Riverside Canoe & Tube Rental
2966 Garvey Bridge Rd., Crumpler, NC 28617
336-982-9439
http://www.riversidecanoeing.com/
2966 Garvey Bridge Rd., Crumpler, NC 28617
336-982-9439
http://www.riversidecanoeing.com/
Last week, my family and I were treated to a perfect summer getaway in Northeastern Ashe County. It was a 2 hour drive from Hickory to Crumpler, NC and we arrived mid-afternoon at Riverside Canoe, a full service outfitter located on the banks of the South Fork of the New River. After cooling off with a splash in the river, we got settled in our camping cabin. We chose Cabin 2, a rustic but very quaint one-room cabin with a double-bed, a 1 person platform for a pad, and a loft. The view from the hillside cabin was spectacular. We had brought our bikes and were planning on heading out for a ride along the gravel Garvey Bridge Rd but we saw clouds start rolling in and it was time to eat anyway. So we lit the charcoal grill next to our cabin and cooked our dinner just before the rain started. We were glad to have a roof over the picnic table so the rain didn’t bother us while we ate; in fact, it was an enjoyable sound of raindrops hitting the metal roof. It didn’t take long for the rain to pass and by then, the sun was setting and my husband prepared a campfire in the firepit. We made s’mores for dessert before turning in for the night.
Refreshed after a good night’s sleep, we started the next day with our rescheduled bike ride. Garvey Bridge Road runs south from Riverside Canoe for approximately 3 miles parallel to the New River. It is mostly flat on a gravel road with little traffic on the weekdays, thus perfect for a family ride with our 7 year old who just recently learned to ride without training wheels. After we returned to the outfitter, we were ready to cool off in the river and set out on the 4 hour tubing trip. My husband rented a sit-in kayak and my daughter and I chose to tube, and we were transported to the launch area. The New River, believed to be the second oldest river in the world, is tranquil for a lazy float while enjoying the beautiful scenery that surrounds. The sound of the river flowing by and birds singing made for a relaxing atmosphere while we cruised down the river. With the river up from recent rains, we made it back in just over 3 hours, with staff awaiting our arrival to help us out of the water. We took advantage of the shower in the bathrooms to clean up before departing for a late lunch at nearby Shatley Springs.
Riverside Canoe is open 8am-5:30pm 7 days a week from May 1st through October 31st. Reservations are not required but strongly suggested during the busy months of June, July and August, especially on weekends. Camping cabins are available all season (April - October) and sometimes in March, November and December weather permitting. There are three cabins in all: two one-room, rustic cabins with no electricity or plumbing like the Cabin 2 that we rented, and one two-room cabin with a full bed and a futon that converts to a full bed, electricity, a refrigerator and ceiling fans. Clean bathrooms with a shower are located about 75 feet from the cabins.
Choose a short tubing trip (2 hours) or long trip (4 hours) in either a standard tube or a luxury tube, with the option of renting a cooler tube to carry your own cooler. Riverside also offers 2, 4, 6, or 8 hour canoe or kayak trips, with overnight trips available as well. Guided trips, wine tours and full moon floats are also offered.
Overall, we were very impressed with the facilities and equipment at Riverside Canoe. The staff was extremely nice and helpful as well. The area was beautiful and our short getaway was relaxing enough to recharge our batteries as if we’d been on a longer vacation. We are grateful to the owners for a fantastic experience and look forward to returning in the near future. We highly recommend you check them out for a day-trip or short getaway next chance you get!
Refreshed after a good night’s sleep, we started the next day with our rescheduled bike ride. Garvey Bridge Road runs south from Riverside Canoe for approximately 3 miles parallel to the New River. It is mostly flat on a gravel road with little traffic on the weekdays, thus perfect for a family ride with our 7 year old who just recently learned to ride without training wheels. After we returned to the outfitter, we were ready to cool off in the river and set out on the 4 hour tubing trip. My husband rented a sit-in kayak and my daughter and I chose to tube, and we were transported to the launch area. The New River, believed to be the second oldest river in the world, is tranquil for a lazy float while enjoying the beautiful scenery that surrounds. The sound of the river flowing by and birds singing made for a relaxing atmosphere while we cruised down the river. With the river up from recent rains, we made it back in just over 3 hours, with staff awaiting our arrival to help us out of the water. We took advantage of the shower in the bathrooms to clean up before departing for a late lunch at nearby Shatley Springs.
Riverside Canoe is open 8am-5:30pm 7 days a week from May 1st through October 31st. Reservations are not required but strongly suggested during the busy months of June, July and August, especially on weekends. Camping cabins are available all season (April - October) and sometimes in March, November and December weather permitting. There are three cabins in all: two one-room, rustic cabins with no electricity or plumbing like the Cabin 2 that we rented, and one two-room cabin with a full bed and a futon that converts to a full bed, electricity, a refrigerator and ceiling fans. Clean bathrooms with a shower are located about 75 feet from the cabins.
Choose a short tubing trip (2 hours) or long trip (4 hours) in either a standard tube or a luxury tube, with the option of renting a cooler tube to carry your own cooler. Riverside also offers 2, 4, 6, or 8 hour canoe or kayak trips, with overnight trips available as well. Guided trips, wine tours and full moon floats are also offered.
Overall, we were very impressed with the facilities and equipment at Riverside Canoe. The staff was extremely nice and helpful as well. The area was beautiful and our short getaway was relaxing enough to recharge our batteries as if we’d been on a longer vacation. We are grateful to the owners for a fantastic experience and look forward to returning in the near future. We highly recommend you check them out for a day-trip or short getaway next chance you get!
