Bluestone River Adventures

Bluestone River Adventures

Hey Fellow Travelers,
It’s time again for another review of the fun things to do near Flat Top, WV. Just in case this is your first time coming across my blog, let me give you a quick recap. I’m Sir Justyn, the Baron of Mavis, an Innkeeper of Mavis Manor, an 1897 Queen Anne Victorian country Manor located in the small hamlet of Flat Top, in Southern WV. I moved down to Flat Top in Aug 2005 from Akron/Green, Ohio to build my parents a retirement business. Okay, enough about me - now to the grand adventures!


I just came across some pictures of my last trip to the Bluestone River. This is one of my all-time favorite places near my home. Here is a little secret - I was meeting a girl I’d been talking to for a little while on the phone, and I wanted to impress her with some cool serene scenery. That's why our first date was at the Bluestone River.

“The 77-mile-long Bluestone River rises along the northern flank of East River Mountain 2.5 miles southwest of Springville, in Tazewell County, Virginia (VA), and flows northeastward 83 miles through Mercer and Summers counties in West Virginia to join the New River. Eleven miles of its lower course is protected by the National Park Service as the Bluestone National Scenic River. Parts of Bluestone State Park and Pipestem Resort State Park are also located in the scenic lower section of the river. The Bluestone River is a popular warm-water fishery and canoeing is possible through mid-summer when water levels drop to a point where shoals are exposed across the stream. Kayaking is popular on the Bluestone in spring and during floods.”


The part of Bluestone River I found is easy to get to, but alas there is no way to GPS it or anything. There really isn’t any town left around my favorite part of the river, it’s just pure wilderness. It’s honestly super easy to get to. Here are directions from Mavis Manor:

Rt19 North to Ellison Ridge Rd. Follow Ellison Ridge Rd. till the road does this weird triangle thing. Turn left onto the road, (I forget it’s name but the road only goes left) and if the sign is still there it’ll say "To Bluestone NWA." Follow that road down the mountain until you get to the park's car park, and you're there.


Something about living in WV can make you forget GPS and road names, neither really seems to work. This park is totally worth the trip. The river is beautiful; the mountains are towering over you. It is definitely a sight to see.

Ps: It was a great first date… or at least it must have been because we have been dating ever since! 


Till next time.

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Sir Justyn, Baron of Mavis

White Water Rafting - New River

As an Innkeeper I need mini holidays sometimes. My best friend was coming down to hang out with some of her college friends for summer break before school started up again, and we had the grand idea to go White Water Rafting. Out of all the cool crazy things i've done White Water Rafting was never something I'd tried. Being only 30+ mins from the house, I just had to try this adventure.

It was a very warm September day. Mid-80s Hurricane Faye just dumped a lot of rain in the southern part of the New River via the Carolinas, so that meant great water levels for us in Southern WV.

The day began like most other days. Fed the guests some breakfast, did a quick cleanup, and hit the road for adventures. By 9am we arrived at Class VI off of Rt-19.




After a short bus ride we were at the river. I was a little afraid. I love doing new things, but still...this was slightly dangerous. Well, onto the river we went. Our guide Doug was a local. We swapped a few stories about Winterplace Ski Resort, the Ghent/Flat Top Area and the people we knew.





Now it was time for the fun part! Class I and II are kinda like playing in the ocean, but Class III and IV are very fun. Joop's friend Cathrine got thrown out of the boat. It was funny!!! LOL. She climbed back in and wanted to do it again.



All and all it was a great adventure. It will be added to The Baron's Venture's book.
If you've never been rafting, it's something everyone needs to try.

A Baron's Rating of 5 Coolness Factor

Ducky whitewater trips aren't what you might think they are. On our full day Upper New trips we take the whole family, from six years old to 86 years young, down a wonderful stretch of class I and II rapids with lots of river fun and floating in between. With the emphasis on fun, adventure, and safety, Class VI customizes our trips to the age and abilities of your family members. Everyone in the group will have the option of taking a ducky, which is like a small personal raft, or relaxing in a full-size guided raft. There really is something for everyone on this family river trip, from running the gentle rapids to swimming and floating in the lazy drifting pools. From start to finish, there's no better way for the family to spend a day together than doing the Upper New river with Class VI!

This is a great trip for families, scouts and youth groups.
The Upper New is rated Class I to Class III with gentle, playful waves and plenty of calm water in between to enjoy the majestic scenery!
Depending on water level and the Upper New Canyon we are able to run, we will stop at Dowdy Creek to play under the waterfall or stop at Jump Rock (you guessed it - a rock you can jump off!)
There are plenty of opportunities for swimming, bird watching, picture taking or just plain tuning out.
Don't forget to add meals and lodging for money saving packaging.

Till next time!

-Sir Justyn