James River "At a Glance" |
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| Scenery | Virginia Piedmont hardwood forests |
| Best time | April-October (July/August muggy) |
| Wilderness | Natural setting along river, agricultural |
| Water Flow | Nearly always plenty for floating |
| Water Quality | Good |
| Campsites | Islands & other primitive sites |
| Hazards | Some rapids, esp. upper sections |
| Logistics | Good access; some rentals available |
| Trip Length | Up to 99 miles |
| Recommendation | Longest float trip in Virginia, worth a look! |
![[Buford Island on the James River]](james.jpg)
Aerial view of Buford Island on the James River, courtesy Sam White, Jr.
General Description & Characteristics -- The mouth of the James River is the site of the first permanent English settlement in Virginia Colony, and thus the James River is a special place in the history of the United States. The largest river in Virginia, the James flows from the Appalachian plateau, through the Blue Ridge Mountains, across the Piedmont, and into the coastal plain at Richmond. The upper James and its tributaries are popular for whitewater rapids. Further downstream, just before Lynchburg, a series of seven dams impound the flow of the James and makes extended canoe trips difficult. The extreme lower James suffers from pollution and industrial development. Only on the middle James, in the Piedmont Region of central Virginia, do we find a river suitable for a long canoe camping trip.
Location & Canoeable Mileage -- From Joshua Falls access (on Rte. 726, east of highway 440), just downstream from Lynchburg, to Maidens landing (at highway 522 bridge) is a distance of 99 miles, about right for a float of 7 days. There are intermediate access points making it possible to tailor the length of the trip to suit your needs. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries maintains boat ramps at these (and several other) access points, with parking and boat ramps but no other facilities.
Interesting Features -- The woods along the river are reminders of the immense hardwood forest that covered the entire eastern United States before much of it was cleared for agriculture. There are remnants on the James River of an extensive canal system that was built in the early nineteenth century. There are a number of large islands such as the one pictured above. Buford Island is owned by Sam White, Jr., who has established it as a semi-primitive campsite for canoeists and other groups.
For the first half of this run, you will encounter some easy rapids, mostly Class I with occasional class II. These occur where the river flows over small rock shelves. The Seven Islands area, between Scottsville and Bremo has the most rapids. At Big Island, the right channel around the island has a potentially dangerous rapid than can be Class IV at some water levels. Go left of the island to avoid this hazard.
Camping -- Canoeists customarily camp on the islands or other primitive sites along the river. Other than the few small towns along the way, there is little development. Public lands along the river include the James River WMA and Hardware WMA. Otherwise, the land along the river is private (including the islands), so be aware of and respect the rights of property owners.
Additional Information:
| Canoeing Information |
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| Canoe Rental/Shuttle Service |
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| River Flow Data |
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| Parks on/near the River | James River State Park |
| Towns/Other Locales on/near the River | |
| Books | |
| More Pictures | Canoe Camping Photo Gallery |
| Environmental Issues/Organizations | |
| Acknowledgments/Contributors |
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| Miscellaneous | Float Fishermen of Virginia, Inc. |
