2024 Home on the James
Fishing opportunities
The Upper James River in Virginia is a popular destination for freshwater fishing enthusiasts from all over the country. The river runs through Botetourt and Rockbridge counties, providing some of the best fishing opportunities in the area.
Anglers can enjoy a variety of fishing settings and species on the Upper James. While smallmouth bass is the most prevalent game fish, anglers can also catch spotted and largemouth bass, as well as channel catfish, flathead catfish, and various sunfish species.
If you’re interested in fishing, you’ll have plenty of opportunities throughout the trip. However, you’ll need to bring your own fishing equipment and license.
Camping
During the expedition, we will spend four nights camping in the George Washington National Forest. We will be staying in backcountry tent sites. OLP will provide all the necessary camping gear, but if you have your own gear, you are more than welcome to use it. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at olp@lynchburg.edu.
***This is a tentative schedule. Places and events may change to accommodate the environment, weather, logistics, and the overall safety of the group.***
Day One: Monday, Aug. 12
Location: 132 Drysdale Student Center (1st floor of the Drysdale Student Center, Outdoor Leadership Program)
Participants of the ABOVE program can move into their on-campus lodging early. Check-in will be available from 9 a.m. to noon.
After you move into your residence hall, we will meet at 1 p.m. at the OLP office to start our adventure. Our day will begin with the low ropes challenge course, where you will get to know your crew before taking on the challenge of preparing your gear for the coming week. Once we are all packed, we will set off for our riverside camp spot to rest.
Day Two: Tuesday, Aug. 13
Location: Gala to Catawba Creek
Starting now, our expedition will proceed via boat, and we will move at the river’s natural pace. We will focus on learning the fundamentals of paddling a canoe and the basics of white water navigation. Our journey will cover 9.5 miles and will last approximately five hours. During this time, we will encounter numerous Class I and a few Class II rapids, which will provide ample opportunities for you to master your whitewater skills.
From this point onwards, the members of our expedition crew will be divided into separate teams, each with its own leadership. These teams will assume the primary responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the expedition, under the expert guidance and coaching of the Outdoor Leadership Program staff.
Day Three: Wednesday, Aug. 14
Location: Catawba Creek to Springwood
On this day, we will focus on enhancing your paddling skills and gaining knowledge about river ecology. In addition, you will learn the basics of field research and wilderness living. We will challenge ourselves with a 15-mile (six to eight hours) float, which includes numerous Class I rapids, some very easy Class II rapids, and a moderately challenging Class II rapid called Ritchie’s Falls.
This will be the most remote day of the trip. Blue Ridge Outdoors magazine ranked this trip as one of the best Class I trips in the Southeast due to its impressive remains of the James and Kanawha River Canal.
Day Four: Thursday, Aug. 15
Location: Springwood to Alpine
On the third day of our trip, we will be floating for 15 miles (six to eight hours) through Botetourt County. This section of the river is known for having some of the best fishing spots of the entire trip. The journey includes a few easy Class I rapids, including a half-mile section of swift water with Class I rapids about 10 minutes into the trip, followed by another stretch of Class I rapids below the I-81 bridge.
For the most part, the middle section of this trip is mostly flat water, but it does offer some impressive views of Purgatory Mountain. This is a fun float with good rapids and current. During the trip, you will encounter three Class II rapids that can be quite challenging in higher water conditions. This part of the river is remote and offers some great mountain views.
Day Five: Friday, Aug. 16
Location: Alpine to Snowden
This section of the Upper James River Water Trail is the most scenic, spanning 15 miles and lasting four to six hours. It offers numerous Class II rapids as well as stretches of calm water and borders the George Washington National Forest. Along the way, you can enjoy stunning mountain views as the James River winds its way to the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
However, this section is also the most technical and will challenge your newly acquired paddling skills. Once we’re done, we’ll have you back on campus with enough time to take a quick nap and shower before the start of the new student orientation.
