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Welcome to Sweetwater!
Jan and I would like to take the opportunity to cordially welcome you and your guests to our private little retreat at Sweetwater Vacation Properties, #5 Lorelei Lane, Luray, Virginia. We hope to provide you with a very enjoyable experience and an opportunity to make many fond memories during you stay. Hopefully, this information will help to make your experience more enjoyable and open up some insights that you would not normally be exposed to.
To me, it is the best activities the area has to offer. If you like to fish for smallmouth bass then you have come to the right place. The river can be waded in most places, but beware, there are some very deep holes in spots. We are on “Mile 12” on the above map. In front of the RV sites and the cottage, it will not get any deeper than 5 feet with most places waist deep (normal flow rate). The bass love the deeper holes (water) and hold just below the ripples where there are deep troths and the water is oxygenated with food constantly being churned up.
River shoes that protect the toes are a must!! Old sneakers or felt sole wading boots really help you walk the river. Bring a hat and polarized sunglasses to help you see through the water. I also use a wading stick or fishing tube since I am an “Old Fart.” If you are like me and practice catch and release, please flatten the barbs on all hooks so you don’t tear up the mouths of the fish and make hook extraction easy. There are signs along the river that warn of the usual hazards of eating fish, however, the fish are eatable and a meal or two from your fresh catch will not do you any harm. Kayak and Canoes (PVC Type) are great for floating the river and there are numerous access points along 26 miles of river reference the map above.
Recommended Fishing Rigs:
Bass:
Use with Zoom 6” or 8” watermelon lizard with a chartreuse tail with a “bait casting” type rod and reel Good
floating bass rig for catfish. Use with Night crawlers, Crayfish, or Hellgrammites that you can find under the rocks in the river. Also, very effective when used with small (3-4 inch) river chub you can catch with a cast net Bass and Brim (below): This specific lure (Roostertail) between 1/8 to ¼ oz can be bought at Walmart used with spinning rod and reel
Old Faithful!!! Traditional 3-way rig for catfish baited with Nightcrawlers, chicken livers or other stink baits.
The graphic below will give you an Idea of the section of the river we use at the Cottage and RV Sites. We are located at Mile 12 on the map. There is 20 miles of access on our side of the river starting at Bixler’s Bridge with multiple access points on our side of the river. Of particular note, there is access points at mile 11 (up-river) and Mile 13 (down-river) from the cottage for short floats. Kayaks, tubes and canoes are great for floating the river, with tubes for short floats and kayaks and canoes for longer trips.
The George Washington National Forrest adjoins the property. Hunting on the GW is governed by the VA state regulations. To my knowledge, there are no special stamps required, but I do purchase a National Forrest Stamp each year — figure I can afford the contribution. There are deer, bear, turkey, squirrel and grouse, and there are ducks and geese on the river. Because it is a National Forrest, there is a fair amount of hunting pressure, but I still enjoy getting out in the woods. If you get to know the area really well, that increases your chances of bagging something.
Virginia State Hunting and Fishing Licenses are required may be obtained from the
following website: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/licenses
This website is a good reference to hiking trails in VA.
http://www.trails.com/stateactivity.aspx?area=10077
Unfortunately, the trails around our area are not popular enough to hit any of the listings on this website, however, all is not lost! There will be hikes available to you that go from very easy to challenging and I will list them as follows:
Easy: The dirt road getting to the cottage (River Water Way) continues on for about a mile to a landing. There is a US Forrest Gate at the turn around at the end of the road and you can continue on through the gate. 50 yards past the gate, there is a nice trail the goes off to the left and up the hill on the ridgeline. The road/trail through the gate runs along the river with nice places to poke out along the river for picnicking. The trail eventually opens into a pasture that is still GWNF, but leased. The pasture eventually becomes wooded again. If you hike along the river, you will eventually come to a bald eagle’s roost. Getting back to the cottage is fairly easy. Just return to the woodline on the north side of the pasture and head toward the hill. You will come to a trail that goes up to the top of the hill. Continue down over the hill and you will come out on the road near the cottage.
Medium: Indian Graves Trail: You will need to drive to this one. Go back out to the fork in the road for Rt 684 and Rt 717 (Page Valley Road). Take a right and drive for approximately 2 miles (you will pass outfitter cabins and an old barn on your right). Continue to the top of the hill. You will find a parking area on your left. This is the trail head for Indian Graves Trail. This trail goes to the top of the Massanutten ridge line. This get more difficult the higher you go.
