Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Anyone boating on the upper Rappahannock

Posted by NJjohnmontauk17 on 08/09/11 - 11:07 AM
#1

I've seen on several Chesapeake Water trail websites that the upper Rappahannock, approx the Leedstown Area, is a really nice boating trip.
Does anyone have experience there? Am considering a October timeframe.

Posted by NJjohnmontauk17 on 05/29/12 - 6:48 PM
#2

This past Saturday (Memorial Weekend) we trailered the Montauk to Tappahannock, Virginia, and put in to the Rappahannock River at the June Parker Marina, which has a ramp ($10) and charts for ($6). Though its a dirt parking lot, there is plenty of room to park & very friendly owners.. The Rappahannock is navigable about 90 miles from the Chesapeake to Fredericksburg, VA. We stayed in Fredericksburg which has a nice historic downtown area with good restaurants, which pleases the crew.

We ran up the river about 22 miles to Horsehead Cliffs and back over the course of 3 hours. The river is pretty deep in the center channel though shallows rapidly near the shore. For a few miles along Fones Cliffs and Horse Heads, there are cliffs that rise a good 100-150' above you on the north shore while the south shore is marsh and woodlands. The whole area is rural, with only a few homes & summer cottages here & there. I swear there were some stretches that we didn't have another boat near us for miles at a time.

If you are looking for an out of the crowd, protected cruising option, this is a good one.