Overview:
The James from Snowden to Lynchburg is littered with a series of 7 dams installed by Dominion Virginia Power. Thus it is not possible to comfortably run the James from source to sea. (Though people have done it - the portages on these Dams are esspecially painful) The furthest upriver put in below Balcony Falls is in Lynchburg. From Lynchburg to Watkins Landing, the landing closest to Richmond that doesn’t necessitate paddling the 10 mile slackwater above Bosher Dam, is about 135 miles. There are no rapids harder than class 2. From Bent Creek to New Canton/Bremo Bluff (where Rt 15 crosses the river) there are many forested and rocky bluffs around the river, as well as frequent riffles and rocky islands. From Rt 15 to Watkins Landing, which is located off Route 60 (not at a bridge; the nearest bridge is 522—Maidens landing) the river is significantly slower and flatter, with few dramatic hills around it. There are great campsites all along this stretch, often located on islands or the inside of bends.
Recommended Trips:
There are a number of great trips in this stretch, ranging from a 10 day or so run from Lynchburg to Watkins Landing to day trips on almost any stretch. Reckon on floating about 10 to 12 miles without much effort, perhaps closer to 15 if you get an early start and like to paddle. The current is much slower here, which is why you go half to 2/3 as far in a day compared to traveling the James in the Valley.
- (3 day) Lynchburg to Bent Creek
- (overnighter) Bent Creek to Howardsville
- (overnighter) Wingina to Scottsville
- (day trip) Scottsville to Bremo Bluff/New Canton
Directions to Put Ins and Take outs:
View James River: Piedmont in a larger map
Lynchburg: One canoe ramp in downtown Lynchburg is operated by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, and is located at the end of 7th St. From Amherst Hwy/Rt 163, turn south onto Commerce St (first intersection on the south side of the river), then turn left onto 7th St and continue to the end of the road. No overnight parking is allowed at this put in. I have parked overnight and not been ticketed, but a note was left on the car. There is another ramp on the north side of the river, which may be accessed via River Rd and Rocky Hill Road, turning off from Amherst Hwy/Rt 163 just north of the river.
Kelly: There is a canoe put in on Route 726 just north of Route 460, approximately two miles east of the Rt 29 Bypass/Rt 460 intersection.
Bent Creek is where Rt 60 crosses the James: This is about an hour and a half west of Richmond. Buckingham County is on the south side of the river, Nelson on the north.
Wingina is located at the Rt 56 bridge over the James, with Nelson on the north and Buckingham to the south.
Howardsville takeout is where Rt 602 crosses the James, with the hamlet of Howardsville (one well-stocked convenience store with gasoline) on the north side, in Albemarle County, and Buckingham County on the south side. Take Rt 626, James River Road, through Albemarle to get to Howardsville. The takeout is on the north bank.
Warren takeout is located on Warren Ferry Rd, about a mile south off James River Rd, which has a different route number than it does in Howardsville. The takeout is on the north bank. There is no bridge across the river here, nor an operating ferry (the only remaining operating ferry is located at Hatton, about 3 miles downstream).
Scottsville takeout is located near downtown Scottsville, a small town in Albemarle County at the intersection of Route 6 and Route 20. The takeout is on the north side of the river; Buckingham County is to the south.
New Canton/Bremo Bluff takeout is located on the south side of the river. If you’re coming from the north, cross the river, then take a left on Rt 688, then a left on Rt 670, then a left on Rt 687, in quick succession. There is a sign on Rt 15 marking the turn onto the smaller roads. There is an older defunct takeout on the north side of the river.
Columbia takeout is on the south side of the river across the Columbia Rd bridge from the tiny town of Columbia. Columbia has a store with some fishing gear and beer.
Cartersville takeout is located off Route 45 (Cartersville Rd) where it crosses the river.
Westview takeout is about 10 minutes south of Route 6 in Goochland. To get there from Route 6 go south on Rock Castle Rd (veer left at the fork in the road, do not take Three Square Rd), then turn right onto West View Road and follow it until you see the river. There is no bridge at this takeout, which is on the north side of the river.
