Overview:
Opequon Creek begins inauspiciously in central Frederick County, epicenter of Shenandoah Valley's sprawl, yet winds mostly undisturbed from the foot of Little North Mountain eastward, dodging Stephens City and Winchester before turning north to West Virginia. Paddlers will find a seductive little stream with clear green water flowing over a generally bedrock substrate, with a riparian corridor populated by a remarkable array of wildlife. The fecundity of the Valley is on full display along the Opequon, made visible by minks, herons, great schools of fish and armadas of kingfishers. Clark County graces the creek's right bank, and her banks seem to bow low so that paddlers may observe what a rural county should look like--agricultural, no vinyl, with handsome farms and large sycamores along the river.
Recommended Trips:
Rt 723 to Burnt Factory, 2/3 day
View Opequon Creek in a larger map
Route 723 (Old Winchester): Take a right on Rt 644 from Rt 50; turn left on Rt 723 and follow it to the narrow bridge over the Opequon; note that the Rt 644 ford no longer exists, at least from the east, so it is not an option as a put in. This convenient put in has narrow, limited roadside parking on the west side of the creek.
Burnt Factory/Rt 645: from Rt 7, turn north on Rt 645 about a half mile east of the Rt 7 bridge over the Opequon. Continue north one mile and turn left, downhill, on a small gravel road that terminates at the creek. There is only parking for a car. This used to be a ford but is no longer accessible from the west. Finally, not that Rt 645 is not called "Affleck Rd" as the Gazetteer suggests, nor is Rt 635 a through road, necessitating a slightly longer shuttle using Rt 632.
Sections of river to run:
Route 723 to Burnt Factory: This pleasant half to full day trip follows the Opequon from its youth to maturity. From a very small creek it adds water consistently, and is a small river by the time it flows under Rt 7. If the streamside gauge at Rt 7 has 1.9 feet there is sufficient water, perhaps equal to 75 cfs. A bedrock substrate means much of the stream is passable even a while after a rain. This stream is probably navigable within a week of a wet spell or more shortly after isolated heavy rain. It is a class 1 paddle, with small ledges and the possibility of an occasional strainer. Except for occasional bank erosion the scenery is attractive, with alternating pastures and evergreen covered rocky hillside banks. The water is clear green, permitting views of many fish, though not too many appear very large. There are two road bridges and one low water bridge serving a municipal facility between Rt 723 and Route 7. After passing under Rt 7, it is only a mile to the take out, which one should take care not to float past since it doesn't have a bridge. The only unpleasant feature of this trip is the Winchester sewer treatment outflow at Rt 7. This trip is approximately 9 miles and takes paddling to navigate many tight turns and, depending on water level, little chutes and shallow areas.
