S.F. Shenandoah at White House Landing

South Fork Shenandoah River at White House Landing: The White House Boat Landing on the South Fork Shenandoah River with a concrete boat ramp is a great place to launch canoes, kayaks and shallow running jon boats, is located underneath the Rt. 211 bridge, on Kauffmans Mill Road (Rt. 646) west of Luray. This site is managed by the VDGIF and is technically only for fishing and launching boats. Massanutten Boat Landing is 3.2 miles downstream from White House Landing, and Alma Landing is 6 miles upstream. Nearby beautiful 19th Century Farmhouse has recently been painstakingly restored and has become the the headquarters for the White House Foundation. The "White House" is still intact and was built in 1760. White house landing was used as a port for receiving iron brought by wagon over Massanutten Mountain from New Market. The current bridge is evidently the fifth located here, all taken out by floods except the second one which was burned by Stonewall Jackson in 1862. Staying as Safe As Possible: River recreation carries inherent risk of injury, drowning or death. Most people cease using the South Fork when the USGS South Fork Shenandoah River Luray Gage is above 5.0 feet due to high flow volume. The river becomes very hard to navigate by canoe below 2.2 feet on the gage. Shenandoah Riverkeeper always suggests people use one of the many river outfitters (Downriver Canoe, Front Royal Canoe, Shenandoah River Outfitters, River Riders, River and Trail Outfitters) which exist along the river to rent you a tube/boat/raft and put you on an appropriate float and make recommendations about when the river is unsafe for recreation. But for people with some experience or those who would like to venture out on their own you may wish to heed some general guidelines including: 1) Bring much more water than you think you'll need 2) Wear your life preserver and avoid the river when it's high or fast flowing from recent rain 3) Wear closed toed secure river shoes or tennis shoes at all times 4) Don't drink water from the river 5) Bring wet weather gear even on the hottest days (long summer thunderstorms can give you hypothermia) 6) If you have an open cut or scrape keep it out of the river 7) If you get a cut or scrape from the river, clean it out very very thoroughly right away and make sure no debris/algae or dirt remains in the cut. Disinfect. Keep Dry. River infections are extremely serious. If you suspect infection is developing in a cut after having contact with the river then seek medical attention immediately - emergency care if your doctor is unavailable. Signs of river infection are increasing redness or prolonged soreness, increasing swelling, wound odor and/or fever. 8) In cool weather dress in warm layers. Never wear cotton against your skin and this includes t-shirts and jeans. 9) Be aware of where you are in the river and become familiar with what your take-out point looks like if you're doing a float so you don't miss it and get stranded after dark. 10) Avoid wild animals 11) If thunderstorms develop you should have a plan which usually includes finding a place that reduces your chance of being struck by lightning and/or being hit by a falling branch or tree in high winds.