BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Martinsville Tourism - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.visitmartinsville.com
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Martinsville Tourism
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260502T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260502T130000
DTSTAMP:20260505T072701
CREATED:20260413T162608Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260413T162608Z
UID:10005635-1777712400-1777726800@www.visitmartinsville.com
SUMMARY:Paddle the Smith River with DRBA! (First Saturday Outing)
DESCRIPTION:The Dan River Basin Association (DRBA) will host the May 2\, 2026\, First Saturday Outing on the Smith River from the Bassett Access to the Great Road Access for a 5-mile paddle. Wayne Kirkpatrick\, avid paddler and a DRBA Outings Committee Member\, will coordinate the trip.\n \nWhere to Meet:\nParticipants are asked to meet by 9:00 a.m. at the Bassett Canoe Access\, 271 Trent Hill Drive\, Bassett\, VA (GPS 36.76992\,-80.00147) to unload boats and gear and set the shuttle. Constructed through a partnership of DRBA and Henry County\, both the Bassett and Great Road accesses are part of the Smith River Trail System\, a growing network of blueways and greenways designed to connect riverside communities through Henry County\, VA\, downstream to Eden\, NC.\n \nAbout the Access:\nThe Bassett Canoe Access\, opened in 2006\, is located at the now dormant J. D. Bassett Chair Factory\, which “stands as a silent testament to an historic furniture industry that once supplied America\,” according to “An Insider’s Guide to the Smith River.” As the Smith runs through the town of about 1\,030 residents\, remnants of the past remind paddlers of the river’s history. In the 19th century\, Smith’s River Navigation Company built rock wing dams and sluices to enable long\, narrow batteaux to haul iron and grain to market in Danville. Although commercial navigation on the river was short-lived\, the company’s wing dams survived and were modified by twentieth-century riverside industries for water intakes. Shortly below the put-in\, paddlers will pass the “Leaning Tower of Bassett\,” one of these later structures.\nOn river left\, the Norfolk Southern Railway line parallels the river the full length of the float\, serving past and present factories in this important industrial center. About a mile into the trip\, on river right is the Bassett Historical Center\, which houses a wealth of local historical and genealogical materials used by patrons from around the world. Just downstream is the third of six bridges that span this section of the river.\n \nA short distance below the fifth bridge is Blackberry Creek\, entering from river right. The Great Wagon Road crossed the Smith River nearby\, providing a route for settlers migrating through the region in days gone by.\n \nFrom Blackberry Creek for a half mile is “The Hayfields\,” where the river is shallow and “trout fishing is best accomplished by wading\,” according to avid trout fisherman Brian Williams. Trout thrive throughout this portion of the river. The take-out is at the Great Road Access which opened in September 2010. Solutia Performance Films granted easements for the access and for an adjacent 500-foot-long trail.\n \nWhat to Bring:\nParticipants in the outing are asked to bring boat\, paddle\, life jacket\, water\, snacks and/or lunch; wear water-shedding artificial fabric or wool (not cotton\, and certainly not blue jeans) Since the river may be shallow in places\, wear shoes appropriate for wading. All participants will be asked to sign a waiver.\n \nDirections:\nGoogle Maps: https://share.google/6STGHtMwoEUOLKSRS\nFrom US 220 north of Martinsville\, take the VA 57 West/Fairystone Park Highway exit towards Stanleytown/Bassett. In Bassett\, turn right onto Trent Hill Drive (Rt. 666). You will immediately cross the Smith River\, continue along Trent Hill Dr. to the Bassett Canoe Access to 271 Trent Hill Drive (GPS 36.76992\,-80.00147) which will be on the left beside the factory building.\n \nBE SAFE OUTDOORS! Be sure to check DRBA’s safety tips for hiking and paddling before you head out for an outdoor adventure! https://www.danriver.org/besafeoutdoors\n \nOutings and meetings of the Dan River Basin Association are open to the public without charge.\nFor trip information\, contact trip coordinator Wayne Kirkpatrick at wynbtyk@embarqmail.com or by phone at 540-570-3511.