Maidens takeout is located on the south bank off Route 522.
Watkins Landing takeout is located at the end of Watkins Landing Rd, which goes north from Rt 60/Huguenot Trail just a few miles west of Rt 288.
Sections of River to Run:
Lynchburg to Bent Creek: This 28 mile stretch of river has good scenery and fishing, and quite a few good campsites. It is the least traveled part of the James, due to the lack of public put ins. Canoeists will have very little company after leaving Lynchburg. Campers arriving in Lynchburg in the evening can camp on an island just upstream of the Amherst Hwy/Rt 163 bridge, immediately downstream of the Scotts Mill dam. The James is quite pretty in Lynchburg, with forested banks and a view of the old brick buildings in downtown Lynchburg. The river flows around Percival Island, on which the Blackwater Creek rail trail is located. A couple miles after leaving the city the river passes under the Route 29 Bypass, a four lane span. Shortly thereafter, amongst many pretty rocks and tiny islands, the Kelly landing is visible on the right. The water moves pretty quickly from Lynchburg to Kelly. The small ledges continue on toward Joshua Falls, located about 5 miles or so below Kelly. The falls are the remains of an old dam, so currents are a bit unusual and boaters should proceed with caution. The clear route is center right, but be sure to avoid going too far right, where the remains of the dam create some possible pinning rocks. There are camping possibilities immediately downstream of Joshua Falls. The next major landmark below Joshua Falls is Chase Island, a quarter to half mile long forested island in the middle of the river. Four miles or so below Chase Island is Pettyjohn Island, over a mile long and pastured in the middle, with access via a ford. Pettyjohn is not good for camping because it is heavily used. Instead, proceed downstream about two miles and look for a sandy spot on the left bank, in the vicinity of Walkers Ford, right as Christian Island comes into view. Christian Island would be a good place to camp except that a nearby industrial facility makes the river very noisy around it, so camping is not recommended until about halfway down Wreck Island, located immediately downstream of Christian Island. Wreck Island has the most significant rapid of this stretch of river, a 100 yard long gravel bar that is easy except for a few potential pinning rocks. In 1987 a bateau pinned on one of these rocks and was split in half. After Wreck Island the river is very flat and slow, except for an abrupt class 1+ rapid until it reaches the Smith Islands, a nice series of forested islands located just over a mile upstream of Bent Creek. When arriving at Bent Creek, note the old bridge piers, which were constructed by the James River and Kanawha Canal Company.
Bent Creek to Wingina: Bent Creek (Rt 60 bridge crossing) to Wingina (Rt 56 bridge crossing) is a lovely 15 mile or so run. This is about a daylong float. The general store at Bent Creek is well stocked. The new James River State Park protects much of the bank on the right side for the first few miles of the trip, and offers attractive camping about 2 to 3 miles downstream of Bent Creek. It is possible to put in at James River State Park rather than Bent Creek, although this will cost a few dollars. A few miles after James River State Park the Tye River enters from the left. It is by far the largest tributary to enter the James on this stretch. When the Tye comes in you’re about 2/3 of the way from Bent Creek to Wingina, and almost to Cunningham Island. Also known as Helena Island, Cunningham Island is a Nature Conservancy preserve. There are good campsites at the head of the island next to the river’s left channel, where there are great sand deposits from high water. It is also possible to camp on the island under the forest canopy, although in summer the grasses grow about 5 foot high and there can be thick mosquitoes. Cunningham is a georgeous island. The mature hardwood forest and arching vines create the feeling of being in a cavernous cathedral. Subtle parallel ridges, created by high water, curve over the island on a parallel axis to the river. The island’s bank is about 10 foot high. I recommend floating down along the island on an inner tube and walking back through the island’s interior, particularly in spring before the mosquitoes get bad or the grasses grow too high. There is hardly any poison ivy, and the combination of ground cover and high canopy is breathtaking. Wingina is just a couple miles below Cunningham Island. The only negative aspect of this trip is a white trailer on a deforested bluff on the Buckingham County side not too far from Cunningham Island.
