River Trips Begin March 15th — Book Your Watercraft Today!

Shenandoah River State Park to Front Royal Outdoors

Half Day State Park #3

This 8-mile trip from Shenandoah River State Park to Front Royal Outdoors is ideal for those looking for a little more adventure in their half-day float. Trip SP3 offers 3 to 4 hours of paddling through beautiful scenery, a Class II rapid at Karo and quiet stretches perfect for spotting wildlife or enjoying a swim. Great fishing.

This route is well-suited for canoes & kayaks, and is best enjoyed when the river is flowing above 1.8 feet on the Front Royal gauge. Whether you’re looking to relax or paddle at a steady pace, this trip delivers an unforgettable experience on the water through some of the Shenandoah’s most scenic riverbanks.

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Choose the right vessel for your trip:

  • Canoe – $69
  • Kayak – $50/$69 (solo/tandem)
  • Raft – $130/$192 (4-person/6-person)
  • Fishing Kayak – $68

Please arrive 30 minutes early for your reservations or guided tour. Late arrivals risk delayed shuttle service.

The Key Details

What’s Included

  • The Vessel of your choice [Choose at checkout]
  • Life Jackets (PFDs) & Paddles
  • Safety Briefing & River Map
  • Shuttle Service to the launch site

Route Details

  • Start at Mile Marker #32: Shenandoah River State Park.
  • Mile #33 – 34: Meandering bends through wooded riverbanks; occasional riffles add fun.
  • Mile #34 – 36: McCoys Ford section, Wide and shallow for 2 miles. Lots of ledges to fish. High cliff on the right just before mile 37.
  • Mile #37 – Karo Rapid (Class II): Follow the fastest moving water and wear your PFD. Karo Landing is on the right.
  • Mile #38: Island in the middle of the river. Nice spot to stop for lunch or to take a break.
  • Mile #39: Small island just right of the center of the river. Shallows just past the island.
  • End at Mile Marker #40: Front Royal Outdoors landing on river right.

Location

All trips take place on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, suitable for all experience levels. Come to our office at 8567 Jackson Hwy, Front Royal, VA to check in 30 minutes before your trip

Cancelation Policy

We operate rain or shine! No refunds due to inclement weather on the day of your trip. Reservations cancelled 72 hours prior receive full refund, inside 72 hours receive 50% refund and cancellations on the day of the trip receive no refund.

If it is raining here on the day of your trip, you have three options:

  • Since we operate rain or shine, you can come on out and take your trip.
  • You may call and reschedule your trip to any future date with availability. Most call the day of your trip.
  • If it is raining here, we can issue store credit that you can use for trips any time in the future. No expiration on the store credit.

Age & Rider Requirements

Our age policy varies by watercraft, and there are no exceptions.

  • Rafts – Minimum age of 4+ with at least 2 adults in the same raft
  • Tubes, Kayaks, Canoes & Fishing Kayaks – Minimum age of 5+
  • SUPs – Minimum age of 5+. Suggested age 12+.

For a safe and fun experience, please ensure all participants meet the minimum age requirements for their chosen vessel!

All guests must wear either shoes, water shoes, or sandals with a heel strap. We do not allow flip-flops to be worn on any river trips.

The River

Shenandoah River State Park offers adventure on and off the river, providing public access to the South Fork of the Shenandoah River and the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge and Massanutten mountain area. Spend time hiking, biking, enjoying a riverside picnic, and swimming. The Park has camping, cabins, picnic areas, and a boat landing to make accessing the Shenandoah easy. Front Royal Outdoors offers many trips that either start in, end at, or camp in the State Park.

Shenandoah River State Park offers amazing views of the river, abundant wildlife, and great fishing. Three different camping areas, cabins, and yurts add to your experience at the park.

The park features over 18 trails for all levels of hiking abilities, from easy level hikes to more intense hikes with great views of the river valley and mountains.

For ease of accessing the river, the park offers a nice boat launch and a day use area complete with shelters, picnic tables, and grills.

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Tour Video

Additional Information

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Our age policy varies by watercraft and there are no exceptions.

  • Rafts – Minimum age of four years old in rafts with at least 2 adults.
  • Tubes – Minimum age of five years old in tubes.
  • Kayaks – Minimum age of five years old in kayaks.
  • Canoes – Minimum age of five years old in canoes.
  • SUPs – Minimum age of five on stand-up paddleboards, recommended minimum age of 12.
  • Fishing Kayaks – Minimum age of five years old in fishing kayaks.

All participants will be required to read and sign our liability waiver and assumption of risk form. All participants under the age of eighteen must have a parent or guardian sign the liability waiver and assumption of risk form.

All of our trips float the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, a great river for all experience levels. We are located at 8567 Stonewall Jackson Hwy, Front Royal, VA 22630. A map to our headquarters is available on our directions page. Please come to our office to participate in any river activity. All of our trips include free shuttle service to and from the river. Once you arrive at our office, transportation of guests and equipment to the river is provided. We do have parking on the main office property for all guests taking our trips. Parking is limited, therefore we recommend arriving early and carpooling as much as possible. Parking is not available for those not taking our trips. We also offer maps of the North Section (Bentonville to Front Royal) and the South Section (Luray to Bentonville).

There are no lifeguards or safety personnel on the river. You are responsible for yourself and the group that you brought with you.

All guests must wear either shoes, water shoes or sandals with a heel strap. We do not allow flip-flops to be worn on any river trip.

For your protection, three is the maximum number of people per canoe (but two is recommended), one person per solo kayak, two people per tandem kayak, one person per tube, up to four people in 4-man rafts and up to six people in 6-man rafts.

Our trip departure times are recommendations as to when you should arrive for your trip. Trips depart on a first come first serve basis and you do not need to notify us that you are running a few minutes late, as long as you arrive before the final shuttle of the day for your selected trip. As a general rule, please try not to be more than 15 minutes later than your selected arrival time. There are no refunds for missing the final shuttle for your selected trip. Please closely review the duration of your trip selection and our hours of operation in order to plan ahead.

Alcohol and watersports do not mix. Please refrain from bringing alcohol on any river trip. Anyone under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol is subject to arrest by state and local authorities.

Please arrive 30 minutes early for your reservations or guided tour. Late arrivals risk delayed shuttle service.

  • Weather forecast
  • River level
  • River temperature
  • Paddling conditions
  • Watercraft return time

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