A 14 day old warning about this river was added. Click on comments below to read it.

James - 5. Lower James through Richmond


James, Virginia, US

 Disclaimer

5. Lower James through Richmond (Reedy Creek to Mayo Island)

Usual Difficulty III-IV (for normal flows)
Length 2.5 Miles

Downtown Cover


Downtown Cover
Photo of Group by Julie Wilson taken 12/15/06 @ 5ft

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
JAMES RIVER NEAR RICHMOND, VA
usgs-02037500 4.00 - 9.00 ft III-IV 00h39m 4.28 ft (rc= 0.1 )


River Description

The Lower James is class III whitewater centrally located in the City of Richmond. Boaters who live or work in the area can typically reach the put-in/takeout within twenty to thirty minutes. This is a short run but provides numerous features for play and skill development. Many natural and manmade hazards exist such has low head dams, keeper holes, rebar, hidden debris, and strainers.

Warning - Danger at Hollywood Rapid: On January 21st 2006 our boating community lost one of its beloved members to a large tree (pile) strainer towards the bottom of Hollywood Rapid. Karen Abse was an experienced kayaker with over 20 years of paddling experience, including whitewater kayak instruction. It was reported that Karen flipped in Hollywood rapid for a second time and was unable to right her kayak before being pushed into the tree strainer and disappearing. Karen was paddling with a group of highly qualified kayakers who made heroic efforts to rescue her, but time was not on their side. You can learn more about Karen by visiting the Coastals' website: http://www.coastals.org/remembrance/ or the JROC website: http://jroc.net/. Efforts are underway to remove the wood below Hollywood Rapid however this section of the James is notorious for wood and at anytime a shift or new wood is possible. Please be alert.

Directions: to takeout

 From I95 south bound, exit 74B, turn right at stop light onto E. Franklin St., turn left at next stop light onto 14th St., stay on 14th St. as you pass the flood wall the access drive is immediately on the left. From I95 north bound exit 73 Maury St, at stop light turn right onto Maury St., then turn left onto E 2nd St., at light turn right on Hull/14th St. cross bridge, turning right by the north side flood wall. The parking lot is tucked in the back by a water treatment building.

This access point was built with the efforts from local boaters, the James River Outdoor Coalition and the James River Park System.

To put-in, turn left out of takeout parking lot onto 14th/Hull St, turn right at third stop light onto Commerce Rd, Turn left onto any of the next 4 streets (example McDonough St), turn right onto hwy 1/301 then turn left onto Semmes Ave (stop light), Turn right onto W 22nd St, turn left onto Riverside Dr, at Riverside Dr and Hillcrest Rd is the put-in area. There is a city parks area to unload boats. We normally park on Hillcrest Rd to better protect our vehicles. There is also a changing room in the park area.


 

 


StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2011-03-28 17:21:11

Editors



Corn Wagon

Detail Trip Report  Corn Wagon  James River - Downtown, VA(92.71KB .jpeg)

James Downtown

Detail Trip Report  James Downtown  James River - Downtown, VA(87.58KB .jpeg)

Running Hollywood

Detail Trip Report  Running Hollywood  James River - Downtown, VA(124.85KB .jpeg)

Surfing at First Break

Detail Trip Report  Surfing at First Break  James River - Downtown, VA(93.55KB .jpeg)

Hollywood Wave

Detail Trip Report  Hollywood Wave  James River - Downtown, VA(38.41KB .jpeg)

Put-in

Detail Trip Report  Put-in  James River - Downtown, VA(49.24KB .jpeg)

Surfing at First Break

Detail Trip Report  Surfing at First Break  James River - Downtown, VA(131.85KB .jpeg)

Two is better then one

Detail Trip Report  Two is better then one  James River - Downtown, VA(241.58KB .jpeg)

Surfing First Break

Detail Trip Report  Surfing First Break  James River - Downtown, VA(139.36KB .jpeg)

