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, 971 miles of river have received the Virginia Scenic River designation. There are 36 segments that allow for fishing, paddling, and leisurely floats. Use this map of Scenic Rivers provided by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation for assistance in locating a river.

HISTORIC FALLS OF THE JAMES

CN19071201V_233.JPGPhoto Credit: Creative Dog Media, @creativedogmedia

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

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Photo Credit: Big Orange Frame

GOOSE CREEK

APPOMATTOX RIVER

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Photo Credit: Daniel Jones

CATOCTIN CREEK

  • Designated in 1977
  • From Waterford to the confluence with the Potomac River in Lovettsville (16 miles)

NOTTOWAY RIVER

HR20110203V_044.TIFPhoto Credit: Kyle LaFerriere, @laferriere.photography
  • 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

SV13112107V_040.TIFPhoto Credit: Tony Hall
  • 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

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Photo Credit: Rich Grant, @richgrantdenver

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER

CB20051503V_010.TIFPhoto Credit: Tyler Darden Photography, @tyler.darden

LOWER HISTORIC JAMES RIVER

HR20020701P_120.JPGImage Courtesy of Kingsmill Resort

MOORMANS RIVER

  • Designated in 1988
  • From the Charlottesville Reservoir in Crozet to the confluence with Mechums River in Charlottesville (14 miles)

NORTH LANDING RIVER

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

HA17101803P_098.JPGPhoto Credit: Joshua Moore, @jtm71

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

HA09121503V_005.TIFPhoto Credit:  John Henley

CLINCH RIVER

  • Designated in 1992 and extended in 1994 and 2020
  • From the confluence with Indian Creek to the Russell-Scott county line (66.8 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

MEHERRIN RIVER

NORTH MAYO RIVER

  • Designated in 2008
  • From Route 695 in Spencer to the Virginia-North Carolina border in Ridgeway (7.1 miles)
  • Related: Smith River 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: Smith River 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

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Photo Credit: Sam Dean, @sdeanphotos
  • 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

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

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  • 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)

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

GRAYS CREEK

  • Designated in 2020
  • From: Route 618 (Southwark Road) to the confluence with James River (6 miles)

MIDDLE JAMES

  • Designated in 2020
  • From 1 mile upstream from Warren to New Canton (20 miles)

MAURY RIVER

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Photo Credit: Matt Maier
  • Designated in 2020
  • From the confluence of Calfpasture and Little Calfpasture rivers to Route 631 (Furrs Mill Road) (19.25 miles)

POUND RIVER

  • Designated in 2020
  • From the Town of Pound near Old Mill Village Road to the Pound River Campground at Little Laurel Branch (17 miles)

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES