Patrick County

Stunning vistas from the edge of the Blue Ridge escarpment overlooking steep, narrow river valleys are a visual reward to our visitors. Patrick County is blessed with an abundance of strong running streams that emerge from these steep valleys and that share a unique geological feature – all have their headwaters within Patrick County. Five rivers spring forth and flow into two major watersheds.

In the western portion of the county, the Ararat River begins its’ journey to the Atlantic near the Ararat community. Literally flowing through history, the Ararat River passes near the Letcher Gravesite and frames Laurel Hill, birthplace to JEB Stuart. As the Ararat River leaves Patrick County, it flows in a westerly and southerly direction, entering North Carolina through Surry County to eventually join the Yadkin River and the Pee Dee River Basin.

Our other four rivers are all part of the Dan River Basin watershed. The Dan River, the North Mayo River, the South Mayo River and the Smith River all begin life here in Patrick County. The North and South Mayo Rivers converge to our east in Henry County before flowing south to join the Dan River at Mayodan, North Carolina. The Smith River also flows east forming Philpott Reservoir before heading south to join the Dan River at Eden, North Carolina. The Dan River then meanders it way eastward along the Virginia North Carolina border ending where it joins the Roanoke River to help form Kerr Reservoir. Albermarle Sound in North Carolina is the end of this water’s journey to the Atlantic.

Attractions along the Dan River include the site of the Dan River Queen, Lake Townes and Lake Talbot, the Pinnacles of the Dan, the powerhouse flume trail at the head of Kibler Valley, along with scenic Kibler Valley which includes the remnants of the Dinky Railroad, and the Dan River Park in Ararat. The South Mayo will soon have the Mayo River Rail Trail highlighting the historic Dick and Willie Railroad, and the site of the first hydroelectric generating facility for the Town of Stuart. The North Mayo headwaters are on the eastern slope of Bull Mountain, site of the Fire Road Trail and fire watch tower (private access only), the site of a WWII military training airplane crash, and the site of the NASCAR racing Hendrick’s family airplane crash. The Smith River provides a rushing torrent under both of Patrick County’s famous covered bridges, Jack’s Creek and Bobwhite, then flows into and forms Philpott Lake, exiting into Henry County as an ice cold, tail water stream creating the best Brown Trout fishery in both Virginia and North Carolina.