Overview:
You’d never think there’d be an unspoiled river this beautiful 10 minutes from Charlottesville. The Moormans has a few exciting rapids and beautiful bluffs covered in wildflowers in some places and hemlocks in others. You’re in a little gorge much of the time that feels utterly remote. There are trout and sunfish, at a minimum, to catch. This is the ideal day trip in spring in the Charlottesville area; just make sure you have enough water. This can be run scrapey. If there is enough water at the Rt 810 put in to float a boat, even if just barely, there is enough water for the whole trip as the Doyles River 50 yards downstream adds substantially to the volume. If it rained a good deal yesterday it is probably running today, and is probably running if there has been a good deal of rain in the last week or so. The water stays up for more than a day, but generally no more than a week.
Recommended Trip:
Put in at Rt 810 Browns Gap Tnpk just north of White Hall and take out on Rt 601 Free Union Road. This is about a 9 mile stretch that takes a few hours. I’ve put in late in the afternoon and finished by dark, but I’ve also put in late in the afternoon and run the last couple miles in the pitch black. You should have flotation in the boat for a couple of rapids that are tricky.
Directions to Put In and Take Out:
View Moormans River in a larger map
From Charlottesville head west on 614/Garth. To get to the take out take a right on 601 Free Union Road, cross the Mechums River, then park in the tiny spot on the north bank right after you cross the bridge over the Moormans. To get to the take out from Charlottesville continue west on 614, then take a right on Rt 810 at Whitehall, go to the bottom of the hill and park about 50 yards beyond the bridge. There is no official take out at either spot. If you’re going from the take out to the put in for the shuttle you can take a shortcut from 601 to 614 via Ridge Road, which follows the ridge between the Moormans and the Mechums.
Section of River to Run:
The Moormans is tiny where you put in off Rt 810, no more than 10 feet wide at low but runnable water levels. Soon thereafter Doyles River comes in from the left, roughly doubling the volume. About a quarter to a third of the way into the trip there are some tight, tricky, bouldery drops, one of which requires a strong right draw for the person in the front of the canoe. The ability to turn quickly in a rapid is essential. It is very possible to pin a boat here, so be ready. Other than a couple of tight rapids in the upper portion of the run the rapids are fairly easy, except for a quick drop over a ledge right under the bridge (Millington Road) that marks the halfway point in the trip. You could take out at Millington, but wouldn’t want to because you’d miss more beautiful river. I’d recommend taking out at 601 on river right just above the bridge, where some camp has a little pull off. Do not park here, however, as it’d block their gate. Run this in spring for outstanding displays of wildflowers, which burst from cliff crannies and sandy banks alike.
