Roanoke River Blueway

PLAY Roanoke will be showcasing current designs for the planned In-River Kayak Park at Wasena Park tomorrow night at 5:30pm.

Proposed Design for In-River Park Focuses on Community Enjoyment and River Access - Roanoke Parks And Recreation Roanoke Parks and Recreation invites residents to view in progress designs for the City’s future in-river park and join for a Community Meeting on August

Please vote!

Voting is currently open for the USA TODAY 10Best contest for Best Urban Kayaking Spot for 2023 and the Roanoke River in Virginia's Blue Ridge is one of the nominees.

You can vote daily through February 6 so head to the link and cast a vote to help show your support.

It'd be awesome to see the Roanoke River win this award for the 2nd consecutive year!

Vote: http://bit.ly/3pb4KTZ

Roanoke Outside | PLAY Roanoke | Roanoke River Blueway

Vote for Roanoke River as 2023's Best Urban Kayaking Spot Roanoke River: Vote for your favorite urban kayaking spot!!

If you've been by Rotary Park in Salem you may have seen some construction! This work is to facilitate the eventual completion of this section of the Roanoke River Greenway. City of Salem staff is asking that the public use the entrance closer to Apperson at this time, and it's expected that all work in the park should be completed around March 2023. Thanks for your patience!

A New Kayak Course in Roanoke Virginia - What It Takes Season 4 Episode 2 What it Takes to Make Southwest Virginia a Mecca for Paddlers - Season 4 Episode 2. Pete Eshelman of the Roanoke Regional Partnership and Roanoke Outside Fo...

Check out this lovely mural at the access under the 13th Street bridge! Send us your photos if you get out on the Blueway this Labor Day weekend!

Good news! The Blue Ridge Parkway bridge over the Roanoke River is open.

Blue Ridge Parkway Reopens Bridge Over Roanoke River The section of the Blue Ridge Parkway from Route 24 in Vinton to the Explore Park has reopened. That stretch was originally closed in early 2021 in order to per

Look at these great pictures from Floatilla this year!

We hope you enjoy these photos of the 2022 Floatilla to Starr-Hill-A event that took place Sunday, July 24. It was a group float along the Roanoke River Blueway from Roanoke Mountain Adventures to Starr Hill Pilot Brewery & Side Stage.

Shoutout to RMA, Starr Hill, PLAY Roanoke, and Roanoke Outside for organizing and hosting such an awesome annual event in Virginia's Blue Ridge!

Photos by Jennifer Griffin | Visit VBR.

Hey folks! If you haven't seen it, Roanoke Stormwater, PLAY Roanoke and Roanoke Mountain Adventures are partnering on a Trash for T-shirt program! It's a simple process: fill out a form, collect trash, provide proof, get T-shirt! Contact the City of Roanoke or RMA for more information.

We're excited to see this effort to clean up our beloved Blueway!

The barrier above the Niagara Dam has been repaired! So if you're looking to add that portage to your weekend route, you're good to go. As always please exercise caution and be respectful when traveling through Appalachian's dam site.

It's heating up outside and the river is looking awfully enticing. What are you looking forward to doing on the Roanoke River Blueway this summer?

EDIT:The barrier has been repaired! Thanks everyone!

If you're out paddling the Blueway this week, please avoid attempting to portage the Niagara Dam. Per AEP, the barrier which keeps boaters at a safe distance from the dam has been broken by flood debris, and they are unsure when the barrier will be able to be replaced. Boaters can take out at Tinker Creek in Vinton. We will post when we know more.
https://www.altavistajournal.com/news/local/article_b84cd1de-dbb7-11ec-81b8-8395133112e5.html

Danger at Niagara Dam on Roanoke River, warns Appalachian Power Appalachian Power is warning all boaters to stay clear of Niagara Dam on the Roanoke River in Vinton. Debris brought on by the current heavy rains broke the floating boat

Best Urban Kayaking Spot Winners (2022) | USA TODAY 10Best The winners for Best Urban Kayaking Spot are in! Click to see the winners for Best Urban Kayaking Spot , chosen by the readers of 10Best and USA TODAY.

We love to see it!

Best Urban Kayaking Spot Winners (2022) | USA TODAY 10Best The winners for Best Urban Kayaking Spot are in! Click to see the winners for Best Urban Kayaking Spot , chosen by the readers of 10Best and USA TODAY.

Last week we got an exciting visit from our Senator! Senator Warner came down to the Smith Park Low Water Bridge to talk about potential new infrastructure funding from the federal government. A project which might be eligible for that future funding is the replacement of Smith Park Low Water Bridge with a bridge that floods less often and which paddlers might be able to pass under instead of portage. We got this great shot of a fisherman showing off his catch!

It has been a bit quiet around here, but Regional Commission staff will be doing a presentation at Earth Day Roanoke this year in Grandin Village at 2:30 featuring the Blueway! Come get a brochure and learn about all the water programs we manage.

Vote - Roanoke River - Best Urban Kayaking Spot Nominee: 2022 10Best Readers' Choice Travel Awards Roanoke River: Vote for your favorite urban kayaking spot!

Great news for the Blueway and the City of Roanoke!

Four projects selected for Trail Access Grants in Virginia The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation