Upper James River Water Trail

The James is Virginia's longest river — 348 miles from the Alleghenies to the Chesapeake Bay — and the Upper James River Water Trail covers sixty-four miles of it between Iron Gate and Joshua Falls in Botetourt and Rockbridge counties. It carries the designation Virginia Scenic River, the highest level of state river protection. Bald eagles nest along the corridor. Bring binoculars. The most popular access points are Buchanan, Springwood, Alpine, and Eagle Rock. Local outfitters in Buchanan and at Explore Park rent kayaks and canoes. Roanoke grew up where railroads needed a hub in Southwest Virginia — the Norfolk and Western Railway chose Big Lick in 1882 and turned a small town into a city almost overnight. When the railroad eventually left, outdoor amenities became part of how the city rebuilt. The water trail is one piece of that: a stretch of protected river long enough to make a weekend trip, close enough to matter.