Scouting Goose Creek...Again...
- The Creek Paddler
- Jul 19, 2018
- 4 min read
In the previous post, I had just begun scouting Goose Creek in Loudoun County, Virginia and set out to visit several locations to assess the feasibility of putting-in or taking-out a kayak. Those locations were:
Evergreen Mills Rd & Watson Rd (two sites, same location)
Rt 626 Bridge (Foxcroft Rd)
The Evergreen Mills and Watson Rd sites has access though it was along steep, potentially long and rocky trails. The Watson Rd site is more conducive to larger kayaks though it's still difficult. Goose Creek Stone Bridge provides no access and the Rt 626 recon had been deferred.
Over the next week or so, there would be 3 or 4 follow-up recon missions to scout the following locations:
Rt 624 bridge (Crenshaw Rd)
Rt 611 (St Louis Rd)
Rt 626 (Foxcroft Rd)
Rt 734 (Snickersville Turnpike)
US Highway 15 (John Madison Hwy)
Carts, straps, cable, and/or ropes are likely to come in handy hoisting kayaks up and down the trails of this creek and should be among the equipment taken. The Middleburg Gage provides river level observations.
Delaplane/Rt 17/Rt 623
This advisory indicates there is a put-in at Delaplane though it's exact location is neither identified nor described. Upon visiting the location, it was noted there is ample parking along the shoulders of Rt 712 (Delaplane Grade Rd) near the Delaplane Store and Antique Center. There is a civil war marker here as well.
Across the adjacent field to the south is the closest creek access. The grass was fairly thick in the field, but not so tall as to prevent crossing it at the time. A visible trail in the grass lead to the creek-side (pictured) where there was a cobble beach to put-in at.
The Middleburg Gage was at 2.78' and, while there is no reference to compare to currently, the water level here was low and seemed likely to provide plenty of opportunity for light portaging over cobble or sandbars.
Rt 713 (Maidstone Rd) near Boiling Branch
Rt 713 in the vicinity of Boiling Branch was checked due to it's proximity to Goose Creek, but there is no public access at this location.
Rt 710 (Rectortown Rd)
There is no public access to Goose Creek here.
Oak Spring Rd
Oak Spring Rd was noticed on the initial recon trip, but ultimately not scouted primarily because it appears to be a private drive. This time it was re-assessed. There are signs at both ends of the road and a gate at one end of the road that make it apparent it's a private drive. There is no public access here.
Rt 624 bridge (Crenshaw Rd)
Rt 624 runs north-south on the south side of Rt 50. Starting out as asphalt, it becomes gravel about a mile down the road. The Paddler's Access Network describes access to this location as being downstream right bank on Kenyon Rd, which is contrary to my observations. Kenyon Rd didn't exist. The available parking, dirt shoulders on the roadside on the north side of the bridge (pictured), is obviously well used and likely becomes a mud pit in rain. No evidence of barbed-wire or trespass signs were located. An individual I'd spoken with earlier mentioned this location is well used by local residents.
The cattle gates alluded to in the PAN advisory are no longer impenetrable. Paddlers coming from upstream may paddle under the bridge, but be aware of obstructions particularly at the bridge abutments. Remnants of the gates do hang from above. Be sure not to knock yourself out if you happen to be tall enough.
Rt 611 (St Louis Rd)
There is no public access at Rt 611, St Louis Rd.
Rt 626 (Foxcroft Rd)
Parking is available for about 3 vehicles on the northbound side next to the creek. Portaging here is less work than Rt 734. The banks are much like Rt 734: steep, gravelly, and rocky. Though here, they're only 10 - 20'. Manageable with 2 or more paddlers and gear to assist in moving kayaks. The area seems often used as a vehicle was already parked and the owners were swimming in the creek when I pulled up. Despite some of the pit-in/take-out challenges with a 14' kayak, the experience of paddling on the creek is well worth it said one of the residents. They also described the Rt 624 bridge upstream of Rt 50 as being a good alternate.
Rt 734 (Snickersville Turnpike)
Parking for a handful of vehicles is available on the north side of the creek on the southbound side of the roadway. A trail southward leads to the creek. A steep rocky trail descends approximately 20 - 25' to a suitable put-in/take-out points. Notice it doesn't say "nice"? It's rocky. There's large and loose rocks in the trails and banks of this creek. Be careful traversing them.
A local resident advised here that ideal paddling conditions are at 3' or higher on the Middleburg gage.
US Highway 15 (John Madison Highway)
Rt 15 was described by a couple local residents as a location that had been used in the past. The related PAN advisory describes access as being located on the northbound side of the roadway and -- while there is a small shoulder here and a small, almost overgrown path on the opposite side of the guardrail -- looks like a terrible location to park.
On the other side of the bridge, however, was parking for about 4 vehicles on the southbound side. There are two narrow paths to the creek here. The northern path has a long trail with a steep descent to the the rocks while the south is shorter with a steep descent to a suitable put-in on a beach.
Summary
This post identifies 11 sites, 5 of which were found to be in reasonably usable state. The upper creek in Delaplane offers a pretty usable location minus the 100yd trek across the field in tall grass. The Rt 626 bridge with parking for 3 - 4 vehicles on the roadside and the Rt 624 bridge with the parking along the bridge flanks. Rt 734, while access was available, is a difficult site due to the steep, rocky descent to the water. This pales in comparison to Evergreen Mills and Watson Rd though where the trails descent is about 20 - 25'.
Published: July 19, 2018
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