A (Virtual) Ride Down James River

On "river left" as you face downstream (following the tradition of paddlers, river right and river left always refer to the direction when facing downstream), the shore is tree lined with no visible development. The foliage hides the CSX Railroad and the James River and Kanawha Canal. Although privately owned, this reach is not attractive for development since it is part of the floodplain.

On river right, the banks rise much more steeply, and the hillside is sprinkled with houses that overlook the river. Some of these homes are hidden among the trees; others are fully visible as a result of clear cutting. The current is moving at a relatively slow pace with occasional rocks showing unless the river is high. There is no whitewater in this section. As you round the bend, Huguenot Memorial Bridge comes into view.

About a mile below Bosher’s Dam, and just upstream of Huguenot Bridge, a private fishing camp and the abutment of the former Westhamption Bridge are visible on river right. The bridge abutment is now apart of Huguenot Flatwater, a part of the James River Park System. Huguenot Flatwater features a hand-launch boat ramp with a center slide that encourages “seal entry” by kayakers and canoeists. Huguenot Flatwater was recently renamed from Huguenot Woods to better depict its use pattern. Huguenot Woods became part of the City park system in 197? when the property was purchased by the Historic James Greenbelt Corporation and resold to the City with use restrictions attached. Huguenot Bridge,which crosses above the parkland, opened in 1950 to replace the Westhampton Bridge. A new replacement bridge is in the planning stage.