James

Z-Dam is upstream of the normal put-in at Pony Pasture. There is no parking allowed at Z-Dam. Typically boaters drive their equipment to the dam then park in the Pony Pasture lot and walk the .8 miles back. Make sure someone is watching your equipment or secure it when parking your car, equipment has been stolen here in the past.

There are two distinct river levels that provide different play features at Z-Dam:

Z-Spot is a fish ladder cut into the river right side of Z-Dam (right side of Williams Island low-head dam). It's a great play spot between 5.2ft and 5.5ft. Below this level, it gets pretty sticky and at higher levels, it becomes flushy and hard to stay in the hole. At the right level this is one of the best play spots in Virginia, Loops and cartwheels are the major moves. There is eddy service on both sides of the hole. Be very careful of the low-head dam when in the eddy, it will try to pull you in.

At high levels around 13 - 15 ft, a taller wave develops with a foam pile, but there is no eddy service. The best play at high water is on river left near Williams Island. Boaters typically put-in at Huguenot Flatwater access to make the ferry  to the left side. You can use the portage trail to get back to the top for this great wave. Make sure your crew is heads up to alert surfers of the inevitable wood traveling downstream as the trough is deep enough to block line of sight.

Stay away from the middle of the dam at all levels.

Here is Dane Goins sliding down to the James

These are actually the steps just below the rapids. To run Pony Pasture walk up the road and look for a good spot to launch.

At 7ft - 9ft Pony Pasture rapid rates a class III, and a 20ft wide 3-4ft tall glassy wave forms in a channel right of center that you can surf all day. Just below, a shallow, flat, sloping rock forms a 35ft wide comfortably sticky hole with a great foampile primed for spins - the exit is to river left. This one is best at 7.2 - 8ft and gets increasingly sticky as the level increases.

To take full advantage, park in the parking lot and walk your boat up the road about a tenth of a mile and find a easy spot within the rip-rap rocks to put on above Pony Pasture rapid.

An easy ledge system that can be broken up by eddy hopping. Around 4ft™, there is a good surfing wave river center about 2/3rds of the way through the rapid. This wave has a great river left eddy from which to get on it and the runout is deep, so it's“ great for learning and refining front surf skills.

At higher levels, larger wavetrains and standing surf waves (Hawaii 5-0) develop on river left at the top of the ledge series.

At low levels, there is a surf wave under Powhite Bridge. The wave is found around 3.5-4.0 feeton river left directly under the bridge. Another good beginner surf spot, but it is very shallow so tuck tight.

As with many man-made structures, the bridge creates hazards that come into play at higher water levels. Most notably the log strainers that are piled on the upstream side of the pylons. Also, the pylons create strong, uniform eddy fences and whirlpools at high levels. Avoid them both.

As the paddler passes under the arched railroad bridge and moves to river left of center, they will find the remains of an old bridge in the river and a large island on the right. From 30 yards upstream, there will be a horizon line and the paddler will be able to hear Choo Choo rapid. This rapid is a wavetrain best run right of center. There is a large eddy on the right with a strong eddy line. Be sure to“ keep that left edge up and pierce the eddy line if you want to catch this one. The wavetrain is deep and relatively unobstructed making it well suited for practicing combat rolls in current and waves.

Chew Chew lunch beach below Choo Choo rapid The shore of the river right eddy mentioned above is a primo sandy beach with dry rock for grabbing a mid-trip snack. The eddy is a great swimming hole and is also well suited for roll practice.

Below Choo-Choo, you can follow the current to river right upstream of an island in-line with the runnout. Paddling along the right side of the islant will bring you to a low head dam. Run this dam on the river left side of the channel. You might want to scout by getting out on an island on river left of the channel to make sure you don'™t hit a rock just below the dam and get broached.

Alternatively, when the water is 5.5ft and above, you can work down toward the left side of the island and thread your way through a fun boulder garden mid-river that's perfect for catching eddies and practicing ferries.

After passing under the Nickel Bridge (green metal), work toward right of center to enter the final rapid, Mitchell's Gut.

A long boulder garden that ends with a wave train straight down the middle of the river. Enter right of center. Eddy hop your way through making your way back to the middle of river. Line up for the roller coaster wave train finish.

After the wavetrain, look for the boulder field on the right to end. Look downstream to find an orange, black and white 'TAKE OUT' sign at the upstream end of an island. Work right to get to the channel on the right of the island.

Paddle down the channel until you see a building on your right. Paddle toward the channel (Reedy Creek) entering just upstream of the building (Reedy Creek Park HQ). Paddle up Reedy to the takeout platform and stairs.