State routes
Virginia Rivers
Compare 30 tracked Virginia paddle routes with route links, water-level context, difficulty, and access planning details.
Paddle Today only lists routes when the gauge, threshold, and source support are defensible enough for live route scoring.
Loading supported rivers and route reaches.
Coverage snapshot
Explore supported Virginia rivers
Scan the highlighted river network from above, then use the route guides and access markers to find a supported reach.
30 route markers6 multi-route rivers5 beginner routes
Supported riverSelected reach80Paddle · Strong60Tradeoffs40Skip today
Appomattox and Buckingham counties / Bent Creek–Gladstone 1Augusta County / George Washington National Forest 1Botetourt County / Iron Gate–Glen Wilton 1Botetourt County / Upper James River Water Trail 1Campbell County / Long Island–Brookneal 1Chesterfield / Dinwiddie counties and Petersburg 1Farmville / Prince Edward and Cumberland counties 1Fauquier and Culpeper counties / Remington–Kelly’s Ford 1
Live conditions
Best Virginia routes today
Loading current scores, gauge reads, and weather signals.
--Live
Giles County / Glen Lyn
View routeNew River
Rich Creek to Glen Lyn
Easy | Approximately 4.5 river miles | 2–3 hours depending on flow, group pace, breaks, and shuttle timing--Live
Waynesboro City / Ridgeview–Basic parks
View routeSouth River
Ridgeview Park to Basic Park Water Trail
Easy | 4 river miles | 2–3 hours depending on water level, portage, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing--Live
Farmville / Prince Edward and Cumberland counties
View routeAppomattox River
Farmville Blueway: Wilck’s Lake to Riverside Park
Moderate | 4 blueway miles | 2–3 hours depending on portage, dam scouting, water level, breaks, and shuttle timing--Live
Sussex County / Greensville–Jarratt area
View routeNottoway River
Double Bridge (Route 619) to Route 630 Bridge
Easy | Approximately 5 river miles | Approximately 2–4 hours depending on stage, wind, breaks, scouting, and shuttle timingThis panel hydrates from live Paddle Today scores. The route links above remain useful when JavaScript or the score API is unavailable.
Best route options
Good starting points in Virginia
Ranked from route metadata, source support, difficulty, and logistics.
Virginia routeGiles County / Glen LynNew RiverRich Creek to Glen LynA named 4.5-mile Rich Creek–Glen Lyn Water Trail float with public ramps, direct 03176500 telemetry, an official flood-stage ceiling, and calm Class I m...
Route facts
Easy | Approximately 4.5 river miles | 2–3 hours depending on flow, group pace, breaks, and shuttle timingofficial source support
Virginia routeWaynesboro City / Ridgeview–Basic parksSouth RiverRidgeview Park to Basic Park Water TrailA named public city water trail with direct stage telemetry, a documented recommended level band, Class I–II rapids, and a mandatory low-head dam portage.
Route facts
Easy | 4 river miles | 2–3 hours depending on water level, portage, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timingofficial source support
Virginia routeFarmville / Prince Edward and Cumberland countiesAppomattox RiverFarmville Blueway: Wilck’s Lake to Riverside ParkShorter options: 1.5–2.5 miA named public four-mile town blueway with a lake-to-creek portage, documented dam/canal decision, direct Farmville stage telemetry, and two public park...
Route facts
Moderate | 4 blueway miles | 2–3 hours depending on portage, dam scouting, water level, breaks, and shuttle timingofficial source support
Virginia routeSussex County / Greensville–Jarratt areaNottoway RiverDouble Bridge (Route 619) to Route 630 BridgeA named DWR five-mile Nottoway River float with two public ramps, mostly flat Class I water, a direct gauge for current-condition context, and a plannin...
Route facts
Easy | Approximately 5 river miles | Approximately 2–4 hours depending on stage, wind, breaks, scouting, and shuttle timingofficial source support
Virginia routeFluvanna County / Crofton–PalmyraRivanna RiverCrofton public landing to Palmyra public landingA public lower-Rivanna day float from Crofton to Palmyra with direct downstream telemetry, official landing coordinates, one Class I–II feature, no infe...
Route facts
Easy | Approximately 6.5 river miles | Allow 3–5 hours depending on stage, group pace, breaks, scouting, and shuttle timing; DWR describes the section as a novice float but does not promise a fixed travel time.official source support
Virginia routeRockbridge County / Buena Vista–GlasgowMaury RiverGlen Maury Park to Locher LandingShorter options: 5.0–7.0 miA long day float with a direct gauge, developed public endpoints, three broken-dam hazard areas, private banks, and nearby reservation-based primitive c...
