Get Out on the Water: Plan a Paddling Adventure in Charlottesville & Albemarle County

Two rivers make their way through and along Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

The Rivanna River, the first designated scenic river in Virginia, runs along Charlottesville on the north and east city limits and, at its closest point, can be accessed just a mile from the downtown mall. Most paddlers will enjoy a trip down the river from Darden Towe Park to Riverview Park, which is approximately 2 miles in length and takes about 1 – 2 hours. The Rivanna Sampler, as it is coined by local outfitter Rivanna River Company, has great facilities at both the put-in and take-out and is connected by paved walking and biking paths that make it easy to travel from one end to the other. More advanced routes can be found by taking the river south past Riverview Park to Milton Landing, or you can start at Brookhill Park below the dam for the South Fork Rivanna River Reservoir and make it a full day by paddling all the way to Riverview Park.

The Mighty James River borders southern Albemarle County at the town of Scottsville. The river starts on the west side of the Blue Ridge Mountains and makes its way through the state capital of Richmond on its way to the Chesapeake Bay. The James is often used for multi-day kayaking and canoe trips, and multiple camping options can be found along the river.

Scottsville was the historic hub where the James' powerful waters were used for transportation and trade in the 18th and 19th centuries, and it is also where you'll find one of the last poled ferry rides in the United States. The ferry takes riders across the James at Hatton Ferry and many water-goers will utilize the stretch of river upstream from Scottsville as a relaxing journey with smaller rapids and speeds along this section. After your day on the river, explore Scottsville's Valley Street where you'll find restaurants, shops, and a local microbrewery.

For those looking for a low-key paddle on a flat body of water, or calm enough waters for paddleboard yoga, you'll find options at a number of parks within Albemarle County such as Walnut Creek Park, Totier Creek Park, Chris Greene Lake and Beaver Creek Lake. Each of these have great put-ins for watercraft and beautiful scenery of the surrounding mountains.

If you are looking for a still water option a bit closer to the city, check out the Ragged Mountain Natural Area. This park has a large reservoir that's great for paddling, as well as a number of hiking trails that surround the reservoir. You can also head to the South Fork Rivanna River Reservoir which sits just north of Charlottesville. If you are lucky, you may even spot the University of Virginia Rowing team as they use this reservoir as the site for practice and tournaments.

If you're looking to rent or purchase gear before your paddling adventure, visit these local outfitters for everything you need!

Rivanna River Company – Located along the Rivanna River and Rivanna Trail near Free Bridge in Charlottesville, this outfitter has numerous rental items including canoes, kayaks, tubes, and paddle boards. They can shuttle you to multiple points along the Rivanna and provide guided trips for those looking for a bit more instruction on the water.

Local Tip: The Rivanna River Company is a beautiful place to have a picnic, watch wild birds, grab a cold drink, or take home some local art in their small general store. In the summertime, it's home to events such as the Rivanna Roots Concert Series and Rivanna Riverfest.

James River Runners – One of two outfitters near Scottsville, James River Runners is located on the North side of the Hatton Ferry crossing of the James River and provides rental equipment such as tubes, kayaks, canoes and rafts. They also provide shuttles for your personal boats. James River Runners offers trips ranging from a short half day float to a two-day overnight trip. They also have a campground on the banks of the historic James river and boast some of the best small mouth fishing in the state.

James River Rafting and Reeling – James River Reeling and Rafting is located just off Highway 6 in Scottsville, right in front of the public boat launch. They provide rental equipment such as tubes, kayaks, and canoes, as well as a number of river trips of varying lengths and difficulty. This outfitter also provides riverside camping right at the boat launch in downtown Scottsville. Check out the Boat-N-Float and Boat-N-Boat overnight packages with longer sections of river upstream and downstream from Scottsville, perfect for the all-day outdoor enthusiast.

Public Lands – Public Lands opened at 5th Street Station in 2022 as one of only three Public Lands branded stores in the United States. The store supports many outdoor organizations both local and national. They also have a large supply of rental equipment from kayaks to mountain bikes and many items in-between.

Great Outdoor Provision Co. – Looking for a new kayak or paddleboard? Great Outdoor Provision Co. in the Barracks Road Shopping Center has you covered. "GOPC" (as it's known to locals) offers a diverse range of watercrafts from well-known brands such as Hobie, Old Town, and Badfish SUP. They also carry almost everything for your outdoor adventures, and commonly coordinate group outings in the area.

The annual Rivanna Riverfest is a celebration of the river that takes place in the spring with everything from live music to nature scavenger hunts. The all-day event happens at Rivanna River Company with vendors and activities of all kinds, including booths from local environmental organizations that advocate for and support greater stewardship of the river.

Also taking place at Rivanna River Company is the Rivanna Roots Summer Concert Series, put on by the outfitter, Front Porch Music School. All summer long, concertgoers can bring a blanket or foldable chair and grab a spot on the grass to enjoy the music. Local food trucks and brewers set up on-site, with ticket and drink sales benefiting the Front Porch Roots and Wings Community Outreach program. Tickets are $14 in advance and $16 at the door, and children under 12 are free. Well-behaved and leashed doggos are welcome, too!

The James River Batteau Festival also takes place every year in the Town of Scottsville on the James River. The festival welcomes in batteau crews as they make their way on the annual 8-day trek from Lynchburg to Richmond on their flat-bottomed wooden boats. Scottsville serves as the approximate half-way point and a celebration with food, music, and more awaits the crews. If you are in the area during the week of June 15th to the 22nd, this is a spectacle worth seeing. And if you are looking to take your own tour on a batteau, look no further than the James River Batteau Company who provides river tours and sunset cruises out of Scottsville.

With so many paddling options in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, we encourage you to stay a while! After a day on the water, explore one of 40+ wineries on the Monticello Wine Trail (where you may find live music and food trucks; check the events page to learn more!) or hop along the Charlottesville Ale Trail for a cold beer from one of the area's craft breweries. You can also book a craft beverage tour to visit multiple stops in one day.

Hungry after all that paddling? Head downtown and take your pick of the many restaurants along the historic pedestrian downtown mall and West Main Street! In the summertime, you'll find events like Fridays After Five, a free Friday night concert series at the outdoor Ting Pavilion. With so much to do both on the water and in-town, we hope you'll plan to stay a while at one of the area's many hotels, bed and breakfasts, cabins, or vacation rentals.