Overview:
Shaws Fork and its headwaters run off the western flank of Shenandoah Mountain in Highland County. It joins the Cowpasture River at the crossroads of Liberty. Though the stream keeps the name Cowpasture, Shaws Fork is a larger tributary upstream of Liberty. In its short life Shaws Fork crosses through some attractive farmland and forests, cascading over a bedrock substrate that forms complex ledges with attractive small cliffs along the way. Though inconvenienced by several cattle fences and an occasional strainer, this stream is well worth a run for scenery and enjoyable rapids. As with all streams on private land in Bath and Highland counties, be aware that public riparian rights are less secure than in most of the rest of the state, so take extreme care not to irritate landowners, and ask permission if in doubt. If taken to court for trespassing (by paddling) on streams such as Shaws Fork, one may well lose.
Recommended Trips:
Headwaters to Liberty (1/2 day): This pleasant day trip can be continued on the Cowpasture, or combined with a trip on the even smaller upper Cowpasture down to Liberty.
View Shaws Fork in a larger map
Headwaters: Put in alongside Route 616 just north of Route 250; park in the small gravel pull out next to Route 250, where this is a small hiking sign. This land is not posted.
Liberty: Park and put in between Route 614 and the Cowpasture River immediately downstream of the bridge. This land is not posted.
Sections of river to run:
Headwaters to Liberty: Shaws Fork is approximately 10 feet wide at the start of this trip. Several landowners have taken advantage of the stream’s wide by placing complex fences across it, as well as a single strand of barbed wire further south, which leaps out of the water periodically due to the current when Shaws Fork has sufficient water. Beyond these dangers (and a couple downed trees), Shaws Fork is very enjoyable, with attractive farms, cliffs, and rapids. The stream’s solid rock bottom creates interesting sloping drops and ledges. The current moves very quickly for the duration of the trip to Liberty. The hardest rapid is a class 2 ledge series that ends with a serrated rock ridge running parallel to the current down the final sloping drop. There are plenty of good surfing holes where these sloping rocks end. The Cowpasture gauge needs to be well over 1,000 cfs for Shaws Fork to run.
