Rivergoat Outfitters is a guided fishing service specializing in Shenandoah River smallmouth bass and musky fishing, run as a veteran-owned and operated business by Brian "The Rivergoat" Peeler who has been guiding since 2008 (17+ years experience) and bills himself as "Front Royal, Virginia's premier guided fishing outfitter," contactable exclusively via email at rivergoatoutfitters@gmail.com. Pricing includes half-day trips (5 hours) for $350 and full-day trips (8 hours) for $500, plus fly fishing lessons at $350 for 5 hours, all providing tackle, baits, jet-powered Scout Skiff access to river stretches without public bank access, and personal flotation devices, though clients must bring their own Virginia freshwater fishing license (available via GoOutdoorsVa app or dwr.virginia.gov) and optional waders, polarized glasses, and layered clothing. The business maintains a perfect 5.0-star rating on Yelp from 3 reviews with customers praising their "awesome outing on the Shenandoah" and personal best catches "just shy of 19 inches," though reviews are limited with 0 Facebook reviews despite 432 page likes and active social media presence on Instagram (@rivergoatoutfitters with 1,262 followers and 169 posts). Peeler's background includes Virginia Military Institute education, NCAA Division I athletics, work on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, and volunteer experience with Project Healing Waters fly fishing program for veterans (November 2011-September 2012), bringing both military discipline and deep local knowledge from growing up fishing the Occoquan Reservoir, Pohick Bay, and South Fork Shenandoah River. The single-guide operation fishes primarily the South Fork and Main Stem of the Shenandoah River with contingency locations at Lake Frederick or Burke Lake depending on season and target species, using a versatile jet-powered Scout Skiff equipped with Mercury Jet Outboard, SRO Rowing Frame, Minn Kota Riptide trolling motor, and 9-inch Garmin unit with side scanning capability. Recent activity from July 2025 announced booking calendar opening from August 9th forward following surgery recovery, and the business offers both conventional tackle and fly fishing methods for anglers seeking personalized smallmouth bass or trophy musky experiences in Front Royal, known as the "Canoe Capital" of Virginia, with service area extending to Martinsburg WV, Fairfax VA, Alexandria VA, Washington DC, and Hagerstown MD.
Founded in 1968 as "Front Royal Canoe Base," this family-owned operation has 57 years of experience providing Shenandoah River adventures and ranks as the self-described #1 outfitter on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, confirmed by over 1,300 Google reviews and consistent TripAdvisor recognition. Contact them at info@frontroyaloutdoors.com for tubing ($27-35), kayaking and canoeing rentals ($47-67 for half-day trips), rafting, and stand-up paddleboarding along 44 miles of scenic Class I & II rapids flowing through the Shenandoah Valley. The outfitter offers unique "Doggy Tubes" for pet-friendly river adventures, operates seasonally from mid-March to early November with weekday hours 9 AM-5 PM and weekend hours 8 AM-6 PM, and provides free shuttle service, equipment, life jackets, and riverside instruction with all rentals. Customers praise their knowledgeable staff, clean equipment, and excellent customer service, with one reviewer noting "the Owner gave us a jump when our battery died in the parking lot." They've expanded beyond day trips to include riverside glamping tents ($25 extra person fee, pets $25) with amenities like queen beds, mini-fridges, and gas grills perched on bluffs overlooking the river with views of Massanutten Mountain, plus a full retail store selling canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards. Located just 3 miles from Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park entrance and about one hour from Washington DC, Front Royal Outdoors operates rain or shine with a 72-hour cancellation policy (full refund) and welcomes families, beginners, and groups seeking gentle flows suitable for all experience levels on one of Virginia's most beautiful and accessible waterways.
