Z-Dam (Class III+, Mile -0.8)
Z-Dam is just upstream of the normal Put-in. There is no parking at Z-Dam, typically boaters drive their equipment to the dam then park at the pony pasture and walk the .8 miles back. Make sure someone is watching your equipment or secure it when parking your car, equipment has been stolen here in the past.

Z-Dam or Z-Spot is a fish ladder cut into a low-head dam and creates a great play spots at select levels. The best low levels are 5.2ft to 5.5ft, below this level it gets pretty sticky and when higher it becomes hard to stay in the hole. At the right level this is one of the best play spots in Virginia, Loops and cartwheels are the major moves. There is eddy service on both sides of the hole. Be very careful of the low-head dam when in the eddy, it will try to pull you in. At high levels 10ft to 15ft a taller wave develops with a foam pile, but there is no eddy service. The best play at high water is on river left use portage trail to get back to the top for this great wave. Stay away from the middle of the dam at all levels.

Pony Pasture (Class II)
Here is Dane Goins sliding down to the James

These are actually the steps just below the rapids. To run Pony Pasture walk up the road and look for a good spot to launch.

Powhite Ledges (Class II, Mile 1.0)
An easy ledge system that can be broken up by eddy hopping. Around 4’, there is a good surfing wave river center about 2/3rds of the way through the rapid. This wave has a great river left eddy from which to get on it and the runout is deep – great for learning. Surfing wave under Powhite Bridge This wave is found around 3.5-4.0 feet. It is way over on river left right under the bridge. Another good beginner surf but it is very shallow so tuck up tight.

Choo Choo (Class II+, Mile 1.3)
As the paddler passes under the railroad bridge and moves to river left of center, there will be the remains of an old bridge in the river and a large island on the right. From 30 yards upstream, there will be a horizon line and the paddler will be able to hear Choo Choo rapid. This rapid is a wavetrain best run right of center. There is a large eddy on the right with a strong eddy line – keep that left edge up if you want to catch this one.

Chew Chew lunch beach below Choo Choo rapid The shore of the river right eddy mentioned above is a primo sandy beach and the eddy itself is a great swimming hole or roll practice spot.

Below Choo Choo (Class II, Mile 1.4)
Low Head dam: Follow the current to river right. This will bring you to a low head dam. Run this dam on the river left side of the channel. You might want to scout by getting out on an island on river left of the channel to make sure you don’t hit a rock just below the dam and get broached.

Mitchell's Gut (Class II+, Mile 1.8)
A long boulder garden. Eddy hop your way through. After this rapid, look for the boulder field on the right to end and then work right to be right of the island at the bottom with a (sometimes hard to see) sign marking this as the way to the takeout. Reedy creek comes in from the right as a slow moving inlet. Paddle up Reedy to the takeout mud beach.