New, Virginia, US

04. McCoy Falls to Eggleston (McCoy Falls)

McCoy

McCoy
Photo of Dieter by Jason Bordwine taken 05/22/04 @ ~3.5 ft

Gauge Information

River Description

The put-in at McCoy Falls (technically "Big Falls" at McCoy) was the site of the New River Rodeo for years. This popular event drew quite a crowd of competitors, vendors, and spectators. When the land around the access area changed hands the new landowner didn't want anything to do with the event and it had to be discontinued. The loss of this event was quite a blow to the VA paddling community, even more so because a replacment venue has never been found.

Although this is the put-in for a beginner and fisherman float (McCoy to Eggleston) the real story for whitewater paddlers here is Park-n-Play. Just 15 minutes from Blacksburg/VA Tech and a short drive from the rest of the New River Valley, this spot provides great play when the water is over 3 feet.

This is also very popular tubing location with a company located half a mile upstream renting tubes to every drunken college kid in the state. Luckily (or unluckily, as the case may be) most of the time when it is warm enough to tube the water isn't high enough to bring out the boaters (the exception being the month of May). However, the perks of bikini-clad (some more clad than others) college girls sunbathing while you're boating cannot be overstated.