Certain stretches of river are incredibly beautiful and some are even protected ecosystems. Since 1970, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has celebrated these waterways through the Virginia Scenic Rivers Program. The process to recognize sections of river as “scenic” begins as a grassroots effort, but there’s no doubt that residents and visitors alike treasure the recreation and scenery these streams provide.
Since 1970, 815 miles of river have received the Virginia Scenic River designation. There are 33 segments, with 38.6 miles of the Dan River in Halifax being the most recent addition to the list (2015).
The rivers are in order below based on the year it was designated (oldest to most recent), and do see the map below for assistance in locating a river. You may have to zoom in as a few pins overlap each other.
Paddle, float, fish and photograph your way along Virginia’s Scenic Rivers.
– VIRGINIA SCENIC RIVERS –
HISTORIC FALLS OF THE JAMES
- Designated in 1972 and extended in 1984
- From West Richmond to Orleans Street (8.6 miles)
- Related: Belle Isle Park | Pony Pasture | Richmond Guides & Outfitters
The James River and downtown Richmond skyline, a Virginia Scenic River.
RIVANNA RIVER
- Designated in 1975 and extended in 1988 and 2009
- From the South Fork of the Rivanna Reservoir in Charlottesville to the confluence with the James River in Columbia (46 miles)
- Related: Pleasant Grove Park Trails
STAUNTON RIVER
- Designated in 1975 and extended in 2001 and 2003
- From Route 761 in Long Island to Route 360 in Randolph (51.3 miles)
- Related: Long Island Park | Staunton River Battlefield State Park
GOOSE CREEK
- Designated in 1976 and extended in 2007
- From the confluence of the north and south prong of Goose Creek near Linden to the confluence with the Potomac River in Leesburg (48 miles)
- Related: Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve | Elizabeth Mills Riverfront Park and Kephart Bridge Landing | Goose Creek Golf Club
APPOMATTOX RIVER
- Designated in 1977 and extended in 1998 and 2011
- From 100′ below Lake Chesdin Dam in Chesterfield to the confluence with the James River at City Point in Hopewell (19.2 miles)
- Related: Dodd Park at Point of Rocks | Kayak the Appomattox River with Eco Trek Adventures | Friends of the Lower Appomattox River
City Point in Hopewell is where the Appomattox meets the James River. This is also where the Virginia Scenic River designation ends for the Appomattox River.
CATOCTIN CREEK
- Designated in 1977
- From Waterford to the confluence with the Potomac River in Lovettsville (16 miles)
NOTTOWAY RIVER
- Designated in 1979 and extended in 1992 and 2011
- From the Route 40 bridge over Stony Creek in Stony Creek to the confluence with Blackwater River on the Virginia-North Carolina border (72.5 miles)
ST. MARY’S RIVER
- Designated in 1979
- From the headwaters in Augusta County just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Route 162, past St. Mary’s Wilderness to the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest boundary (6 miles)
SHENANDOAH RIVER
- Designated in 1979 and extended in 1992
- From the Virginia-West Virginia border to the Clarke-Warren County line (21.6 miles)
- Related: Watermelon Park Campground
UPPER JAMES RIVER
- Designated in 1985
- From two miles southeast of Route 43 in Eagle Rock to the Route 630 bridge at Springwood (14 miles)
- Related: Upper James River Water Trail | Twin River Outfitters
The Upper James Virginia Scenic River ends a few miles upstream from the Buchanan Swinging Bridge.
RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER
- Designated in 1985 and extended in 1990
- From the headwaters near Chester Gap (Marshall) to the Ferry Farm/Mayfield Bridge in Fredericksburg (86 miles)
- Related: Chester F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area | Belmont Ferry Farm Trail | Fredericksburg Dinner Riverboat Cruise
Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg
LOWER HISTORIC JAMES RIVER
- Designated in 1988
- From 1.2 miles east of Trees Point in Charles City to Lawnes Creek on the James City-Surry County line (25 miles)
- Related: Jamestown Beach Park | Historic Jamestowne | Jamestown Discovery Boat Tours | Chippokes Plantation State Park | Hog Island Wildlife Management Area | Kingsmill Resort
As you look toward this sun from this Cameron Davidson aerial shot, you’re taking in Jamestown Island, Historic Jamestowne, and Colonial Parkway bridging south from Jamestown Settlement. The water beyond is the Lower Historic James River, a Virginia Scenic River.