Route facts
Moderate | 12 river miles | 6–8+ hours depending on stage, scouting, portages, breaks, and shuttle timingofficial source support
Beginner routes
Virginia beginner routes
These routes are tagged easy in the route data. Today's water can still change the call.
New RiverRich Creek to Glen LynGiles County / Glen Lyn | Approximately 4.5 river milesNottoway RiverDouble Bridge (Route 619) to Route 630 BridgeSussex County / Greensville–Jarratt area | Approximately 5 river milesReed CreekKents Lane Portage Park to Millers Creek Portage ParkWythe County / Wytheville–Max Meadows | Approximately 5 river miles (planning estimate; Wythe County does not publish official mileage)Rivanna RiverCrofton public landing to Palmyra public landingFluvanna County / Crofton–Palmyra | Approximately 6.5 river milesSouth RiverRidgeview Park to Basic Park Water TrailWaynesboro City / Ridgeview–Basic parks | 4 river miles
Weekend planning
Routes with practical logistics
Use the live weekend board for score-based recommendations.
Appomattox RiverFarmville Blueway: Wilck’s Lake to Riverside Park4 blueway miles | 2–3 hours depending on portage, dam scouting, water level, breaks, and shuttle timingAppomattox RiverJohn J. Radcliffe Conservation Area to Patton Parkabout 7 river miles | 3–5 hours depending on stage, scouting, portages, breaks, and shuttle timingChestnut CreekGalax U.S. 58 trailhead to Byllesby Dam on the New RiverApproximately 13.2 river miles | Allow a full day for Class I–III water, scouting, the Chestnut Falls decision, portages, the downstream transition, breaks, and shuttle timing; do not rely on an unverified travel-time estimate.Clinch RiverBlackford Bridge to Puckett's Hole7.3 river miles | Allow 3–5 hours depending on flow, group pace, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing; do not rely on an unverified travel-time estimate.Clinch RiverPuckett's Hole to Nash's Ford8.2 river miles | 3–5+ hours depending on flow, scouting, group pace, breaks, and shuttle timingHardware RiverRoute 6 access to Hardware River WMA bridge6.8 river miles | 3-5 hours depending on flow, wood, scouting, breaks, and shuttle timing
Browse coverage
Rivers and regions
Compact directory links for crawlers and planners.
By river
James River4
New River4
Roanoke River3
Appomattox River2
Rappahannock River2
Chestnut Creek1
Hardware River1
Maury River1
North Fork Shenandoah River1
North River1
Nottoway River1
Rivanna River1
South Fork Holston River1
South Fork Shenandoah River1
South River1
Staunton River1
By region
Appomattox and Buckingham counties / Bent Creek–Gladstone1
Augusta County / George Washington National Forest1
Botetourt County / Iron Gate–Glen Wilton1
Botetourt County / Upper James River Water Trail1
Campbell County / Long Island–Brookneal1
Chesterfield / Dinwiddie counties and Petersburg1
Danville / Pittsylvania County0
Farmville / Prince Edward and Cumberland counties1
Fauquier and Culpeper counties / Remington–Kelly’s Ford1
Fluvanna County / Crofton–Palmyra1
Fluvanna County / Scottsville-Hardware1
Franklin County / Rocky Mount0
Galax–Carroll County / New River Trail State Park1
Giles County / Glen Lyn1
Grayson County / New River Trail State Park1
Halifax County / Halifax–Scottsburg0
Henry County / Bassett–Fieldale1
Montgomery County–Roanoke County upper Blueway1
Page County / Newport–Luray1
Radford / Pulaski County1
Richmond / James River Park System1
Roanoke County / Blue Ridge Parkway–Smith Mountain Lake1
Rockbridge County / Buena Vista–Glasgow1
Russell County / Clinch River Gorge1
Russell County / Upper Clinch River1
Salem–Roanoke urban Blueway1
Scott County / Gate City–Weber City0
Shenandoah County / Mount Jackson–Edinburg1
Spotsylvania County and Fredericksburg / lower Rappahannock1
Sussex County / Greensville–Jarratt area1
Washington County / Damascus–Alvarado1
Waynesboro City / Ridgeview–Basic parks1
Wythe County / New River Trail State Park1
Wythe County / Wytheville–Max Meadows1
Need broader planning context?
