Virginia | Fluvanna County / Crofton–Palmyra
Rivanna River
Crofton public landing to Palmyra public landing
Check current paddling conditions for this Rivanna River route, including water level, recent gauge trend, weather, and route details.
Route location
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Need to know
Why this call
Conditions
Gauge history and hourly forecast
The top card is the quick read. This lower section keeps the longer gauge trend, gauge context, and hourly forecast together.
Gauge detail
Gauge history & hourly forecastDetailed view
Gauge
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampMN DNR provides the current paddling level here, but not chart-ready recent samples.
Weather
Hourly forecast
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Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Route overview
Quick facts and what's next
Distance, difficulty, shuttle basics, and the near-term outlook before you commit to the drive.
Quick facts
Plan ahead
Upcoming outlook
These are early planning reads. Re-check live conditions before you commit to the drive.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
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.
Prepare this trip
Take the plan with you
Download the canonical route, add a calendar hold, or send a simple float plan to your group.
Put-in
Crofton public landingDWR’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.
Take-out
Palmyra public landingThe 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.
Plan this segment
Pulling access map tiles. Usually under 5 seconds.
Access caveats and watch for
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
Route gallery
See this route on the water
Photos help show what the access looks like and what the route actually feels like on the water.
No approved route photos yet
Start the gallery with shots of the access, river character, or any detail that helps paddlers know what this run actually looks like.
Score & sources
Why this score
See the gauge, weather, and source notes behind today's call.
Why this scoreToday's evidence strength is checking
Evidence strength mostly comes down to three things: how direct the active gauge is, how clear the range is, and how fresh the data is.
- Checking evidence-strength notes.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreGauge, thresholds, and timing
These are the live readings and threshold notes behind today's score.
| Gauge site | Rivanna River at Palmyra, VA |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Ideal range | Needs paddler reports |
| Known low-water floor | Not calibrated yet |
| High threshold | Not calibrated yet |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | Virginia DWR Rivanna public-landings float map; no numeric station-specific recreational threshold published for Crofton–Palmyra |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Rights-clean image decisionApproved public-domain Rivanna River image from Crofton/Union Mills used as same-river context
The Wikimedia Commons image is identified as looking downstream from Crofton Boat Ramp and is used only as route context, not as current endpoint or flow evidence.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Reports
Paddler reports
See recent photos and notes from people on the route.
Share your trip
Keep exploring
More routes to check next
Compare another stretch on this river, or jump to nearby options before you pick a plan.
Quick answers
Rivanna River paddling FAQ
What water level is good for paddling Rivanna River?
Paddle Today watches Rivanna River at Palmyra, VA and uses Not calibrated yet as the conservative low-water floor for this route. The ideal range still needs more paddler reports.
Where does this Rivanna River route start and end?
This route starts at Crofton public landing and ends at Palmyra public landing, about Approximately 6.5 river miles on the water.
Is this Rivanna River route good for beginners?
This is listed as an easy route, but conditions still matter. Check today's score, water level, weather, and access notes before you go.
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.