Surfing at Pipeline

Detail Trip Report  Surfing at Pipeline  James River - Downtown, VA(131.04KB .jpeg)

Surfing at Pipeline

Detail Trip Report  Surfing at Pipeline  James River - Downtown, VA(145.06KB .jpeg)

Dagger Paddle with the Pros

Detail Trip Report  Dagger Paddle with the Pros  James River - Downtown, VA(3.64MB .avi)

Downtown Cover

Detail Trip Report  Downtown Cover  James River, VA(142.23KB .jpeg)

Downtown Cover

Detail Trip Report  Downtown Cover  James River, VA(143.99KB .jpeg)

Seldom Seen Play

Detail Trip Report  Seldom Seen Play  James River - Downtown, VA(142.53KB .jpeg)

Mayo Takeout

Detail Trip Report  Mayo Takeout  James River - Downtown, VA(133.58KB .jpeg)

The Mouth at Hollywood

Detail Trip Report  The Mouth at Hollywood  Richmond Downtown, VA(65.98KB .jpeg)

Triple Drop Cover

Detail Trip Report  Triple Drop Cover  James River - Downtown, VA(17.23KB .jpeg)

Powerline Cover

Detail Trip Report  Powerline Cover  James River - Downtown, VA(16.18KB .jpeg)

LuluCover

Detail Trip Report  LuluCover  James River - Downtown, VA(16.03KB .jpeg)

PipelinePlay Cover

Detail Trip Report  PipelinePlay Cover  James River - Downtown, VA(17.77KB .jpeg)

Lulu

Detail Trip Report  Lulu  James River - Downtown, VA(15.22KB .jpeg)

Hollywood Dam

Detail Trip Report  Hollywood Dam  James River - Downtown, VA(35.23KB .jpeg)

Hollywood

Detail Trip Report  Hollywood  James River - Downtown, VA(52.83KB .jpeg)

Play at Pipeline

Detail Trip Report  Play at Pipeline  James River - Downtown, VA(18.40KB .jpeg)

Pipeline Play

Detail Trip Report  Pipeline Play  James River - Downtown, VA(22.30KB .jpeg)

Surfing at Corner Rapid

Detail Trip Report  Surfing at Corner Rapid  James River - Downtown, VA(72.06KB .jpeg)

Surfing Corner Pocket

Detail Trip Report  Surfing Corner Pocket  James River - Downtown, VA(90.28KB .jpeg)

Creeking on the James

Detail Trip Report  Creeking on the James  James, VA(85.34KB .jpeg)

Another reason why people fall in love with the James

Detail Trip Report  Another reason why people fall in love with the James  James, VA(89.96KB .jpeg)

Hollywood Air

Detail Trip Report  Hollywood Air  James, VA(65.86KB .jpeg)

Hollywood at 4.74'

Detail Trip Report  Hollywood at 4.74'  James, VA(33.28KB .jpeg)

Hollywood at 4.74'

Detail Trip Report  Hollywood at 4.74'  James, VA(152.08KB .jpeg)

Surfing Hollywood

Detail Trip Report  Surfing Hollywood  James, VA(1.26MB .jpeg)

Hollywood @ 4.45 ft.

Detail Trip Report  Hollywood @ 4.45 ft.  James, VA(149.97KB .jpeg)

Hollywood @ 4.45

Detail Trip Report  Hollywood @ 4.45  James, VA(168.89KB .jpeg)


>> next

Gauge Information

Gauge Description:

When the river is above five feet at the Westham gauge a PFD is required when on the River. At 9ft and above a permit is required along with paddling in groups of 3 or more and carrying a first aid kit/rescue line. The permit system is a result of a compromise between the boating community and the city which wanted to ban boating during high levels. The permit cost is $10 for two years and can be obtained at the Church Hill Fire department located at 24th & Broad St. There is no exam nor test issued to obtain a permit.

