grove Community Center, na confluência do Little Back Creek.
USGS gauge put-in, roadside parking along Rt. 39. Put in here if you want a shorter trip with rapids beginning right away. Small ledge rapid just below gauge. From here the trip is 4.5 miles at a gradient of about 30 fpm.
Desembarque no acesso para barcos do DWR Richardson Gorge, na margem esquerda do Lago Moomaw, abaixo da confluência com o Rio Jackson. Amplo estacionamento de cascalho, sem instalações.