Overview:
Cedar Creek is a little stream that flows out of a little valley right near West Virginia, then cuts across the Valley north of Strasburg to join the North Fork of the Shenandoah a few miles east of Route 11. At least these twenty plus miles of the river are navigable, and you could probably put in above Rt 55 if there was enough water to extend this trip. Cedar Creek has some of the strangest rocky banks in Virginia, many-layered and swept in broad curves and billows, in addition to the usual rocky cliffs. You’ll find some of the oldest cedars in the state along this creek, many of which grow from tiny cracks in rocky bluffs at the water’s edge. Hemlock groves appear along the banks periodically, and many of them appear to have dodged the adelgid or not been hit yet.
Some of the prettiest farms in the state are next to Cedar Creek, many of which have the Allegheny ridge as their backdrop. On an overnighter you can visit abandoned farm ruins, a fort nearly 300 years old, and a large cave, in addition to paddling one of the prettiest little creeks there is. The rapids are small with one exception, but because the creek is swift I would recommend having some flotation in the boat just in case. There are plenty of camping opportunities throughout this trip. Be careful not to pin on the low water bridges, of which there are several. There should be enough water to run Cedar Creek after a rain in the winter or spring—2 feet or so on the gauge.
Recommended Trips:
- (overnighter) Rt 55 to confluence with the Shenandoah. This is a short overnighter at high water levels; you’ll be able to set up camp in the early afternoon on the first day and arrive at the end around lunchtime on Sunday. At lower water levels (scrapey levels) it would take the entire weekend.
- (day trip) Rt 55 to Rt 11. This is a day trip for higher water levels.
- (day trip) Rt 55 to Rt 628. This is a day trip for lower water levels-11 miles
- (day trip) Rt 628 to Rt 11. This is a day trip for lower water levels-11miles
Directions to Put Ins and Take Outs:
View Cedar Creek in a larger map
Rt 55: Heading west, cross Cedar Creek on 55, then take your first right onto a little gravel road, Star Tannery Road. About 30 yards later this gravel road runs up against Cedar Creek; put in here, parking between the road and the creek, being careful not to block the gate into the nearby field. This is an unofficial put in; my car was not ticketed or disturbed.
Rt 628: There is no official put in. You could ask permission of the folks in the white house on the north side of the road, east side of the river, (the house with the old fort in front of it) for permission to put in through their yard. They’re nice folks.
Rt 11: There is an official put in on the north bank of the river. It may be confusing to find because it appears to be in the middle of divided Rt 11.
Long Meadow Road: There is a good, semi-official put in where Long Meadow Road runs directly adjacent to the North Fork of the Shenandoah, located immediately below the confluence of Cedar Creek and the North Fork. Park along the road next to the big square rocks; the put in is where the road comes down nearly to the level of the river.
Sections of River to Run:
Route 55 to Middle Road/Rt 628: The stream starts out only about 20 feet wide. Pretty soon you leave the little Cedar Creek Valley that runs parallel to the Shenandoah Valley and cut east across the Shenandoah Valley. Check out the views of North Mountain to your left and the many beautiful hemlock and cedar groves as well as the rocky cliffs. About 2/3 of the way through this section you’ll need to portage a low water bridge, Fromans Road. The rapids are no larger than little class 1s.
This is one of the prettiest stretches of stream in the state. At the end of the run you’ll come to some giant boulders in the middle of the stream, as Rt 628 appears in front of you, a fairly new steel and concrete span. Shortly before you see the bridge you will see the gauge; a concrete tower next to the river. Take caution here as the boulders ahead often pick up strainers. Eddy out on the left bank just above the bridge to check out Fort Stevens, a hexagonal fort up on the hill. Please ask permission at the white house before walking around the fort, as it is on their property. They probably will say yes; please ask permission so they don’t post the land and prevent future boaters from checking out the fort.
Middle Road to Route 11: The stream gets a little bigger but no less pretty. There are many camping opportunities about a mile below Middle Road on river right, including a beautiful shaded, grassy bank on an old farm, where a cedar forest is now growing up on the hills. You’ll go under a bridge about halfway through this stretch. Just a mile or so above Rt 11 you will see Panther Cave on your left. This is by far the largest cave I’ve seen along any Virginia river. Take out on river left after passing under the first half of Rt 11. There is a private campground at the Rt 11 crossing of the river, on the west side of the road, should you need to use it.
Rt 11 to Long Meadow Road: This is a short stretch of river. Cedar Creek flattens out considerably, except for the big rapid just above Bowman Mill Road. This rapid, a couple miles into the trip, can sneak up on you pretty easily. At higher water levels you can run it just about anywhere. It is probably a 5 foot high bumpy drop, not too difficult as long as you keep the boat straight. Center right is probably a more clear line than anywhere else, and the only runnable route at lower water levels. This is by far the largest rapid on Cedar Creek. Portage Bowman Mill road (a low water bridge), then proceed to the confluence and go about 100 yards downstream on the N. Fork before taking out on the left. Note the incredible views of Massanutten from the N. Fork.