Gauge Information

Name Range Difficulty Updated Level
JAMES RIVER NEAR RICHMOND, VA
usgs-02037500 4.00 - 9.00 ft III-IV 00h39m 4.28 ft (rc= 0.1 )

RangeWater LevelDifficultyComment
4.00 -9.00 ft barely runnable-high runnable III-IV

Report - Reports of James 5. Lower James through Richmond and related gauges

Reports give the public a chance to report on river conditions throughout the country as well as log the history of a river.

Reports

When River/Gauge Subject Level Reporter
James [VA] Surfing Hollywood 4 something Michael Tavares
James [VA] Creeking on the James n/a Daniel Anderson
James River - Downtown [VA] Corn Wagon n/a Karl & JoAnn Gordon
5y59d16h09m James River [VA] Downtown Cover 5ft Karl & JoAnn Gordon
5y242d16h09m Richmond Downtown [VA] The Mouth at Hollywood 3.9ft Karl & JoAnn Gordon
6y301d16h09m James River - Downtown [VA] Dagger Paddle with the Pros 6ft Karl & JoAnn Gordon
6y351d16h09m James River - Downtown [VA] Surfing First Break 5.8ft Karl & JoAnn Gordon
7y42d16h09m James River - Downtown [VA] Hollywood Wave 6.3ft Karl & JoAnn Gordon
7y42d16h09m James River - Downtown [VA] James Downtown 6.3ft Karl & JoAnn Gordon
7y120d16h09m James River - Downtown [VA] Mayo Takeout High Tide Karl & JoAnn Gordon
7y186d16h09m James [VA] Girl Power 4.4ft Thomas Bernadas
7y194d16h09m James [VA] Hollywood 4.3 Julianna Wilson
7y206d16h09m James [VA] Hollywood @ 4.45 4.45 Julianna Wilson
7y206d16h09m James [VA] Hollywood @ 4.45 ft. n/a Julianna Wilson
7y212d16h09m James River - Downtown [VA] Triple Drop Cover 9ft Karl & JoAnn Gordon
8y173d16h09m James [VA] Hollywood at 4.74' 4.74' Joan Davis
8y195d16h09m James [VA] Downtown 4.34 Julianna Wilson

WXPort

News





User Comments
2012-01-29 03:33:08 (14 days ago)
Surprisingly well-wirtten and informative for a free online article. Edit
2012-01-29 02:29:29 (14 days ago)
This is what we need - an inisght to make everyone think Edit
2007-10-25 12:12:20 (1570 days ago)
Map of rapids from a boating group in the area: http://coastals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3808#3808 Edit
Users can submit comments.

Rapid Summary

Mile Rapid Name Class Features (Legend)
0.0No Name
0.0Put-inPutin Photo
0.6Hollywood DamIIPhoto
0.9CemeteryIII
1.0Corner RapidII
1.2HollywoodIII+Photo
1.4Lee BridgeI
1.6Fish LadderII+
2.0PipelineIIIPhoto
2.0PowerlineIIPhoto
2.1LuluIII+Photo
2.1Triple DropIIIPhoto
2.5Take OutTakeout

Rapid Descriptions

Put-in

Put-in

Put-in
Photo of Put-in for a New Year paddle by Karl Gordon taken 01/01/05 @ 6.3ft

Reedy Creek put-in is in a City Parks area, follow a path from parking lot.

From the put-in paddle out and ferry across slower current to a narrower channel which opens to the main body of the James. The James is a very broad river and has many different lines which run parallel to each other. Typically during a run you choose which rapids to run or carry back up and run different lines. My descriptions of rapids are not necessarily in the order of which they are run.

Hollywood Dam (Class II, Mile 0.6)

Hollywood Dam

Hollywood Dam
Photo of JoAnn Gordon/Jeff Arco by Karl Gordon taken 07/15/04 @ 9ft

The first feature is a low head dam (Hollywood Dam) that makes an L shape from Belle Island to far left side of the river. There are four breaks or lines through the Dam.

