Trough General Store & Canoe Rentals

Best boating in WV! Nicest, professional people run this place. Great pricing for kayaks or canoes. Also, water shoes for under $ 20. Don’t miss out.

Great time! Worth every penny for the 12 mile trip. Thanks Jojo for the recommendation!

This is a great place to rent a canoe from. Jerry and Sabrina are really nice and will set you up for canoeing and fishing. The campsite is a nice distance from Romney, providing some nice relaxation.

Both Jerry & Sabrina are super nice and helpful — outstanding service for your next canoe or kayak trip — they offer trips of varying lengths, you can stop as often as you like and picnic or take in some bald eagle watching — we go every year and have never been without seeing them. If the water is warm enough you can swim as well, and fishing is usually great on the river too. Just make sure you don’t miss the small sign on the right telling you where to take out, otherwise you will continue to Romney!

Nostalgic for America’s more homey, rural past? Craving a trip to get in touch with your more basic self in the woods? Try West Virginia, and be sure to check out the Trough General Store for some canoeing down the lazy and pastoral s. fork of the potomac. Wonderful wonderful thing to do on a day in West Virginia and a great escape only a few hours from DC, Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Run by an incredibly nice couple, the trough general store is the perfect place for an idyllic afternoon canoeing down the south fork of the Potomac. I normally eschew touristy things, but we didn’t see another soul our whole lazy float down the river.
Plus, nobody’s holding your hands – you’ll be out there on the river for as long as you want, provided you don’t miss the sign at the end of your journey to dock the boats. It takes anywhere from 2.5 to 6 hours depending on how much paddling you do. The proprietor gives you a ride upstream in the pickup and then you load the canoe in the water and are good to go. Bring a picnic.

A super nice couple runs this outfitter. They’ve got canoes and kayaks for rent, and likely a lot of other goodies for all-​American outdoor enjoyment. They shuttle you, your vessels, and gear down to a spot on the South Branch of the Potomac about 25 miles away; and you make your way back to the store over the course of two days. It took us about 12 hours total to paddle back, with a good number of stops and an overnight camp on a very rustic piece of land along the river. It was Class 1 this time of year, super mellow, and a good workout. They give you all the info and advice you need to make sure you are safe and have a good time. I highly recommend them. A 3-​hour drive from DC.