Element Sports has been around for 29 years now (founded 1996) at 2009 South Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA 22601. They do mountain bike rentals, ski and snowboard servicing, kayak and canoe sales, and professional bicycle fitting from their single Winchester location. Open Monday-Friday 10am-7pm and Saturday 10am-6pm. The shop started as Winchester Bicycle Center before John Todd bought and renamed it in April 1996. Then Josh Lewis, a local cycling enthusiast and former employee, took over in August 2014 and expanded things with the motto "Get Out! Have Fun!" Reviews are excellent: 4.8 stars from 163 reviews across Chamber of Commerce, Birdeye, and Yelp, plus Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite in 2017 and 2018. People consistently mention Josh and senior technician Gary for their expertise and approachable service. They're an authorized dealer for over 25 premium bicycle brands including Giant, Jamis (the Trek competitor), Gazelle, Santa Cruz, Surly, and Haibike e-bikes. Pricing spans affordable entry-level to premium builds, and they accept cryptocurrency and offer financing, which you don't see much at local bike shops. Rentals include road bikes, mountain bikes, e-bikes (including the Mooncool TK1 E-Trike), and they're expanding their fleet with 24-hour rentals at reasonable rates. On the winter sports side, they offer same-day or next-day turnaround on ski and snowboard work: hot wax snowboard ($23), edge sharpening ($12-$17), binding setup ($30), and scratch repair. Josh and Matt are BikeFit certified, and that's gotten a lot of praise in reviews. They repair all bicycle makes and models with quick turnaround (often under 24 hours), and there's a rent-a-stand program if you want to do your own maintenance. They also sell Old Town Canoe and Evoke Paddlesports kayaks, disc golf equipment from MVP brands, skateboard gear, and outdoor accessories. Worth noting: they sell kayaks and canoes but don't rent them. Element Adventures offers guided tours with custom hiking trips and bikamping experiences, monthly organized activities, free trail maps for Winchester-area road and mountain biking, and bike maintenance classes. Reviewers keep saying things like "very warm welcome" and "repairs done in less than 24 hours." They offer loaner bikes during service, and the rental program works as a try-before-you-buy option if you're considering a bigger purchase. The staff actually rides and explores the region's trails year-round, and they'll tell you the Shenandoah Valley has some of the best mountain and road riding in the east. Feels more like visiting friends who know bikes than a typical retail transaction.
Cool Water Outfitters isn't your typical outdoor gear rental spot. It's a specialized fly-fishing guide service run by Tim Freeman, who's got over 40 years of experience on Virginia and West Virginia waters. Based at 423 Fromans Rd, Winchester, VA 22602, they focus exclusively on guided fly fishing experiences and don't offer general canoe, kayak, or tubing rentals. Pricing runs $250-$350 for half-day public water trips, $300-$400 for half-day private water trips, $350-$500 for full-day excursions, and a signature $1,500 per person 3-day/2-night West Virginia backcountry expedition combining horseback riding and fishing on the pristine Shavers Fork of the Cheat River (ranked among America's top ten cleanest rivers). What sets them apart is exclusive access to nearly 1 mile of Beaver Creek, considered Virginia's best fishery for large rainbow and brook trout with daily access limited to just 5 rods to cut down on fishing pressure. They've also got private leased sections of Spring Creek, Cedar Creek, and South River for trophy trout away from crowded public waters. Tim's 40-acre Cool Water Ranch in Winchester serves as a base for casting lessons and has a well-stocked pond. They handle all skill levels, from complete beginners learning basic casting to advanced anglers working on euro nymphing, high-sticking, and precision casting in heavy tree cover. Customer reviews keep mentioning Freeman's patient teaching and calm demeanor. One testimonial noted novices landed several big rainbow trout during their first day after only about an hour of practice casts. The West Virginia backcountry expeditions (offered March-June) are something else entirely. They're billed as the first Western-style backcountry fishing and horseback riding expedition in the Eastern U.S. in over 30 years, featuring a 3.5-hour horseback ride to remote wall tent camps with wood stoves, three chef-prepared meals daily, and exclusive access to big brookies, browns, and rainbow trout in wilderness spots you can only reach by hiking or horseback. There's something about watching the river wake up at dawn from one of those camps that sticks with you. Public water guided trips cover legendary Virginia streams including Mossy Creek (famous for trophy brown trout), Dry River, Skidmore Fork (Virginia's best brook trout stream), Shenandoah National Park streams, and smallmouth bass on the Shenandoah River. All trips include flies, leader, tippet, beverages, snacks/lunch, and rods/reels if you need them. Overnight camping trips on Beaver Creek ($500-$800) and South River include steak dinners around campfires, outfitter tents with cots and wood stoves, evening and morning fishing sessions, and coffee/breakfast. They operate year-round with flexible cancellation (1-week notice for day trips, 60-day notice for backcountry), custom itineraries for dietary needs and accessibility, and recommended gratuities averaging $100 per day. This is premium Virginia fly-fishing for serious anglers, not self-service kayak rentals.