First Break: once you get out to the main body of the James the most common line is to run First Break, go with the current to Belle Island. First Break is to the river left of Belle Island and is run just right of the remaining dam. There are some of the taller standing waves here and between 5ft and 6.5ft offers endless front surfing. Just below the break is a play spot called Jaws, best at levels between 7ft and 8ft.

Variation: is also a break in the Hollywood Dam is located about 50ft to the river left of First Break. At one time this feature offered some of the best play on the river from 6 to 8.5ft, but it is no longer (1/2005) what it once was. It can still be front surfed at higher levels. This spot does have great eddy service

Grumman: is located on the left side of the Hollywood Dam. Ferry to the far side (river left) of the river after coming out of the Reedy Creek channel. Look for some exposed rocks just in front the dam and the down river current, this is a five foot slide down the dam. Grumman has a good 360 hole and is best between 5.5ft and 8.5ft. Be careful this is a very shallow spot and the rocks are sharp.

Running the Dam: continuing past Grumman and along the dam to the end of flat water. The dam grows to a height of 17ft. The dam can be run at the 10th wide line just left of the canal intake. Best level is between 4ft and 6ft. This is a lot fun but it takes almost ½ of the total gradient in just 2 seconds. The drop can be scouted by getting out on a sandbar and walking the dam to the drop area.

Pictures top is First Break with Belle Island in the background, second picture is of the Dam drop.

Cemetery (Class III, Mile 0.9)
Cemetery Rapid is a river left line that runs parallel with Hollywood Rapid. We sometimes run cemetery after playing at Grumman instead of paddling across current to Hollywood. Cemetery is also used for a high water alternative to Hollywood. To run Cemetery paddle below and parallel to Hollywood Dam. Look for a line left of some taller rocks. Run Left to right and follow the current. This is a fun and often over looked section of the James.

Corner Rapid (Class II, Mile 1.0)
Corner is downstream of first break as the James makes a right turn around Belle Island. Couple of play opportunities, Corner Pocket is river right just below some big rocks and river right are some front surfing and a 360 hole at lower water.

Hollywood (Class III+, Mile 1.2)

The Mouth at Hollywood

The Mouth at Hollywood
Photo of Shawn aka The Mouth taken 06/15/06 @ 3.9ft

After Corner Rapid is Hollywood. Named for Hollywood Cemetery which over looks this area to the North. This rapid is the best known rapid and is often debated for classification, I call it a class III others might say IV. At higher water there are large keeper holes, lower levels increase the chance of hitting rocks if upside-down. To setup for Hollywood eddy out at the Grateful Dead Rock about 50’ below corner. A Grateful Dead emblem is painted on the rocks. This is the best place to scout, take the pathway on Belle Island. To start ferry out to the main current and look for line between two holes named Flipper and another named Stripper. Paddle back to the right. Follow current and look for a tall standing wave, go straight for the peak. Use a left angle and start paddling that way to avoid Washing Machine on the right. After the wave is fast moving water, look for a recovery eddy on the left.

Below Hollywood

The runoff below Hollywood is class II boogie water at normal levels. Above 7ft there is a nice boof rock on the right/center side, I call it launch rock. At levels below 5ft a river wide pipe becomes visible and potential dangers just before the flat water. At higher water many holes develop in this area.

Lee Bridge (Class I, Mile 1.4)
After Hollywood rapid there is a bit of flat water and the river floats under the Lee Bridge. The Lee Bridge (hwy 1/301) is the main walkway for pedestrians/kayak fans to cross the James to Belle Island. We like to use the first pylon to splat and there is a nice eddy line for squirts.

After the Lee Bridge there are two options to run the Vepco Levee (potential lethal hydraulic). The most popular is the fish ladder on river left just under Ashland city limits sign. The second option is called the X’s and is river right of center. The X’s got its name because of X’s marked on two Levee Pylons, in 2003 these X’s got painted over with skull and cross bones. Run between the two skull and cross bones.

