July FSO on Philpott Lake
July 7, 2018
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Plan to relax on a hot summer day with the Dan River Basin Association (DRBA), which is hosting its First Saturday Outing on July 7 at beautiful Philpott Lake in Virginia. Launching at 10:00 a.m. at Jamison Mill Park, 2000 Jamison Mill Road, Henry, VA (GPS 36.8497, -80.0643), participants will paddle out and back for a total distance of about 3.5 miles.
Philpott Lake is a blue gem, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge and surrounded by pristine, forested shoreline and 7,000 acres of mostly unspoiled wilderness.
Jamison Mill Park is named for the mill built by Thomas F. Jamison in the 1880s and operated until 1949 when it was abandoned for the new lake. The park is one of the sites on the Philpott Blueway, an easily accessible system of water trails stretching over 25 miles throughout the lake. A brochure about the trail is at http://www.danriver.org/content/danriver/uploads/PDF/philpottbluewaybrochure.pdf.
Coordinator for the paddle is Robin Davis, DRBA board member and avid paddler. According to Davis, “Jamison Mill Park was closed for several years and reopened in 2017 under the care of the Franklin County Parks and Recreation Department. Philpott Lake covers 3,000 acres with miles of beautiful shoreline. The clean and clear water along the shores and coves make this an excellent choice for beginning paddlers as well as those looking for a relaxing day on the water.”
As a frequent kayaker on the lake, Davis adds, “Philpott Lake has 100 miles of shore for you to explore. It was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and opened in 1953. If you enjoy your time there, you may also want return to take advantage of one of the eight campgrounds or nine boat launches."
The Dan River Basin Association has a unique partnership with the USACE at Philpott Lake. Under a cooperative agreement, touted as a national model, DRBA works to increase trails and recreational opportunities at the lake, which straddles Patrick, Henry, and Franklin counties. In 2011 the South Atlantic Division of USACE recognized the DRBA-USACE partnership with its first USACE Excellence in Partnership Award.
Participants in the outing are asked to dress in layers of quick-drying fabric, wear hat and sun protection, be prepared to get wet, and provide boat, paddles, life jacket for each boater, lunch and water. All participants are asked to sign a waiver before launching.
IMPORTANT NOTE: As with all outdoor events, occasionally weather conditions result in the need to cancel the event with very short notice. If cancellation is necessary, the announcement is posted by 8:00 am on Saturday at www.danriver.org (under the calendar event for the FSO), on DRBA’s Facebook page, and on Twitter.
DIRECTIONS: To reach Jamison Mill Park from US-220, turn left (west) onto Oak Level Road (VA- 674). Drive 1.5 miles, and turn right onto Philpott Drive, then immediately right onto Original Henry Road (VA-606). Drive 3.5 miles, and continue onto Henry Fork Road to reach Henry Road (VA-605). Turn left onto Henry Road and drive 4.3 miles. Turn left onto Nicholas Creek Road (VA-778). Drive 1.6 miles to Jamison Mill Road (VA-780). Turn left, and drive 0.3 miles to the put-in.
From Stuart, drive north on US-58. Turn right onto VA-8 for 4.0 miles. Turn right onto VA-57 East (Fairystone Park Hwy) for 7.9 miles. Turn left onto Fairystone Lake Drive (VA-346) and drive 0.5 mile. Turn left onto Fairystone Farm Lane for 0.1 mile. Continue onto Union Bridge Road (VA-623), and drive 4.2 miles. Turn left onto Fairystone Park Road (VA-623) and drive 4.2 miles. Turn right onto Henry Road (VA-605) and drive 0.8 mile. Turn right onto Jamison Mill Road (VA-780). Drive 2.2 miles to the put-in.
Outings and meetings of the Dan River Basin Association are open to the public without charge.
For more information about the outing, contact trip coordinator Robin Davis, robindavis0724@gmail.com, 540-420-8028.
