Blue Ridge Parkway’s James River Visitor Center
Unlike the Humpback Rocks Visitor Center farther to the north, which is basically a glorified gift store, the focus of the James River Visitor Center is Blue Ridge Parkway information. Yes, there is a small gift store, but here you can talk to a park Ranger. As for printed materials, all you need is a copy of the Blue Ridge Parkway Outdoor Guide. This tabloid-size paper has information on hiking trails, campgrounds, biking, fishing, rules and regulations, and other attractions along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The magazine is a staple at any visitor center, so whichever one you first stop at, be sure to pick up a copy. They are free.
The James River Visitor Center is typically open from Memorial Day weekend until the end of September on Thursdays through Sundays, 10 AM to 5 PM. Times can always change, so be sure to get the latest schedule on the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Small visitor centers are located at various points along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and each one has a theme. Here, the James River is the subject, particularly the James River and Kanawha Canal that ran through this area. It was intended to connect coastal Virginia to the Ohio River. Construction began in 1785, with George Washington as the “honorary president” of the canal company in charge of the project. Washington had been pushing for an east to west transportation system and had long ago suggested using the James River. By 1840, the canal had made it 196 miles from Richmond to Lynchburg, which is 22 miles downstream from the Visitor Center. It eventually ran another 30 miles to Buchanan, Virginia, but in 1851, only half completed, construction was halted. As was the fate of most canals, they took so long to dig that railroad technology made them obsolete. The James River and Kanawha Canal continued to operate until 1878 when it was sold to the Richmond and Allegheny Railroad, which laid track over the canal towpath. Exhibits in the Visitor Center tell the story of the canal.
James River and Kanawha Canal exhibits and gift store are located in the James River Visitor Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway
There are two trails at the James River Visitor Center. The James River Canal Trail leads to one of the few remaining locks on the defunct James River and Kanawha Canal. The Trail of the Trees is a standard nature trail that educates visitors on the trees in the area. Both begin at the end of a walkway near the Visitor Center building. For information on all of the trails in the area, see the Otter Creek and James River Recreation Area Hiking Trails web page here on National Park Planner.
The James River Picnic Area is located below the Visitor Center at the bottom of a steep hill. The tables have great views of the James River.
Next Stop South | Next Stop North | Otter Creek and James River Recreation Area | Visitor Centers
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Last updated on October 12, 2024
