In 1750, the New River Valley was the "West". Thousands of land and fortune seekers would follow the creeks and springs from the east, ford the River and follow the sun.

The River collects its headwaters from the streams and creeks in the high Blue Ridge elevations of Ashe and Alleghaney Counties, NC. After wandering easterly through these counties, it starts its northern course and enters Virginia in Grayson County, southeast of Mouth Of Wilson. After a short easterly course by the mountains in Grayson County, it reenters NC for a short distance and then proceeds north near Independence, VA.

The Virginia passage transverses Grayson, Carroll, Wythe, Pulaski, Montgomery, and Giles Counties before entering West Virginia near Glen Lyn, VA. This journey, at near 2000 feet of elevation, cuts in and around the regions mountains, collecting their tributary headwaters and creeks, passing by occasional flatlands and bottoms.

This section of the river shown in this picture is a nice gentle section with occasional rocks that can easily be canoed by families. Beautiful scenery - well worth a 5 or 10 mile canoe trip.