Imagine waking up to the sound of eagles as they swoop down to collect their breakfast from the slow moving water of the James River. 

Primitive Camping definitely has dividends at James River State Park. There are no boisterous generators to agitate and disrupt the peace and quiet at your waterfront campsite at Canoe Landing.

Privacy and scenery abound at the waterfront Canoe Landing primitive campground

Paddling the James can be a graceful and solitary experience

Location Location Location

Canoe Landing campground is situated along the banks of the magnificent James River and features primitive campsites under large shade trees. Each site has a picnic table and campfire ring. Parking is adjacent to your campsite, so there is no long trek in to this campground.

You can park you kayak or canoe right in front of your site along the river's edge (if you don't mind clambering through a few shrubs). A few of the sites have a well-worn trail to the water.

About James River State Park

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the park features rolling grasslands, quiet forests and beautiful views, as well as 3 miles of shoreline along the James River. Visitors can hike, bike, canoe, kayak, fish or tent camp on the banks of the historic river or at Branch Pond. Facilities include cabins, a nature center, a gift shop, picnic shelters, multi-use trails, boat launches, water/electric campgrounds and equestrian camping. The park also has a universally accessible fishing pier and a .25-mile-long wheelchair accessible trail around Green Hill Pond. James River State Park Outdoor Adventures, a full-service canoe livery, provides canoe, kayak and tube rentals as well as shuttle services.

This park has 16 cabins, 2 lodges and four campgrounds. Click here to learn more about James River State Park. Canoe Landing is the only waterfront campground at this park.

Directions

104 Green Hill Drive, Gladstone, VA 24553 (click here for a Google map) just 40 miles NE of Lynchburg and 95 miles due West of Richmond, Virginia.

Reservations can be made online here, or by calling 800-933-PARK. Click here (PDF) to view a PDF for camping fees.

Canoe Landing Campground offers wildlife and native landscape right out your tent door

Even the plant-life loves Virginia State Parks

If tent camping if your thing, then you will love this primitive campground at James River State Park. Campsite 13 is located at the outermost part of the campsites, therefore has more seclusion than most, but it is also the farthest walk to the restroom.

VIRGINIA STATE PARKS IS ALL ABOUT FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FUN