Rappahannock,

2. Remington (Route 15/29) to Kellys Ford

Gauge Information

Name	Range	Difficulty	Updated	Level
RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER AT REMINGTON, VA
usgs-01664000	3.70 - 6.50 ft	III+	01h30m	8.73 ft (rc= 1.7 )
	At high levels, the rapids become big wave trains.

River Description

This one is fire and ice. It starts with 3 miles of moving flatwater through pastoral countryside, then ends with just over a mile of Class II+ whitewater at the end.

The putin is at the Business 15/29 bridge at the Remington gauge, .5 miles west of Remington and well south of the new 15/29 bridge. The first minor rapid, Railroad Rapids, can be seen 150 yards downstream. The next three miles are flat but pretty, with 10 ft banks shielding you from the surrounding farmland. On my last trip here I saw herons, turtles and a bald eagle.

The action starts after a gas pipeline crosses the river. There is a very small drop here, and vegetation is partially cleared on both banks. After a minor rock garden, you will approach Sandy Beach Rapids, the largest rapid (Class II+) on this section of the river. This rapid can be bank scouted on the right. The actual sandy beach is posted and located below the rapid on river left.

You then pass through a succession of rock gardens as well as three more Class II rapids. As you go through the last one, the Kellys Ford bridge swings into view. Take out on river right at the public boat launch parking lot. The adventurous can run the boat launch itself, a Class II move.

Both the putin and takeout were the scenes of minor Civil War skirmishes. The Rappahannock served as a de facto border between the North and South during the war, and springtime flooding of the river complicated many a Northern general's plans.

*An Alternative put-in exists 0.85 miles north of the take-out, on Kelly's Ford Road at the Wildlife Management Access.

This access involves a 0.45 mile walk down a gravel road, then take a left at the civil war monument and follow a 200 yard faint trail system down to the river. This will put you on river right above Sandy Beach Rapid

*Another alternative put-in exists - 0.48 miles north of the put in on Summerduck road - at the Handi-cap Hunting Access. This involves a 0.25 mile hike on winding trails down to the river. This puts you at the river below Sandy Beach rapid, but a 0.25 hike/attain up the river will get you to Sandy Beach Rapid. River left, at and for a bit below Sandy beach, is private property, so ferry across to the Wildlife Management and walk if you don't want to attain.