James River

The James River is Virginia’s largest river, flowing across the entire state. It begins in the mountains at the confluence of the Cowpasture and Jackson Rivers and ends at the Chesapeake Bay. The James is Virginia’s largest tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. It is 340 miles long and is fed by 25,000 miles of tributaries, which makes it one of the longest rivers in America that begins and ends in the same state. Paddling the James offers a variety of experiences from flat-water canoeing to whitewater rafting and from rural to urban. The Falls of the James at Richmond drop 105 feet over seven miles. This offers a Class I to Class V whitewater rafting experience, and represents the only white water that cuts through the heart of an urban area.