Easy to Medium: Opposite the parking area to Indian Graves Trail is a NFS Road (gated) If you follow this road, there are all kinds of trail through this area. Most of them you can eventually loop back to where you haveparked the car.
Challenging: The Hilburn Gap Trail: This too runs to the top of the ridgeline, but it tries to get there in a hurry. There is a lot steeper attack into the mountain than on the Indian Graves Trail.
Please refer to the attached diagram for trail head locations as well as uncharted trails available to you in the area.
Peters Mill Run/Taskers Gap OHV (ATV) System: We don’t not allow Dirt Bikes, ATV four wheelers or unlicensed vehicles to run on our property. However, there is a really nice area just over the mountain from us in the GWNF that allows you to run until your hearts content. It is the largest OHV trail system in the state of Virginia. Peters Mill Run and Taskers Gap OHV Trail System provides 36 miles of rugged adventure. Advanced riders will find challenges in steep, rocky and narrow trails, while others can enjoy trails that were once forest roads. All travelers will find mountain vistas, scenic rock outcroppings and the cool shade of deep forest. This trail has opportunities for Jeeps and other 4-wheeled drive vehicles, UTVs, ATVs, motorcycles, and electronic mountain bikes. More information here.
Mymslyn Inn, Luray, VA: Our other haunt! Beautiful old inn built in the 1920s and refurbished recently. Very nice old hotel atmosphere. Great bar on the left (east) side facing the front of the inn called the “Speak Easy.” Good place for sandwiches and informal dining, to watch sports or to have a drink. The upstairs dinning is a little more formal. They have a great brunch on Sunday mornings from 10AM to 2 PM.
Spring House Tavern, Woodstock, VA: Nice little hole in the wall place. Good food and a great place to have lunch or dinner while cruising the valley.
The Gathering Grounds, Luray, VA: A large choice of gourmet sandwiches and salads and quiche. They also have fresh baked cookies, brownies, muffins and much more. Lets not forget the Espresso Bar! Each day will feature items on their menu. Look for the posting on Facebook! Licensed for beer and wine, on and off. WiFi available.
Ollie Cat Café, West Main St., Luray, VA: Indoor Dining Great place to grab a cheese
steak sandwich or a homemade soup. Generally good sandwich shop.
West Main Market, Main Street, Luray, VA: Outdoor dining with really good deli sandwiches.
Il Vesuvio Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria: Really good Pizza and Italian Food.
The Market Place, Sperryville, VA: Newly opened and a great place to grab something to eat and shop for artisan gifts.
Patty O’s Café and Bakery, Washington, VA (east of Sperryville): This place is the bomb!!! Excellent quality food and service with a great atmosphere! I highly recommend lunch or dinner.
Cooters Place, Salem VA: Yep! You heard right! Dukes of Hazzard museum, car display and kitchen just west of Luray off Rt 211 will bring back a lot of great memories. Good food, usually a Bluegrass band playing Saturday and Sunday afternoons and Wayland the rest of the times. Great place to tell the kids and grands how it was back then.
Woodstock Fire Tower (Open to the Public) – Beautiful scenery and vistas. Not a long hike. Well worth the trip – especially during the leaf change in the fall.
New Market Battlefield – One of the most interesting battles of the Civil War; were VMI cadets battled Union forces (and kicked their butts!)
Murray’s Fly Shop, Edinburg, VA
The Market Place, Sperryville, VA
Note: Many of the small towns on Route 11 starting at New Market and Heading North offer neat little shops and adventure. Each town is full of antique/gift shops that offer a little something different.
Luray Caverns: The caverns is one of the most breathtaking natural wonders of the area! But there is much more to it that just the caverns. Great place for children activities: Rope Challenge course, maze, lots of unique gifts, the Page Country Museum is really well done with a lot of interesting stories about the early days and there is a mining sluice when kids to purchase “bags of sand” and find a good variety of unique stones and gems (Get the $35 bag – it is worth it!)
River Hill Distillery Wines and Spirits, 356 Ruffners Ferry Road, Luray: (Some pretty dang good Bourbon Whiskey)
Fairview Fun Farm and Pumpkin Patch – Great Place to take young children and give them a little farm experience.
Other things to do in Luray and Page County
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