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Virginia | Fluvanna County / Crofton–Palmyra

Rivanna RiverCrofton public landing to Palmyra public landing

A planning-only 6.5-mile Rivanna River float between the public Crofton and Palmyra landings, with novice-friendly moving water, a documented Class I–II feature, direct downstream gauge context, and no inferred numeric safety band.

Route location

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Plan this route

DistanceApproximately 6.5 river miles
DifficultyEasy
Typical timeAllow 3–5 hours depending on stage
ShuttleCar shuttle
The Rivanna River viewed downstream from Crofton Boat Ramp near Union Mills, Virginia.
River contextRivanna River at Crofton/Union Mills; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Nyttend via Wikimedia Commons

Need to know

Why this call
This route is documented for planning, but does not receive a Paddle Today score.
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Route overview

Trip details

Access rules, camping, seasonal conditions and trip length.

Distance, difficulty, rules and camping
On-water distanceApproximately 6.5 river milesCrofton public landing to Palmyra public landing
DifficultyeasyDWR describes this section as novice-friendly with one Class I–II drop. Moving current, wood, bridges, shallow rocks, weather, and limited legal bailout options still require basic moving-water skills.
ShuttleCar shuttleStage the downstream vehicle at the Palmyra public landing, then drive to Crofton. Confirm current parking, carry, road access, landing condition, and the exact wetted-edge entry/exit before unloading.
PermitsNone notedNo route-specific permit is published for this DWR public-landing float. Follow Virginia boating and PFD law, current DWR access rules, posted closures, and private-property boundaries.
CampingDay tripNo on-route or endpoint camping is assumed. Both landings are treated as day-use access; use separately managed lodging or a lawful regional campground after confirming current availability and rules.
SeasonMar-NovReview direct Palmyra telemetry, stage trend, recent and forecast rain, debris, water temperature, daylight, water quality, and both public landing conditions immediately before launch. The map’s novice rating and Class I–II description do not establish a safe operating envelope.

Plan ahead

Tomorrow and the weekend

Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.

TomorrowChecking

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WeekendChecking

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Plan

Plan your trip

Launch points, shuttle details, distance, and access notes.

Route logistics

Access and shuttle

A public lower-Rivanna day float from Crofton to Palmyra with direct downstream telemetry, official landing coordinates, one Class I–II feature, no inferred numeric threshold, and no on-route camping.

Access map

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Start

Put-in

Crofton public landing
Open mapDirections to put-in

DWR’s map names Crofton and Palmyra as public landings, while the stored points are maintained-access anchors; verify the current carry, wetted-edge entry/exit, parking, and closure status on launch day.

Finish

Take-out

Palmyra public landing
Open mapDirections to take-out

The DWR map separates Crofton–Palmyra from the upstream Milton section and downstream Palmyra–Columbia section. Take out at Palmyra before continuing into the next reach without a new plan.

Road shuttle

Driving shuttle routeShuttle in Apple MapsOpenStreetMap
Access notes and hazards

Access caveats

  • DWR’s map names Crofton and Palmyra as public landings, while the stored points are maintained-access anchors; verify the current carry, wetted-edge entry/exit, parking, and closure status on launch day.
  • The DWR map separates Crofton–Palmyra from the upstream Milton section and downstream Palmyra–Columbia section. Take out at Palmyra before continuing into the next reach without a new plan.
  • USGS 02034000 is useful direct downstream context but cannot certify conditions at Crofton, the Class I–II feature, bridges, debris, or any private-bank segment. No numeric band is transferred by inference.

Watch for

  • USGS 02034000 unavailable, rapidly rising, or inconsistent with the Crofton launch visual; recent rain, forecast storms, and water-quality advisories
  • the documented Class I–II drop, shallow rocks, strainers, bridge current, submerged wood, cold water, and changing channels
  • closed or full landing, missing parking/carry, private-bank constraints, missed Palmyra take-out, failed shuttle, or loss of daylight

Plan this paddle

Choose your trip times

No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.

Trip schedule

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Conditions

Water levels, gauge history, and hourly forecast

Check the forecast and local water levels before launching.

Gauge detail

Water-level history and forecastDetailed view

Gauge

Recent trend

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Weather

Hourly forecast

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Next 8 hours

Short-route forecast

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Route gallery

Photos

Check each caption: some photos show the surrounding area rather than this exact trip.

The Rivanna River viewed downstream from Crofton Boat Ramp near Union Mills, Virginia.
Rivanna River at Crofton/Union Mills; same-river context river-level context — not necessarily this exact reach.Photo by Nyttend via Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons: public domain

Sources

Data and sources

Read the access and hazard notes and check the linked guides. We do not issue a daily score for this trip.

NotesWhat to know before you go

These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.

  • Named public moving-water corridorDWR Float 4: Crofton to Palmyra; 6.5 miles; novice with one Class I–II drop

    Virginia DWR’s public-landings float map names the exact section, distance, skill context, and endpoint sequence.

    Source

  • Direct gauge context and threshold postureUSGS 02034000 at Palmyra; no numeric route-specific recreational threshold verified

    The station is at the downstream endpoint and supplies current discharge/stage context. No minimum or upper limit is inferred from upstream American Whitewater guidance.

    Source

  • Public endpoint coordinatesCrofton 37.91874108, -78.29759086; Palmyra 37.85776874, -78.26682016

    DWR’s maintained access inventory supplies the Crofton anchor and the official Palmyra place page supplies the Palmyra coordinate; both remain access-area points requiring exact wetted-edge confirmation.

    Source

  • Safety and camping postureOne Class I–II drop, novice section, fast-rise/debris/cold-water controls, day-use landings, no on-route camping

    DWR supplies the route character and landing sequence. No camping entitlement is inferred from the public landings or surrounding banks.

    Source

Verify it yourselfCheck the source links

Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.

Reports

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Keep exploring

More routes to check next

Compare another stretch on this river, or explore different rivers within 75 straight-line miles.

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Virginia route guideBrowse every tracked Virginia route.Fluvanna County / Crofton–PalmyraJump to routes in this region.

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Quick answers

Rivanna River paddling FAQ

What water level is best for the Crofton public landing to Palmyra public landing route on the Rivanna River?

This planning route has no live Paddle Today score. Review the linked water-level sources, current access notices and route-specific hazards before travel.

Where does the Crofton public landing to Palmyra public landing route on the Rivanna River start and end?

This route starts at Crofton public landing and ends at Palmyra public landing, Approximately 6.5 river miles on the water.

Is the Crofton public landing to Palmyra public landing route on the Rivanna River suitable for beginners?

This is listed as a easy route. Review the difficulty notes, hazards and current access conditions against your group's skills. No live score assesses this trip.

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