Jackson River Special Regulation

The Jackson River is one of Virginia’s best and largest trout fisheries. It is certainly the most popular trout stream! This particular section of the Jackson River is stocked several times a year with catchable-sized trout and good populations are always present do to favorable stream conditions. The special reg. section is located between 2 heavily stocked put and take sections as well. The stocked fish migrate up and down stream and many take refuge in this stretch. One interesting feature of this river is large rainbow and brown trout from Lake Moomaw move into the drainage annually for spawning. The browns tend to enter the Jackson in the fall and the rainbows will move in late winter to early spring. This is a wonderful river for putting all of your skills to the test. It boasts some incredible dry fly action do to its large insect hatches. It is an excellent place to practice your high sticking techniques or fishing with multiple or Czech nymph rigs. You will also be productive throwing small streamers in the riffles or dragging large streamers through the deep cuts! The special regulation section extends from the USFS swinging bridge (located just above the mouth of Muddy Run) upstream 3 miles to the last ford on FS 481D. This section can only be reached by foot travel, either from the Hidden Valley area or off Route 623(Poor Farm Road) and FS Road 481. The area provides some of the best remote fishing around.

Directions From Mossy Creek
- Take 33 West to I-81.
- Take I-81 South to Exit 225 in Staunton. Merge onto VA 262/ VA 275 Woodrow Wilson Parkway toward Staunton and continue West.
- Take the Churchville Exit towards US-250.
- Turn Right at Buffalo Gap Hwy Rt. 42 and follow for 34.6 miles.
- Continue Straight onto 39 West in Millboro Springs.
- Once you pass West Warm Springs look for the sign for Hidden Valley Campground on your right side. Follow the roads to the campground and then walk upstream to the swinging bridge.