Virginia Cut versus Dismal Swamp Canal
The “debate” over which route is better has been going on for a very long time. The Dismal Swamp Canal route is almost one of those “either you love or you hate it” as shown in this article from November of 2013: /?p=128524. Unless you are in a big hurry, SSECN has always preferred the slow, easy pace of the Canal over the Virginia Cut. The Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR!, is located on the east shore of the like-named Canal at Statute Mile 28. Traveling south, the Dismal Swamp Canal route exits the Waterway westward immediately south of the I-64 fixed bridge at statute mile 7.1.
Hi Larry,
Well it’s that time of year again and we figure a lot of SSECN readers are thinking, “Virginia Cut or Dismal Swamp?”
Diana and I are BIG fans of the Dismal Swamp route and for those readers interested here’s a link to a PassageMaker Magazine article we wrote to back it up!
And the Captains Doyle have sent us the excellent, complete section on the Dismal Swamp from their ICW CruiseGuide:
Stay in the deep water,
Best,
Captains Mark & Diana Doyle
m/v Semi-Local
www.OnTheWaterChartGuides.com
Comments from Cruisers (1)
I went through the Dismal Swamp Cut last weekend. I enjoyed this run and particularly enjoyed staying at the well maintained visitors center docks. However we hit 6 dead heads between the locks on our 4 ft draft boat. I don’t think we had damage.