Draft Interpretive Plan Join the adventure! - Captain John Smith ...

The waterway is obvious, but where to locate the trail’s beginning, end, stopping-off
points, and facilities depends on several factors: nearby roads, existing and potential
access points and parking areas, current and potential camping areas, and other overnight
accommodations. The types of boats that will be used will influence the design of your
trail, particularly the kinds of access points and the distances between them—paddle craft
requiring more frequent access points than power or sail boats.
Locating facilities requires compromises. Adding an access site and parking area will
cause some damage to the natural environment. Not adding an access site can result in
trail users creating numerous illegal sites in environmentally sensitive areas. Try to deal
with this quandary by building attractive facilities away from sensitive areas. If
developing in sensitive areas, consider “hardening” the site with a gravel surface to
increase resistance to foot trampling. (The State of Virginia Division of Conservation
and Recreation has developed guidelines for development of access and camping areas in
riparian areas.)
Bring the user groups into the planning process. Paddler clubs, powerboat associations,
outfitters, guides, marinas, and sports shops will help solve development questions and
conflicting requirements.
Here are a few tips about locating trail facilities:
• Access points, or launch sites, should connect the trail with nearby roads or portage trails.
Launch sites may be small and simple for car-top and hand-carried boats. They have to be
relatively large, paved, or hardened, for boats transported on trailers. Access points should
be close enough to insure safe, manageable traveling distances from one to another. They
need to be frequently placed on trails restricted to non-motorized boats. Launching areas
need to have adequate parking that is safe and patrolled by law enforcement authorities.
Vehicles with trailers need two to three times as much parking space as those with car-top
boat racks.
• Day-use sites are destination points along the trail where camping is not permitted. They
may have landings, picnic areas, swimming areas, potable water supply or waste disposal
facilities. A day-use area, however, may be as simple as a point of interest, with no
facilities.
• Overnight accommodations include campsites, hostels, bed and breakfasts, inns, and
motels. Take advantage of facilities that already exist. Then, turn to local paddlers, boaters,
planners, and natural resource officials to determine suitable locations that could be
developed to fill gaps. Campsites should have durable surfaces. Facilities to store boats and
gear either should be available at the landing, campsite, or lodging facility. Provide
information about town docks and marinas.
• Orientation signs with a trail map should be posted at all launch sites and camping areas.
Ideally, include the map in a kiosk along with information about the trail, and messages
about safety, boating regulations, “Leave No Trace practices” and resource protection.
Other exhibits at these sites could interpret interesting natural and historical features.
• A potable water system that meets state health department regulations is costly to install.
Most long-distance paddlers expect to carry a supply of water that will last several days.
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