Fish Ladder (Class II+, Mile 1.6)
Run under the Ashland City Limits sign, watch out for rebar around the pylons. After the sign run center to left. There is a low head dam feature to the far left, but should not be a problem if you go straight from the sign.

Lower half, after running Fish Ladder or Second Break, there are more than six different lines that can be run. Unfortunately the lines all use the same gradient and you only get to run one line unless you carry the boat back to the top and ferry to the next line. The rapid descriptions that follow start from river right and then go to river right.

Pipeline (Class III, Mile 2.0)

PipelinePlay Cover

PipelinePlay Cover
Photo of Little Van Nall by JoAnn Gordon taken 07/15/04 @ 9ft

Pipeline is the most popular line on this section of gradient. This rapid is named for a pipe that runs under the railroad bridge on river left. There are a lot of eddies to catch as you pick your way down. About 100 yards down look for some large rock on the river right side, this is the largest drop of the rapid. Run center to right and follow the main current. This drop is also good play spot, see picture.

Powerline (Class II, Mile 2.0)

Powerline Cover

Powerline Cover
Photo of Karl Gordon by Dave Myers taken 07/15/04 @ 9ft

Powerline runs parallel with Pipeline and start just river right of a power line tower. I have run this rapid between 5ft and 7ft. The entry into this rapid consist of some eddies on the right and left with some small play spots. The water will turn to the right and then open to about 30 yards of flat water and a horizon line. This is the five foot drop in the picture and is the entire point of running this line. There are two lines, one to the far right it’s mostly just a slide and the other is a more vertical drop. For the second drop look for a curler wave right of center and run about 4 feet right of the wave. I like the second more vertical drop because the water is very airaided and it’s possible to go really deep. The higher the water the more air in the water and the deeper you go. After the drop pick you way down to the right or left. Running this rapid takes you to the north side Mayo take out.

Lulu (Class III+, Mile 2.1)

LuluCover

LuluCover
Photo of Eddie Barnette by Karl Gordon taken 07/15/04 @ 9ft

Lulu is a five foot drop with a powerful hole to the left and a relatively easy boof center. Best level is around 9ft. After the drop make a right move and look for an eddy. If you continue straight watch out for some holes and pretty shallow water, try not to flip over.

Alert (Dec 5th 2006), lots of wood in Lulu. Big log on the apex of the drop and to right after the drop. Still possible to run just left of the first log and then continue straight forward. I don’t think this will be clean anytime soon.

Triple Drop (Class III, Mile 2.1)

Triple Drop Cover

Triple Drop Cover
Photo of Scott Wagner by Karl Gordon taken 07/15/04 @ 9ft

Triple Drop is a parallel rapid with Pipeline and sets between Lulu and Southside rapids. Most people take second break rout when Triple Drop is the destination. After Second Break ferry left and look for a tree lined entranced about 20ft wide. The first drops is not really a drop but a eddy on river left by some large rocks, at times there is a surfing wave by this eddy. From the river left eddy ferry to river right bank or down river behind a Volkswagen type rock. This is the setup for the second drop and is featured in this picture to the right of the text. The typical line is the slot move just right of the exposed rock in the picture. The picture is of Scott Wagner running the boof line off the rock. After second drop find the right eddy to setup for the third drop. This drop is smaller then the second but has a under water rock that can stop boats cold. Work river left and follow the current.

Take Out
There are four take outs around Mayo Island, detail instructions to follow.See picture titled Mayo Takeout from the list below.

James River Events / Calendar 2006


Do more than just check gauges; join over 5,000 AW members today.

Join_or_Renew_Logo-200px

Join or Renew

Or, consider donating

Donate_Logo-200px

Donate


General Nonmember Message


 reach  
 state  
 reachlink  
 5. Lower James through Richmond, James Virginia, US (mobile)