URL:https://www.visitmartinsville.com/event/paddle-the-smith-river-with-drba-first-saturday-outing/
LOCATION:Smith River – North Bassett Access\, 271 Trenthill Drive\, Bassett\, VA\, 24055\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free Event,Outdoors
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.visitmartinsville.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Photo-May-06-2025-10-54-04-AM.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Dan River Basin Association":MAILTO:drba.nc@danriver.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260404T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260404T120000
DTSTAMP:20260505T072701
CREATED:20260317T152128Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260317T152128Z
UID:10005589-1775296800-1775304000@www.visitmartinsville.com
SUMMARY:Hike the Dick & Willie Trail and Paw Path - April DRBA FSO
DESCRIPTION: \nJoin the Dan River Basin Association for an approximately 3.5 mile hike on the Paw Path and the Dick & Willie Passage Trail (D&W) starting from the river access at the Smith River Sports Complex in Axton\, VA (Henry County) for DRBA’s First Saturday Outing (FSO) on April 4\, 2026 at 10:00 am. This hike is a moderate out and back\, first on the natural surface Paw Path from the river access to the paved D&W along the Smith River and Mulberry Creek. Outings and meetings of the Dan River Basin Association are open to the public without charge.\n \nThe Smith River Sports Complex (SRSC) is a 90-acre multi-use facility developed by the Southern Virginia Recreation Facilities Authority to serve the community and also boost local tourism and the economy with diverse sports. As well as sports fields\, it offers a golfing range\, a river access\, fishing decks\, picnic tables\, a festival field with a stage\, natural surface trails and a connection to the Dick and Willie Passage Trail (D&W). The SRSC officially merged with Henry County Parks and Recreation in 2023.\n \nWe will park in the river access area then start our walk on the Paw Path\, a natural surface trail that was designed with dogs in mind. It is mostly flat\, 0.5 miles long and runs alongside the Smith River. It features many engaging canine activities such as a fire hydrant and a balance beam. Along this path we will pass the Paw Park\, a members only\, fenced\, off-leash dog park offering a natural wooded trail for dogs to explore. Also along the Paw Path we will see a collaborative conservation project by the Martinsville & Garden Study Clubs featuring the trail lined with native plants (over 300 plants from 50 species) to support pollinators\, with educational signage\, insect hotels\, and birdhouses built by students. At the end of the Paw Path we will access the D&W.\n \nThe D&W is a paved trail winding through the City of Martinsville and Henry County. The original 4.5 mile portion from Virginia Avenue to Mulberry Creek Overlook opened in 2010. Since then 2 additional phases have been added to take the trail from Mulberry Creek Overlook to Spruce Street and from there to the SRSC to make it a total of 10.7 miles long. The portion we will walk will start from the end of the Paw Path\, follow the Smith River and Mulberry Creek to the Country Club Drive Trailhead and back. It is mostly flat along the Smith River\, then a few short hills as it turns to follow Mulberry Creek. On the D&W you will see a mix of natural beauty – the beautiful Smith River\, lush forest scenery\, wildlife such as deer\, birds\, and turtles\, wildflowers\, benches\, and a generally peaceful\, paved path perfect for walking\, biking\, and enjoying the outdoors.\n \n“Since I don’t own a dog\, I walk the Paw Path to enjoy the native plants. I also walk this section of the D&W regularly and never tire of the beauty. In most places it is lined with trees making it a perfect temperature for walking\, shady in the summertime but sunny in the winter when the leaves are off the trees\,” says FSO coordinator\, Ellen Jessee.\nParticipants should dress in layers\, wear hiking shoes or boots\, and bring hiking stick(s)\, lunch\, and water. All participants will be required to sign a wavier.\nFor more information\, contact the outings coordinator Ellen Jessee\, 276-734-1317\, ejessee105@gmail.com\nNOTE: If for any reason the event needs to be canceled\, visit www.danriver.org by Friday\, the day before the outing to determine whether the outing will be held.\nDRBA is on MEETUP! Sign up and never miss a DRBA event!\nDIRECTIONS:\nSmith River Sports Complex\n1000 Irisburg Road\nAxton\, VA 24054\nGPS: 36.633872\, -79.824943\nFrom the east traveling on Rt 58 take the Rt 58/220 Bypass west. From the north\, south or west traveling on Rt 220 take the Rt 58/220 Bypass east. From the Bypass take Rt 650 Exit then turn onto Irisburg Road (left turn if coming from east\, otherwise right turn).. Go quarter mile to the entrance of the Sports Complex and turn right onto Sportsplex Way. Turn left at the maintenance building and go downhill to park at the river access area. For those who prefer to stay on paved surfaces or have accessibility issues\, you may continue straight and park in the paved parking lot near the sports fields and walk on the concrete walks through the complex to join the rest of the group at the D&W where the Paw Path joins the D&W next to the retention pond at the rear of the complex. Note: It will be downhill from the paved parking area to the D&W. There are restrooms in both the river access area and the sports fields area.
URL:https://www.visitmartinsville.com/event/hike-the-dick-willie-trail-and-paw-path-april-drba-fso/
LOCATION:Monogram Foods Smith River Sports Complex\, 1000 Irisburg Road\, Axton\, VA\, 24054\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free Event,Walks/Runs,Outdoors
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.visitmartinsville.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_2407.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Dan River Basin Association":MAILTO:drba.nc@danriver.org
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR