Virginia Rivers

Overview:

The Calfpasture River drains a scenic, sparsely populated valley in western Rockbridge and Augusta counties.  Its valley is narrower than that of the Cowpasture, though the character of the Calfpasture is similar.  North of Goshen, the Calfpasture passes over countless cobble bars, with many outstanding views of Mill Mountain and other surrounding peaks.  South of Goshen, the Calfpasture has some flat and some riffly stetches, with forested though sometimes eroded banks. The lower Calfpasture has no significant rapids, and frequently has enough water to run; if the Maury has at least 450 cfs on the Rockbridge Baths gauge then there is certainly enough water for a day trip on the Calfpasture in the vicinity of Goshen.

Recommended Trips:

• (Daytrip) Deerfield to Route 687
• (Daytrip) Route 687 to town of Goshen
• (1/2 Daytrip) Route 614 to Goshen 
• (Overnighter) Deerfield to Goshen Wildlife Management Area

Directions to Put Ins and Take Outs:

Deerfield: From Deerfield, take Marble Valley Road (Rt 600) south; turn left onto Rocky Springs Ln (Rt 692) and park in VDOT right of way on the south side of the bridge.  Carry through the woods on river left/west side of the road.

Route 687: Route 687/Ramsey Gap Road has a bridge over the Calfpasture right next to the intersection with Marble Valley Road (Rt 600).  Do not put in at the bridge, but continue on Rt 692 for about a quarter mile as it parallels the Calfpasture, parking and putting in at a gravel turn out located at a sharp turn in the road where Rt 692 starts to climb Great North Mountain.

Route 614/Bells Valley Road: Big River Road/Rt 600 runs north from Route 39 just west of Goshen up to Deerfield.  Bells Valley Road is an inconspicuous one lane gravel road surrounded by “Posted” signs; it is the first public stream crossing north of Route 42.  Note that there is no bridge, so do not plan on driving across the Calfpasture here.  Put in along public right of way and park along Route 600 to avoid irritating land owners.  Or just avoid this put in to avoid antagonizing the paranoiac who resides near the ford.

Goshen: The town of Goshen has two bridges over the Calfpasture: a new concrete bridge and an older steel truss bridge.  Near the steel truss bridge on river right is a small public road that leads to a gravel bar, forming a convenient put in.  The steel truss bridge is immediately downstream of the concrete bridge for Route 42. This put in is located at Mill Creek’s confluence with the Calfpasture.

Goshen Wildlife Management Area: There is an excellent Calfpasture take out at a gravel parking lot for the Goshen Wildlife Management Area.  Two miles west of the Goshen Pass wayside, turn right down an unmarked gravel road through pine trees.  The take out is located at a suspension footbridge.  This is also a put in for the Goshen Pass Run on the Maury.

Sections of River to Run:

Deerfield to Route 687: This is a pleasant 8 mile or so day trip, with attractive shale cliffs on river left and, if it has been raining recently, cascades where small tributaries spill off those cliff walls into the Calfpasture.  A couple of river wide ledges can be tricky at lower navigable levels, but are only about a foot or two high and not challenging.  The scenery is exceptional, with good views of Great North Mountain and Elliot Knob to the east and Walker Mountain to the west, as well as attractive islands and farms.  A few houses are visible from the river, but the run still feels pretty remote.  There are a couple of very brief sections where the river braids, so watch for strainers.

Route 687 to Bells Ford Road: Good scenery continues below Route 687 as the Calfpasture sweeps around four large bends.  The largest ledge on the Calfpasture between Deerfield and the start of the Maury is right above the Bells Ford Road ford, and consists of a two foot vertical ledge followed by a smaller ledge and bedrock slide.  The slide has a nice surfing wave.  This section is about six miles.

Bells Valley Road to Town of Goshen: This beautiful section of river passes through farms with low banks and outstanding mountain views.  Though there is a two foot high ledge upstream of Bells Valley Road, there are no rapids other than small cobble bars from here to Goshen.  After passing through open farm country, the river goes past attractive cliffs and hemlock-studded hillsides before entering the town of Goshen, signified by the first bridge seen on the trip.  Be wary of at least two electric fences on this stretch of river.

Town of Goshen to Wildlife Management Area: Below the town of Goshen the Calfpasture is very flat, passing through woods before making a sharp bend to approach Goshen Pass. After this bend the stream picks up a little velocity, passing through a Boy Scout reservation with the only rapid of note on this stretch, a small Class I wave train with some boulders.  This stretch is less attractive because of its proximity to Route 39 and several spots with braided channels and eroded banks.