Rocky Fork Creek - Highlands Nature Santuary

Rocky Fork Creek is known for rock formations and the section through the Highlands Nature Sanctuary was the hi-light of this trip.  

Put in below Barrett Mill Damn at 580 cfs.  This creek is running between 300 and 600 cfs and becomes too shallow below 300 cfs.  Upper section (above the damn) is known for strainers so I skipped that section since this was my first time on this creek.  Relied on USGS for river conditions (gauge height and cubic feet per second). 

My only catch!  At 580 cfs, I never scraped bottom once but the current made it very difficult to cast.

The caves and rock formations are what made this trip interesting.  I went on a Friday and didn't see a single person the entire day.  The scenery was about as good as you can find in the state of Ohio.  Just be careful of strainers and check flow level before going.

These videos are really crumby but they give an idea of the flow level at 580cfs...

Put-in.........: Barrett Mill Road Bridge and Damn

Take-out.......: State Route 50 Bridge

Map Used.......: Created My Own

Conditions.....: USGS
Miles..........: 4.4

Miles to Date..: 111.9

Fish: Smallmouth

Little Miami River - July 2015

 A couple saugeye.

Our only decent smallmouth this trip.

I think this is a small hybrid striped bass.  It's that or a white bass.

Put-in.........: Milford American Legion

Take-out.......: Bass Island
Map Used.......: Little Miami
Miles..........: 5.4
Miles To Date..: 107.5
Fish...........: Saugeye, Smallmouth bass, Hybrid Striped Bass.

New River Rafting

Boarding the Adventures On The Gorge bus for the Upper New River.  Our guide was really funny and told one liners all the way to and from the gorge... "What do you call a deer with no eyes?".... "No idear".

We took a duckie this trip.  All day trip.  We stopped for a picnic lunch along the river.  Class I and II with an occasional Class III.

Miles..........: 10
Miles To Date..: 102.1
Fish...........: Paddling only this trip.

Long Point Trail, WV

Hard to imagine a more scenic overlook.

Before the New River Gorge Bridge was built in 1977, you had to take a 40 minute drive down a mountain road into the gorge to cross the New River.

This picture is deceiving.  The 1.5 mile (3 mile round trip) trail out to the
overlook isn't that steep or challenging.

The last portion of trail before you go out
onto the outcropping is bordered by rhododendron.

The New River Gorge Bridge is 876 feet above the river.

The kids found tadpoles in the small pools of water on this rock outcropping.

Trail Name.....: Long Point Trail

Location.......: US 19 to Gatewood Road, Glen Jean, WV 

Map Used.......: None

Miles..........: 3 miles round trip
Wildlife.......: We went for the view!