Founded in 2013 by Virginia native Levi Pitcock, this 12-year-old operation specializes in guided bear, whitetail deer, and turkey hunts with exclusive access to 22,000 acres of private land and George Washington National Forest where Pitcock is the only licensed guide, contactable at levipitcock@yahoo.com. Pricing ranges from $950 for self-guided 3-day deer hunts to $4,200 for fully-guided 3-day rifle bear hunts with hounds, with semi-guided options including $1,500-$1,950 archery hunts, $1,750-$2,300 muzzleloader hunts during November rut, and $1,500 fully-guided Spring Gobbler turkey hunts, all including lodging in cabins that sleep 4-6 hunters with full kitchens (meals not provided). The outfitter maintains 4.99-star rating on Airbnb from 140 reviews for their Brook Cabin rental ($175/night waterfront on Cedar Creek), and Levi holds Airbnb Superhost status with 100% response rate and "Guest favorite" designation placing him in the top 10% of listings. Beyond hunting, Double Spur offers private trout fishing on 4 miles of Cedar Creek stocked monthly with rainbow trout averaging 12-20 inches and 2-4 pounds, plus wild browns and brook trout, with full-day and half-day guided trips available October through May, and unique "Cast & Blast" combo packages ($1,800) combining 3 days of morning turkey hunting with afternoon trout fishing. Located in the foothills of George Washington National Forest in the Shenandoah Valley, approximately 2 hours west of Washington DC and 1.5 hours from Dulles Airport, the operation features stream-side camping sites at The Bluffs at Cedar Creek, a country pavilion with gas grills, and hosts Northern Virginia Trout Unlimited events and Project Healing Waters programs for veterans. With over 53,457 Facebook likes and recognition across multiple hunting guide directories, Double Spur emphasizes they're "not your ordinary guide service that takes all customers to the same spot day after day" but rather provides customized experiences on terrain described as "nasty, gnarly ground" ideal for trophy bear and deer in Virginia's premier hunting territory.
Blue Ridge Cyclery is a family-owned high-end bike shop founded in 2010 in Charlottesville, Virginia by husband-and-wife team Shawn and Jenny Tevendale—Shawn being a former paramedic turned sponsored endurance mountain bike racer, and Jenny a former lawyer passionate about making cycling accessible to newcomers. Now operating four locations across Central Virginia (Charlottesville Hollymead, Downtown Charlottesville, Warrenton, and Richmond), the shop has established itself as "Central Virginia's Friendly Local Bike Shop" with the Warrenton location created in 2022 through a merger with The Bike Stop, a local cycling institution since 1984. Their bike rental program offers hybrid e-bikes (Trek FX+ 1S Midstep with Class 3 pedal assist up to 28mph) and comfort e-bikes (Electra Townie Go with Flat Foot Technology) at $60/day, road bikes (Trek Domane and Trek Emonda) at $60/day or $300/week, plus mountain bikes and cruisers—all available first-come, first-served with reservations recommended by calling ahead. Beyond bicycle rentals, they offer travel case rentals (Thule Round Trip Transition or EVOC Bike Travel Bag Pro at $60/week), bike rack rentals (SARIS SuperClamp and YAKIMA HangOver at $20/day or $60/week), and rooftop cargo box rentals at the same rate, making them ideal for traveling cyclists who've flown in for events or try-before-you-buy consumers considering a high-value purchase. As an official Trek dealer, they carry premium brands including Trek, Electra, Salsa (91 models), Surly (66 models), Cannondale, and Pivot Cycles, offering road bikes, mountain bikes, gravel bikes, e-bikes, and children's bikes for sale alongside expert bike fitting services and professional repairs with fast turnaround—often under 24 hours. Customer reviews consistently highlight the exceptional, knowledgeable staff—with fitters Shawn and Matt receiving particular praise—the welcoming atmosphere for cyclists of all skill levels, and strong community engagement through group rides including Warrenton gravel rides through scenic Fauquier County. Contact them at info@blueridgecyclery.com; hours are Monday-Friday 11am-6:30pm and Saturday 10am-5pm (closed Sunday).
