This post is a speciality post for a specific audience: people who want to know the best places to stand up paddleboard in Charlottesville, Virginia.
I know, small audience. But this is a post I wish I’d had and, accordingly, I thought I’d share the information in the event it helps someone else. Note that most of the places in Charlottesville have restrictions on swimming – it is either not allowed at all or only allowed in certain areas. This is unfortunate, particularly on a hot summer day.
Of course, my absolute favorite place to stand up paddleboard is still Wrightsville Beach (where I initially fell in love with the hobby) and Smith Mountain Lake is a great place to paddle as well.Â
But since those aren’t really viable options for regular paddling from my home base in the mountains, here is what I have learned about stand up paddleboarding (and this also applies to kayaking) in Charlottesville, Virginia:
Rivanna Reservoir / South Fork
This is my favorite place to paddle in Charlottesville right now. It is so convenient and close to town, has a few different areas to launch from with parking very close, and 366 water acres to paddle. The Reservoir winds under bridges and by rock outcroppings, making it feel like it’s worlds away while being in an urban area. It is fantastic paddling.
Rivanna Reservoir, as it is locally called, or South Fork, as it is officially called, is a wonderful place to escape and paddle for either one mile or four. (Incidentally, this Reservoir was also the scene of my rowing summer camp experiment.)
For a map of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir, visitdwr.virginia.gov.
Beaver Creek
This is my second-favorite spot to stand up paddle in Charlottesville. It is a bit of a drive for me, being further out, but the scenery is so beautiful! The mountains and rolling farmlands are a constant reminder that I am in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
This is a popular spot for paddlers, but there aren’t any hiking trails in the park, making access to the ramp very easy on my visit.
There are 104 water acres here. So it is significantly smaller than Rivanna Reservoir, but it was still plenty of space for me to get in good miles and an hour of solid paddling.
Chris Greene Lake
Chris Greene has a lot going for it: convenient, with a swimming beach and very friendly dog rules. It is beautiful to paddle (calm and sheltered from any potential wind). Unfortunately, it is also really small! There are only 53 water acres here. This is a great spot to jump onto the board during a lunch break or get out if you are fairly new to paddleboarding, but it doesn’t have enough significant real estate to do any real mileage.
Walnut Creek
Mr. Family Trip loves mountain biking out here, so I thought I’d give it a try on my board. It is not very convenient to get to, but was quiet and I was able to park right next to the boat ramp (which is at the first parking lot for bike access, not the parking lot for the beach).
There is also a nice beach for swimming that you can paddle up to from the water.
Unfortunately, again, this is really small! There are 45 water acres at Walnut Creek and I had to do two loops to feel like I had my fill of paddling. For the drive to get there, it didn’t feel worth it. It was, however, nice to have a change of scenery, and it is very close to some cideries and wineries, which could make for a nice day-date or excursion.
Rivanna River
I do not paddle on the Rivanna River, even though many do. In fact, if this interests you, Rivanna River Company will rent paddleboards. But the water level on the River varies a lot given precipitation, and the amount of water in the River makes all the difference. It basically has to be just right.
Plus, there are many shallow rapids and rocks. I have a fiberglass board, and I do not relish the idea of cracking it on rocks.
And, practically speaking, I nearly always paddle alone. The River requires a shuttle service (since no one needs to be paddling back up river). That’s just not feasible for me.
But there is a full map of the Rivanna River, with put-ins, take-outs and rapids, listed here.
Ragged Mountain Natural Area
I don’t paddle here, which may be a suprise. But the boat ramp and launch are not close to parking. They have a storage facility for kayaks and paddleboards, but if you are bringing in your own, it is a long haul.
In addition, this is a very popular destination for hiking and mountain biking, so parking gets CROWDED. In fact, many times visitors have to park at a lot down the road and use the trail system to get to the reservoir.
If you are interested in Ragged Mountain Natural Area, visit www.charlottesville.gov.
Totier Creek
This area is just too small to entice me out to paddle. It does have a boat ramp, but only 69 water acres (which doesn’t make it the smallest on the list, but given the location I don’t know if it’s worth it). If you’ve been and want to convince me otherwise, please drop a comment below.
For more information on Totier Creek, visit www.albemarle.org.
Overall, I have been surprised with how many great nooks there are to paddle in Charlottesville, Virginia. Moving here from the beach, I considered (sadly) selling my board. But after being here for three years, I can say that I am glad I held on to it, and very happy with the options for my regular stand up paddleboarding.
Thank you for your post. I’m just starting to paddle board so this was really helpful. I know it’s much farther but have you ever gone to Pocahontas State Park? I mountain bike there and it is beautiful.
Thanks for the comment! We have hiked Pocahontas before, but I didn’t even realize SUP was an option there. I will have to be sure to try it out. If you go, let me know how it is!