Ben Salem Lock Traditional Cache

In the days when commerce was served by rivers and canals, locks were the gears that kept the machine of commerce moving - particularly in the hill country of Virginia.

Ben Salem Lock is one of the best preserved of its kind and was one of several locks that comprised the North River Navigation, allowing canal boats and batteaux to reach the James. Designed to allow boats to navigate the 9.5 foot drop caused by the nearby dam (long since dismantled), the lock could accommodate boats up to 15 feet wide and 95 feet long.

A standard ammo can is hidden at the listed coordinates, with ample parking nearby. The Virginia Department of Transportation maintains an excellent wayside here, with picnic tables and great water access for anglers and swimmers alike. If the ground foliage around the cache area looks too overgrown in summer, consider approaching from the back or put on some long socks.

The cache is not hidden near the lock; please be careful when exploring so as not to disturb this historic site. Please also note: While this cache is located on VDOT property, we do have written permission from VDOT to hide it here. PLEASE save us all some headaches, and kindly DO NOT report this cache as in violation of VDOT rules.

This cache is part of a series. The Gems of Rockbridge Geocache Trail has been developed as part of an Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant to enhance the gateway communities along the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway. The grant funds projects that promote sustainable tourism and enhance the local community while protecting the area's natural beauty and cultural heritage.

The Geocache Trail consists of 10 strategically placed caches highlighting the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Rockbridge County. The first 200 geocachers who complete the trail will receive a commemorative coin featuring the Gems of Rockbridge Geocache Trail on one side and the 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway on the other side.