Shenandoah River Outfitters has been family-owned and running on the South Fork of the Shenandoah River since fall 1970, making it one of Virginia's oldest outdoor recreation businesses with 55+ years under their belt. Joe and Jackie Sottosanti started it alongside Nancy Goebel with just two old aluminum canoes and not much else. Now the third generation of the Sottosanti-Goebel family runs things, and their tagline "We Make You Feel Like Family" isn't just marketing fluff. Located at 6502 S Page Valley Rd, Luray, VA 22835, they offer canoe rentals ($56/day), kayak rentals ($36/day), tube rentals ($22/person with set arrival times at 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, and 11:30 AM), and raft rentals ($70-$115 depending on party size). Trips range from 1 hour to multi-day expeditions on what they call the most scenic section of the South Fork. Minimum ages are 5+ for most activities, 3+ for rafting, and all trips wrap up by 5:00 PM. The property includes Camp OutBack with 25 wooded campsites ($32/night for 1-4 persons) plus 10 River Log Cabins sleeping up to 6 guests ($155-$185/night depending on day and cabin) that stay open year-round with hot tubs. Great setup for fly-fishing folks, family reunions, and anyone chasing Virginia river activities. Reviews are strong at 4.6 stars from 787 reviews and a 92% Facebook recommendation rate. Visitors love the family-owned feel and competitive pricing, though some note camping can get noisy on busy weekends and water levels can vary. They've also got serious environmental cred through Operation CleanWater, an annual September cleanup pulling 50-100 volunteers who've removed tons of debris from the Shenandoah over the decades. They're the closest outfitter to Luray Caverns and Shenandoah National Park (just 90 miles from Washington DC), with river departures hourly until 2 PM during their April 1 - November 1 season. Mid-week specials offer real savings ($36/canoe, $26/kayak) and Boy Scout troops and church groups get 10-25% off. Their connection to Shenandoah Canoe Company (produces Royalex-ABS canoes) and their self-described "Best tubing trip on the Shenandoah" with 4-hour float times make them a solid choice for anyone wanting authentic river recreation with meals, riverside camping, and trophy trout fishing. Paddling enthusiasts often recommend the Shenandoah from Luray to Bentonville as a perfect 3-day trip with no portages and plenty of camping spots.
River Riders stands as the closest full-service outdoor adventure resort to Washington DC, Baltimore, and Northern Virginia (just one hour away), originally established in the early 1970s as "Shenandoah River Rafters" and incorporated in 1987 under current ownership since 1998 by Matt Knott who started as a raft guide in 1994. Contact them at trips@riverriders.com to access their award-winning offerings including #1-ranked tubing on USA Today, Top 2 tubing rivers in the US, and consistent #1 Outdoor Activity ranking on TripAdvisor for 10+ consecutive years with 1,298 traveler reviews earning them Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice recognition in the top 1% powered by real reviews. The $6 million annual revenue operation with 100 employees offers white water rafting on Class I-III rapids (guided and self-guided), voted #1 flat water tubing on the Shenandoah River (approximately $30 weekend rate for 2.5 miles over 1.5-3 hours, minimum age 4 years/30 lbs with unlimited re-runs until closing), white water tubing (minimum age 10-12, height 5 feet), plus kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding through their Potomac Play Pass. Land-based adventures include their original and only licensed Zip Line Canopy Tour in the region with 7-8 ziplines up to 800 feet long plus free fall rappel ($2.5-3 hours), a 1,000-foot Mega Zip over the Potomac River, and an Aerial Adventure Park with over 100 challenge course elements for 2-hour self-paced climbing sessions. Their winter Snow Riders facility opened February 2023 features 16 tubing lanes spanning "longer than 3 football fields" (900 feet) billed as the longest tubing slope on the East Coast with conveyor belt system and nighttime music and lights. Lodging options include Harpers Ferry Campground with tent sites, RV hookups, waterfront cabins, luxury glamping, and yurts on the Potomac River, plus 5 vacation rental properties (Adventure Inn, Battlefields Inn, Brick House 1862 Inn, Down River Inn, Country Roads Inn) sleeping 10-20 guests each with hot tubs, full kitchens, and entertainment systems bookable through Airbnb, complemented by on-site Alstadts Ale House restaurant and gift shop. With 90% recommendation rate on Facebook (1,867 reviews), 32,298 likes, and recognition as Best of West Virginia winner, River Riders operates daily 8:30 AM-5 PM (6 PM peak season) and offers 10% military discounts, WV resident discounts, Adventure Pass combo deals, and season passes for unlimited tubing, aerial park access, or Potomac Play rentals throughout Memorial Day to Labor Day season.
