Jackson
4. Gathright Dam to Covington
| Difficulty | I-II |
| Length | 17 mi |
| Avg Gradient | 9 fpm |
| Gauge | Jackson River Bl Gathright Dam Nr Hot Spgs, Va |
| Flow Rate as of 1 hour | 244 cfsbelow recommended |
| Reach Info Last Updated | September 18, 2025 |
A class I-II run on clear, cold water, with optional II+ or III- rapids immediately below the dam (you can put on above or below them). This river, like some in the Commonwealth, has private property issues, although here related to fishing rather than access. According to the Blueway guide linked below, 'two stretches of river run through private property and are closed to fishing. Please respect private property and do not stop on shore or wade in the river.' However, that's not a problem for most boaters, and the public access points along the river are well developed and relatively frequent.
Typical releases from the dam, around 200-250 cfs, are unfortunately too low for an enjoyable paddle. Approximately once per month on a Wednesday, late spring through early fall, there is a pulse release peaking around 3,500 cfs. See Gathright Dam Releases.
See Also:
Alleghany Highlands Blueway for maps and info.
Alleghany Outdoors outfitters, Intervale Park.
Classic Virginia Rivers, Ed Grove (1992 ed), p. 222.
Virginia Whitewater, Roger Corbett (2000 ed.), p. 271.
Exploring Virginia's Waterways, Ed Gertler (2022 ed.), p. 195.
Put in below the dam, river right. The upper put-in has porta-pottys and picnic tables.
The lower put-in is next to the gauge on a wire mesh platform and avoids the initial rapid.
River left, downstream of the bridge and the accessible platform. USGS gauge on river right. Ample parking. Jackson River Trail nearby.
River left, ramp on downstream side of the bridge. Jackson River Trail nearby.
River left. Stay left of the island to avoid missing this access. River mile 28. Ample parking, toilets, Jackson River trail access, Alleghany Outdoors outfitter.
Aug 15, 2019
Paddled the Jackson during the pulse release yesterday. Didn't get on the water till 11am or so and the water was going down quickly. There were some pretty parts, but unless you start early enough to catch the peak of the release, I wouldn't bother.
Jun 9, 2016
Ran from the dam to Indian Draft at 1200 cfs, about 6 miles in 2 hours. There is very little whitewater here: two class II rapids within a half-mile of the dam, and in another mile a small ledge with strong holes that can be run on far left or far right. That's pretty much it. Given the lack of whitewater, the 'king's grant' nonsense, releases that are usually too little to float, and a relative lack of scenery, this run doesn't have a lot to recommend it. (photos from a later pulse release)
Jun 8, 2014
Entered today at the Covington City Park, just below Westvaco and went to a new boat ramp that was build near route 18 at Whitey's (small grocery store). The river was runnable at 239 cfs reported on this site. There were only a few spots you had to watch. GoPro recording condensed to 5 minutes here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMxuDxgAAvw
