RIVER HISTORY A HUNDRED and FIFTY YEARS AGO Glasgow was a hub of river activity, with the KANAWHA CANAL system on the James and North (now Maury) Rivers allowing river trade and travel from Lexington and Buchanan to Richmond. All but forgotten now, the canals and locks in our area are mostly in ruins and have been reclaimed by nature. There was a dam at Balcony Falls, and pleasure boats, packet boats and batteaux have, in turn, been moored at Glasgow on their way up or down river. This image is of Confederate soldiers on a packet boat near Glasgow during the Civil War.
Sadly, Glasgow has also seen its share of flooding. Here is an image from 1985, looking east at the Blue Ridge Mountains, with the James River entering on the right, meeting the Maury River entering on the left.
Traveling on the James River is the best way to see the amazing James River Face Wilderness, where the river cuts through the Blue Ridge Mountains on its way to the Chesapeake Bay. Bald eagles have even been seen soaring above the river. This is a view from Rt. 501, just east of Glasgow. |
RIVER LOVERS DAY JUNE 11 8 AM - 4 PM We invite ANY ORGANIZATION who loves the river: hiking, paddling, fishing, wildlife, to come and have a DISPLAY and/or DEMO at RIVER LOVERS DAY at NO charge. We will be at the Glasgow Boat Landing, at the end of Blue Ridge Rd. in Glasgow. The landing is maintained by the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries and provides access to the Maury River, just above the confluence with the James River. In the past we have had free kayak demonstrations by members of Coastal Canoeists and Wintergreen Adaptive Sports. Many people got a chance to try out kayaking for the first time.
Special thanks to Terri Bsullak and Rebecca Dale for the demos, and members of our Glasgow Fire Department, who filled and emptied the reservoirs. UPDATE as of 4/20/11: There is a trail from the parking lot to the James River, but the foot bridge has been removed, which makes it even harder to get to and from the James River. We hope this situation will be remedied soon! There is NO paved boat ramp or landing directly to/from the James River. Boaters currently have to scramble up and down a dirt (usually mud) bank on the river and make their way along a narrow path, go up and down a narrow ditch (where the foot bridge used to be) to get to the Maury River ramp/parking area. |
RIVER TRIPS Here are two area companies who offer river adventures for you and your family. Click the links below to visit their websites and see what they have planned for RIVER LOVERS DAY- JUNE 11. NOTE: FEES involved. WILDERNESS CANOE COMPANY
and TWIN RIVER OUTFITTERS
We encourage everyone who plans to travel on these rivers to follow the best safety practices and wear life vests and helmets for maximum protection. Rainfall from days before your trip can seriously affect the river levels , and thunderstorms can change the river rapidly. See our weather and river links on left hand column. Please do not attempt to navigate the rapids at Balcony Falls on your own without previous experience or a guide! Every year members of our area's Fire Departments and Lifesaving Crews must risk their own lives rescuing boaters who seriously underestimated the power of these rivers. |