Murray's Fly Shop has stood at 121 S. Main St, Edinburg, VA 22824 since May 1962 when legendary fly fisherman Harry Murray established it inside his drugstore, making it 63+ years of continuous operation as the Shenandoah Valley's premier fly fishing destination with email info@murraysflyshop.com. Harry Murray, now in his 80s and still actively fishing, has authored 17 books on fly fishing, created over 50 original fly patterns including the iconic Mr. Rapidan Series (developed in 1971), and wrote the official National Park Service guide "Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park," while his son Jeff now conducts the renowned On The Stream Schools that Harry started in 1963. The shop offers full-day guided fishing trips starting at $475 for one or two anglers (wade or float) targeting native brook trout in Shenandoah National Park and George Washington National Forest or smallmouth bass on the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River, with all flies, rods, reels, lunch, and water included but fishing licenses and waders not provided. Their educational programs include full-day On-The-Stream schools for $200 with 5:1 student-to-instructor ratio, transportation, and use of high-quality equipment, plus Saturday workshops ($35 each, November-May) covering topics from Basic Fly Tying 101 to specialized classes on caddis, mayfly, and stonefly life cycles. With 88% recommendation rate on Facebook (87 reviews) and Foursquare recognition as "THE best place in the Shenandoah Valley to get outfitted for Fly Fishing," the shop stocks premium brands like Scott Fly Rods, RL Winston, Orvis, Hardy reels, and Simms wading gear alongside over 432 bins containing 30,000+ specialty flies in their full-service retail store. Murray's operates Tuesday-Friday 9 AM-4 PM and Saturday 9 AM-3 PM (closed Sunday-Monday) from their location in Edinburg, "a town with a population of 700 and no stop lights" approximately 90 minutes from the Capital Beltway, offering daily shipping via UPS and USPS from their website. Prime fishing seasons run late March to mid-June for brook trout (trips stop October-November during spawning) and April to mid-October for smallmouth bass, with $200 deposits required to book guided trips and cancellation policies ranging from full refunds (30+ days) to no refunds (14 days or less).
Harpers Ferry Adventure Center is a family-owned outdoor adventure outfitter located on 58 scenic acres overlooking the Potomac River just one hour from Washington, DC and Baltimore. Founded in 1992 by Dewey Heffner and his son George "JR" Heffner as a humble roadside tube-selling venture called "Butts Tubes" (incorporated in 1996), the business evolved through BTI Whitewater before adopting its current name and has grown into a premier adventure destination now managed by the third-generation Heffner family—George JR, his sister Kim, and wife Holly. The center offers an impressive range of outdoor gear rentals including whitewater and flatwater tubing, whitewater rafting (Class 1-3 rapids), kayak rentals, canoe rentals, stand-up paddleboard rentals, plus land-based adventures like zipline canopy tours, a 3-level aerial ropes course, and off-road Segway tours. Tubing shuttle passes start at $18/day for single-type tubing or $32/day for both whitewater and flatwater access, with promotional code TUBE10 offering $10 off Tuesday-Thursday online bookings. With an outstanding 4.7-star Google rating (969+ reviews) and 4.1-star TripAdvisor rating (307 reviews), the center is ranked #1 for Tours & Activities in Purcellville and holds a TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Award for 2023-2025. Customers consistently praise the knowledgeable, professional guides—frequently naming Jeremy, Alyson, Hannah, Rocky, Logan, Kayden, and Trevor, along with manager Scott—the family-friendly atmosphere suitable for children ages 6 and up, and the unique on-site Harpers Ferry Brewing featuring 50+ craft beers on tap. Beyond water sports and adventure activities, the center provides tent camping at riverside, riverview, and mountaintop sites, plus cabin rentals, making it ideal for bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate team building, scout troops, and family reunions in the historic tri-state area where the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers converge. Contact them at info@hfadventurecenter.com; they're open Thursday-Monday 9am-5pm (closed Tuesday-Wednesday).
