Life Outside Fall 2018 - 18

BY WATER
KAYAKING
What you need:

* Kayak (rentals are available at several area
outdoors businesses)
* Paddle
* Life jacket
* Water shoes or shoes with a heel strap
* Water
* Non-cotton clothing
* First aid kit
* Dry bag
* Food
Where to go:

* Carvins Cove (Visit westernvawater.org for boating
regulations)
* Smith Mountain Lake
* Claytor Lake
* Lake Moomaw
* Roanoke River (check water levels and conditions
at roanokeriverblueway.org)
* James River
* New River

PADDLEBOARDING
(SUP)

TIPS

What you need:

* Beginners should choose a calm
body of water.
* Know and understand water
level conditions before kayaking.
Consult with local businesses that
rent kayaks and offer kayaking
trips, such as Twin River Outfitters
in Buchanan, Tangent Outfitters
in Pembroke, or Back Country Ski
& Sport in Salem.
* Take a lesson taught by an
American Canoe Association
certified instructor.
* Sit upright in the kayak, for
balance and power.
* Don't kayak alone.

Roanoke River Greenway
- The main artery of the
entire greenway system,
this 13.6-mile asphalt path
begins on Wise Avenue in
Southeast Roanoke and
ends at Riverside Drive in
Salem. Greenway users can
hop onto it at a variety of

Wolf Creek Greenway - The
2-mile greenway, with a
cinder and gravel surface,
travels through Vinton,
past park fields, farms, and
wooded areas.

Lick Run Greenway - The
paved path begins in
downtown Roanoke and
travels north for 4.2 miles to
the Valley View Mall area.

Greenfield Recreation Trail
- The 125-acre Greenfield

Fall 2018 \\ LifeOutside Magazine

Where to go:

*
*
*
*
*
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Carvins Cove
Philpott Lake
Smith Mountain Lake
Claytor Lake
Lake Moomaw
Roanoke River, by way of Explore Park (check
water levels and conditions for the Roanoke
River at www.roanokeriverblueway.org)

Sources: Mary Lou Legg, SUP instructor with
Roanoke Mountain Adventures; Kat Andrew,
outdoor recreation coordinator for the City of
Roanoke's Department of Parks and Recreation

* Know what to expect before you set off on
a paddling adventure. Check the weather,
bring the right gear, tell a friend where
you are going and when you plan to come
back and don't overestimate your abilities.
* Take a "How To" class through a local

SLOW, EASY, FLAT: EASY BIKE RIDES
AROUND THE ROANOKE VALLEY
trailheads throughout the
area. There are plenty of
water fountains, restrooms
and restaurants along the
way.

Paddleboard
Life jacket
Paddle
Leash

TIPS

Source: Renee Powers, trails and greenways supervisor for the City of Roanoke's Department of Parks
and Recreation; REI

Looking for a leisurely bike
route in the Roanoke Valley
and surrounding areas?
Our numerous greenways
and river paths meander
around and through cities,
parks, farms and bodies of
water. Here are a few, as,
recommended by outdoors
and travel organizations in
the Roanoke Valley.

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*
*
*

Recreation Park features
seven miles of trails. The
Greenfield Recreation Trail,
one of four trails, circles the
park's perimeter for four
miles. And you can build in
a visit to the Ballast Point
Brewery.
New River Trail - If you're
up for exploring about
an hour away, the 57mile New River Trail near
Draper, Virginia, follows an
abandoned railroad and
parallels the scenic New
River. Connect with it at a
variety of access points in
Southwest Virginia.

-JKB

FAMILY-FRIENDLY
EASY, EVERYBODYCAN-DO HIKES IN THE
ROANOKE VALLEY
Hiking is a great way to
spend quality family time
outdoors, particularly in
the fall when leaf color
is at its peak. There are a
number of hiking spots in
the Roanoke Valley suitable
for family members of
all ages, including young
children. Here are some

http://www.westernvawater.org http://www.roanokeriverblueway.org http://www.roanokeriverblueway.org

Life Outside Fall 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Life Outside Fall 2018