| RIVER TUBING SMOKE HOLE CANYON, WV THOMAS J. HILLEGASS There is a time and a season to be on the river, attacking the rapids by canoe or raft, and yet another to be in the river, letting its cooling flow carry and caress. The rivers of West Virginia offer plenty of challenge, but in July and August when all but the mightiest of rivers are subdued by the long dry hot, slow down and enjoy in your authentic personal watercraft: the inner tube. Latch your feet up on your friend's tube, drag a small cooler of beverages behind you, and share it all. Smoke Hole Canyon, in the Monongahela National Forest, cannot be beaten for communing with a clean, safe river. In addition to river activities on the South Branch of the Potomac, Smoke Hole offers camping and hiking amidst outstanding beauty. It is near Petersburg, in eastern West Virginia, and yet is uniquely isolated for being so close to the major population areas of the mid-Atlantic. Entering the canyon at its south end, a road closely parallels the river for 9 miles, affording many access points for boaters, tubers, fishermen, and swimmers. After passing below soaring bluffs and limestone outcroppings, including the spectacular "Eagle Rock", the road abruptly dead ends at the Big Bend National Forest campground. Here there is a parking area from which you can walk to the tubing place as well as to a great river swimming hole. Arranging for a shuttle to get back to your car is one of the nuisances of floating most rivers, but not at Big Bend. The river here makes a complete loop back on itself and after an hour of tubing you are back where you started! With a short walk you can start again for another hour until you have had your fill. Since Big Bend campground is in the middle of the loop, you can get out and walk to your campsite when you are done. Alternatively, after hiding a bicycle by the road downstream, you can "put in" just about anywhere then bike back to get your car. Since you can always see the river from the road, you can scout it all and pick an easy stretch for tubing. Figure about 3/4 mile per hour and you'll be about right for most summertime flows. GETTING THERE From the intersection of I-81 and I-66 near Winchester, VA, take RT 55 west to Petersburg, WV. Follow RT 220 southwest out of Petersburg for about 18 miles. Cross the bridge at Upper Tract, and turn right onto RT 2 which parallels the river for about 9 miles until it dead ends at Big Bend Campground. Be sure to keep right at the intersection where you see the general store, after which the road turns to gravel. GETTING TUBES Truck tubes are what you want; good old 10.00 X 20 vulcanized rubber donuts. However, truckers have been so inconsiderate as to go tubeless just like the rest of us, so these are now tough to find. Your best chance is to locate a garage or shop that specializes in truck repair or truck parts and plead for new or used tubes. If you strike out here, most outdoor sports stores now sell vinyl tubes for lake and river floating that may have to suffice for the real thing. Make sure they are heavy vinyl as they will be subject to some rocky abuse. WHAT TO TAKE When tubing, sun burn may be your biggest danger so wear a T-shirt and hat and keep sunblock on your arms and legs. Wear old sneakers or "reef runners" to protect your feet. For fun, try taking several big water guns for river combat. Be sure to bring all the food and gear you will need, gas up the car and fill your tubes with air before you enter Smoke Hole Canyon because there is only a little general store and no gas or air along this road. Also take a "valve tool" from your auto parts store to let the air out of the tubes when you are done. CAMPING You can almost always get a site at Big Bend National Forest campground, and some can be reserved for a fee by calling 1-800-280-CAMP. The "overflow" campground, Jess Judy, which you will pass coming up the road, is not much more than a field by the river, but is an alternative if Big Bend is full. FOR MORE INFORMATION Monongahela National Forest Potomac Ranger District Route 3, Box 240 Petersburg, WV 26847 (304)257-4488 |