Weekend boardExplore all routesRequest a routeAll tracked routes
Every Virginia route on Paddle Today
30 server-rendered route links.
Showing all 30 routes.
Appomattox RiverFarmville Blueway: Wilck’s Lake to Riverside ParkFarmville / Prince Edward and Cumberland counties | ModerateAppomattox RiverJohn J. Radcliffe Conservation Area to Patton ParkChesterfield / Dinwiddie counties and Petersburg | HardChestnut CreekGalax U.S. 58 trailhead to Byllesby Dam on the New RiverGalax–Carroll County / New River Trail State Park | HardClinch RiverBlackford Bridge to Puckett's HoleRussell County / Upper Clinch River | ModerateClinch RiverPuckett's Hole to Nash's FordRussell County / Clinch River Gorge | HardHardware RiverRoute 6 access to Hardware River WMA bridgeFluvanna County / Scottsville-Hardware | ModerateJames RiverBent Creek Boat Ramp to James River State ParkAppomattox and Buckingham counties / Bent Creek–Gladstone | ModerateJames RiverBuchanan to ArcadiaBotetourt County / Upper James River Water Trail | ModerateJames RiverIron Gate/Lick Run to Glen WiltonBotetourt County / Iron Gate–Glen Wilton | ModerateJames RiverPony Pasture Park to Reedy CreekRichmond / James River Park System | ModerateMaury RiverGlen Maury Park to Locher LandingRockbridge County / Buena Vista–Glasgow | ModerateNew RiverAustin Memorial Park to Foster FallsWythe County / New River Trail State Park | ModerateNew RiverBisset Park / Dudley’s Landing to Peppers FerryRadford / Pulaski County | ModerateNew RiverIndependence to BaywoodGrayson County / New River Trail State Park | ModerateNew RiverRich Creek to Glen LynGiles County / Glen Lyn | EasyNorth Fork Shenandoah RiverMeems Bottom to Chapman's LandingShenandoah County / Mount Jackson–Edinburg | ModerateNorth RiverNorth River Campground to Camp May FlatherAugusta County / George Washington National Forest | HardNottoway RiverDouble Bridge (Route 619) to Route 630 BridgeSussex County / Greensville–Jarratt area | EasyRappahannock RiverMotts Run to Old Mill Park, FredericksburgSpotsylvania County and Fredericksburg / lower Rappahannock | HardRappahannock RiverRector Tract to Kelly's FordFauquier and Culpeper counties / Remington–Kelly’s Ford | ModerateReed CreekKents Lane Portage Park to Millers Creek Portage ParkWythe County / Wytheville–Max Meadows | EasyRivanna RiverCrofton public landing to Palmyra public landingFluvanna County / Crofton–Palmyra | EasyRoanoke RiverBlue Ridge Parkway Roanoke River Trail to Explore Park/Rutrough PointRoanoke County / Blue Ridge Parkway–Smith Mountain Lake | ModerateRoanoke RiverEastern Montgomery Park to Wayside ParkMontgomery County–Roanoke County upper Blueway | ModerateRoanoke RiverSalem Rotary Park to Wasena ParkSalem–Roanoke urban Blueway | ModerateSmith RiverBassett River Access to The Great Road River AccessHenry County / Bassett–Fieldale | ModerateSouth Fork Holston RiverDrowning Ford / Route 58 access to Alvarado Route 710Washington County / Damascus–Alvarado | HardSouth Fork Shenandoah RiverNewport to White House LandingPage County / Newport–Luray | ModerateSouth RiverRidgeview Park to Basic Park Water TrailWaynesboro City / Ridgeview–Basic parks | EasyStaunton RiverLong Island DWR ramp to Brookneal DWR rampCampbell County / Long Island–Brookneal | Hard
Quick answers
Virginia paddling FAQ
How does Paddle Today choose Virginia paddle routes?
Paddle Today lists Virginia routes when the route has enough defensible gauge, threshold, source, and logistics support to make a live route score useful. The current Virginia page includes 30 scored routes across 19 rivers.
Are these Virginia river conditions live?
The route links on this page are server-rendered and crawlable. Each route page then checks live gauge readings, weather, water-level context, and route score data before you make a same-day call.
Can I request another Virginia route?
Yes. Use the request form to send the river, reach, access points, and any source links. Paddle Today prioritizes routes where a public gauge or defensible threshold support can back the live score.