MOORMANS RIVER
- Designated in 1988
- From the Charlottesville Reservoir in Crozet to the confluence with Mechums River in Charlottesville (14 miles)
NORTH LANDING RIVER
- Designated in 1988
- From North Landing Road in Virginia Beach to Virginia-North Carolina border (26.7 miles)
- Related: North Landing River Natural Area | Munden Point Park | North Landing Beach Campground & RV Resort
CHICKAHOMINY RIVER
- Designated in 1990
- From Route 360 in Mechanicsville to the Hanover-Henrico-New Kent County line around Quinton on Route 613 (10.2 miles)
GUEST RIVER
- Designated in 1990
- From 100′ downstream of Route 72 in Coeburn to the confluence with Clinch River (6.5 miles)
- Related: Guest River Gorge Trail | Jefferson National Forest
ROCKFISH RIVER
- Designated in 1990
- From Route 639 in Schuyler to the confluence with the James River in Howardsville (9.75 miles)
BIG CEDAR CREEK
- Designated in 1992
- From Lebanon to the confluence with Clinch River (5.8 miles)
- Related: Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve
Fishing at Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve, Big Cedar Creek
CLINCH RIVER
- Designated in 1992 and extended in 1994
- From the confluence with Little River in Honaker to Route 645 in Cleveland (20 miles)
- NOTE: Big Cedar Creek is included as a confluence in this segment.
NORTH MEHERRIN RIVER
- Designated in 1997
- From Route 712 bridge in Victoria to the confluence with the South Meherrin River in South Hill (7.5 miles)
CLINCH RIVER
- Designated in 2002
- From Route 58 in Saint Paul to the confluence with Guest River in Coeburn (9.2 miles)
- Related: Clinch River Adventures | Sugar Hill Loop Trail
MEHERRIN RIVER
- Designated in 2006 and extended in 2013
- From confluence with North Meherrin River in South Hill to Brunswick-Greenville County line at Brodnax (54.8 miles)
- Related: Max B. Crowder Park at Whittle’s Mill | Roanoke River Water Sports
NORTH MAYO RIVER
- Designated in 2008
- From Route 695 in Spencer to the Virginia-North Carolina border in Ridgeway (7.1 miles)
- Related: Three Rivers Outfitters
SOUTH MAYO RIVER
- Designated in 2008
- From the Patrick-Henry County at the confluence of Green Creek to the Virginia-North Carolina border in Ridgeway (6.9 miles)
- Related: Three Rivers Outfitters
BLACKWATER RIVER
- Designated in 2010
- From Proctors Bridge at Route 621 in Ivor to the confluence with the Nottoway River at the Virginia-North Carolina border in Suffolk (56 miles)
HUGHES RIVER
- Designated in 2010
- From Shenandoah National Park boundary in Etlan to the confluence with Hazel River near Boston (10 miles)
JORDAN RIVER
- Designated in 2010
- From Route 522 bridge at Flint Hill to the confluence with Rappahannock River (7 miles)
RUSSELL FORK RIVER
- Designated in 2010
- From Splashdam railroad crossing on Route 613 in Haysi to the Virginia-Kentucky border in Breaks (9 miles)
- Related: Breaks Interstate Park
Russell Fork River cuts through Breaks Interstate Park
BANISTER RIVER
- Designated in 2013 and extended in 2014
- From Rawley White Martin Memorial Bridge on Route 29 in Chatham to the confluence with Dan River in South Boston (63.3 miles)
DAN RIVER
- Designated in 2013
- From Route 880 at Berry Hill Road in Cascade on the Virginia-North Carolina border to Abreu-Grogan Park in Danville (15 miles)
Scenes Along the Dan River in Danville
CRANES NEST RIVER
- Designated in 2014
- From Route 637 in Coeburn to John W. Flannagan Reservoir launch ramp in Clintwood (10.7 miles)
TYE RIVER
- Designated in 2014
- From Route 739 in Arrington to the confluence with the James River at Norwood (12.7 miles)
DAN RIVER
- Designated in 2015
- From the Virginia-North Carolina line near Route 62 in Ringgold to the confluence with Aaron’s Creek in Buffalo Junction (38.6 miles)
- Related: Staunton River State Park
– RESOURCES –
Virginia’s Scenic Rivers Program brochure
Scenic Rivers Map and List of Desirable Rivers
© Casey for Virginia’s Travel Blog, 2015. |
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