Around here
Around James River
Data Source: Recreation.gov · Public land: USGS PAD-US
About this river
James River is a 62.1 mile river near James River Reeling & Rafting in Virginia. Streamflow is measured at the USGS gauge James River at Scottsville, VA (site 02029000). The National Hydrography Dataset places it at stream order 8. Reach geometry comes from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset.
Typical flow by month
1980 to 2026
James River typically runs highest in March, at a median 6,570 cfs, and lowest in September, at 1,355 cfs. The highest flow on record for any single day is 199,000 cfs, in 1986.
Show the numbers
| Month | Typical (cfs) | Usual range (cfs) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4,320 | 2,570 to 7,260 |
| February | 5,230 | 3,520 to 8,670 |
| March | 6,570 | 4,260 to 9,850 |
| April | 5,735 | 3,720 to 10,000 |
| May | 5,320 | 3,540 to 8,100 |
| June | 2,775 | 1,920 to 4,980 |
| July | 1,900 | 1,460 to 2,930 |
| August | 1,640 | 1,170 to 2,340 |
| September | 1,355 | 1,040 to 2,120 |
| October | 1,430 | 1,070 to 2,940 |
| November | 2,010 | 1,275 to 4,545 |
| December | 3,680 | 2,030 to 6,360 |
Typical is the median of each month’s daily median values, and the usual range runs from the median 25th to the median 75th percentile, across about 47 years of record. Statistics published by the US Geological Survey for James River at Scottsville, VA (site 02029000). Conditions on any given day can fall well outside the usual range. Check the current reading before you go.
Boat access nearby
8 mapped launches sit in the mapped area of James River, all of them public access. Ramp data comes from the USGS national boat-ramp inventory.
- Joshua FallsJames RiverPublic
- Slate River LakeSlate River LakePublic
- Amelia LakeAmelia County LakePublic
- Horsepen Lake Water Management AreaHorsepen LakePublic
- Reed Creek LandingJames RiverPublic
- BuchananJames RiverPublic
- Bent CreekJames RiverPublic
- SpringwoodJames RiverPublic
Made to print
Put James River on your wall
This river section as an art print, drawn over the real terrain with its miles, plus the trails, roads and peaks around it. Pick the colors and the size, and see the finished print before you buy. From $39, shipping included.
Embed this gauge on your site
Paste this snippet anywhere, an outfitter page, a club site, a trip report, to show James River's live streamflow, water level and 7-day trend. It reads the USGS gauge directly, updates itself, and links back here.
See every free widget you can put on your site, including live conditions and a 7 day forecast.