Wingina to Howardsville: This stretch is about the same length as from Bent Creek to Wingina. The best weekend float trip on the James in the Piedmont is probably from Bent Creek to Howardsville. Shortly after leaving Wingina you’ll pass midsize Swift Island. About 3/5 of the way through this trip you’ll pass Buford Island, a large, beautiful island square in the middle of the river. Only a couple miles after Buford you’ll reach Dog Island, which is also quite pretty, though covered with No Trespassing signs. There are a few camping opportunities on small islands after Dog Island, but it is preferable to camp on the sandy areas at the head of Buford or Dog Island, where sand has collected in the lee of rocks and trees during high water. These areas are not posted at Dog Island. There is plenty of other camping on this stretch as well. The scenery is wonderful, classic Piedmont, silver maples and sycamores lining the banks, beautiful agricultural lands on the Nelson County side, with little to no intrusion by development.
Howardsville to Warren: This is only a few miles, takes just 2 or 3 hours. The first part is flat and wide with no camping opportunities. Not too far above Warren there are a bunch of little islands with great camping opportunities. This part above Warren is one of the prettiest stretches. Note that Warren is only accessible from the Albemarle County side. There is no bridge, and the landing on the Buckingham side may be private. Note that any trips in this area can be shuttled using a bicycle. The roads in Albemarle/Nelson along the river are paved, fairly level, extraordinarily beautiful, and have very little traffic.
Warren to Scottsville: This is a beautiful stretch, with dramatic Rock Island just ¾ miles into the trip, but is also the most crowded stretch of the James because James River Runners dumps hundreds of drunken tubers into the water at Warren and recovers them at Hatton. Hatton Ferry, privately owned by James River Runners, is about 3 miles downstream of Warren. You can use it for a fee. Scottsville is another 6 miles downstream of Hatton, so the distance from Warren to Scottsville is 9 miles. The first mile or so is the prettiest. From Hatton to Scottsville is flat, wide, and slow. Scottsville has all kinds of food and fishing equipment for sale. A nice overnighter is Warren to New Canton.
Scottsville to New Canton/Bremo: This is about a 12 mile stretch, the first half of which his flat and slow, the second half of which is riffly, laced with islands, and absolutely beautiful. Many of those islands are part of the Seven Islands group, including Big Island. About in the middle of the islands is a boat launch on the north bank, at the James River Wildlife Management Area. This section of river has good fishing and plenty of camping spots. It is very easy for a group to get separated and lost in the island area, so be sure to stay together. There is a short flat stretch between the end of the islands and the Rt 15 bridge.
New Canton to Columbia: This is a generally flat 12 mile stretch.
Columbia to Cartersville: I reckon this is about 7 miles. Elk Island, probably the largest island on the James, stretches for most of this length. You can paddle on the very narrow left side if you wish, just be wary of strainers where a small private bridge crosses over to the island. If you don’t go on the left side of Elk Island this is a fairly typical stretch of Piedmont James, with nice sycamores, silver maples, and farms.
Columbia to Maidens: This is about 15 miles. You can also put in/take out at Westview, a public landing on the Goochland side (north bank), which is about 4 or 5 miles downstream of Cartersville. This is a pretty slow stretch of river, particularly in the summer, and the wind tends to blow upstream. I would recommend taking a day trip from Westview to Maidens, as a day trip from Columbia to Maidens would be quite long given the speed of the water.
Maidens to Watkins Landing: This is about a 10 mile stretch, with a sweet one lane bridge (route 310) at the women’s prison just a few miles down of Maidens and several large islands after that. Campsites abound. This is the prettiest stretch of the James in the lower, flatter, Piedmont section. This is a good daytrip. One could also take an overnight trip from Westview to Watkins Landing. Canoe downstream of Watkins Landing is not reccomended, as slackwater backs up at least 10 miles behind Bosher Dam.
Watkins Landing to Hugeuneot Flatwater is a painful flatwater strecth filled with motorboats, jet skis, and invasive McMansions. The only redeeming features are rope swings and tall trees to jump off on the Henrico County side. Portage Bosher Dam on the left. Note the fish ladder.
