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NEW ADVENTURES
on the Dan River by Sam Jackson photos courtesy of Dan River Basin Association
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) is about to make the adventure even more fun.
trail was created to be an entryway for dedicated paddlers to explore not only the Dan River region, but the state parks as well.
DRBA and the North Carolina State Parks System are partnering up to add new access points to the Dan River as the new Dan River State Trail is incorporated into the State Parks System.
“The Dan River attracts a large amount of people,” said Anna Wheeler, North Carolina Programs Coordinator for DRBA. “We have tubers who come out, whitewater kayakers, and, of course, fishermen. Water access helps them as well.”
First authorized in June 2021, the Dan River State Trail encompasses the 90mile section of the Dan River that rolls through North Carolina. The 214-milelong river crosses the Virginia/North Carolina border eight times as it snakes through the area, and the new paddle 8
The trail will cover the length of the river in North Carolina, from Rockingham to Surry counties. Many portions of the river along this route already have access points, but some need to be repaired and others will be created. According to the
ROC K I NG HAMMAGAZI NE. COM • R OCKI NGHAM COU NTY, NC
text of North Carolina House Bill 360, access points can be added on state or public lands or on private property, although the owner “shall govern the use of the property.” Also, the state may receive donations or purchase parcels of land to add the access points, the bill text states. Wheeler said the plan is for each access point to be at least a day’s journey apart. Continued to Page 10
