Overview:
The Covington River is a small creek that originates in and near Shenandoah National Park, on the slopes of Pignut, Keyser, and Wolf Mountains in Rappahannock County. During or immediately after a significant rain the Covington may be runnable below Route 612, Hunters Road. Until it joins the Rush River, the Covington River is a very small creek with many blind turns and a high probability of strainers. It is a great creek to run if one can catch it, just be sure to scout the blind turns and drops. Many of the rapids are fairly technical, though none are very large.
Recommended Trips:
Daytrip: Route 621/Hunters Road to Rock Mills.
Directions to Put Ins and Take Outs:
View Covington in a larger map
Hunters Road/Route 621: Park in a small pull out on river right.
Rock Mills: Park on river right on the Thornton 50 yards below the Route 626/Long Mountain Road bridges over the Thornton/Rush Rivers.
Sections of River to Run:
Hunters Road to Rock Mills: Because the Covington is such a small creek expect several strainers and be sure to scout the blind turns. At lower runnable levels many of the drops will be fairly technical. None exceed more than three feet or so in height, and at lower runnable levels none of the holes are very large. At high water levels watch out for the bridge at the confluence with the Thornton, because high water will approach the bottom of the bridge. If putting in about Hunters Road be aware that portaging Hunters Road will probably be necessary. This is about a four to five mile stretch of river.
