Boat Ramps Nearby
Illustration Paddlers
Launch a kayak without getting soaked
Shore, dock and ramp launches step by step, plus the cart that ends the long carry from the car.
Kayak launch guideKayak & canoe launches in Virginia
We list 29 kayak launches in 22 towns across Virginia. Most are low docks, sandy put-ins or ramp edges you can use without a trailer.
Norfolk 3
- Highland Park Veterans Kayak Launch · Lafayette River
- Larchmont Kayak Launch · Lafayette River
- Plum Point Kayak Launch · Elizabeth River
Chatmoss 2
- Marrowbone Creek Kayak and Canoe Access · Marrowbone Creek
- Mitchell Bridge Kayak and Canoe Access · Smith River
Lynchburg 2
- Riveredge Park Kayak Launch · Blackwater Creek
- Rotary Centennial Riverfront Skatepark Public Canoe Launch · Blackwater Creek
Richmond 2
- Ancarrow's Landing Boat Ramp · James River
- Osborne Park Canoe Launch · James River
Stuart 2
- Hart's River Access · Hart's River
- Jessups Mill River Access · Jessups Mill River
Virginia Beach 2
- Carolanne Park Kayak Launch
- Dozier Bridge Canoe Launch · North Landing River
Bridgewater 1
- Bridgeview Park Kayak Launch · North River
Carrollton 1
- Carrollton Nike Park Boat Ramp · Carrollton Branch
Castlewood 1
- Saint Paul Boat Launch · Clinch River
Chester 1
- Relic River Canoe Launch · Relic River
Clifton Forge 1
- Upper Walton Tract Put-In · Cowpasture River
Dumfries 1
Martinsville 1
- Smith River Sports Complex Canoe Access · Smith River
Newport News 1
- Old Wormley Creek Kayak Launch · Old Wormley Creek
Portsmouth 1
- Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve Kayak Launch · Hoffler Creek
Roanoke 1
- Kayak Launch in Roanoke · Carvins Cove Reservoir
Short Pump 1
- Tucker Park at Maidens Crossing Canoe Slip · James River
Smithfield 1
- Windsor Castle Park Kayak Launch · Cypress Creek
Stafford 1
- Canoe Launch in Stafford · Aquia Creek
Stephens City 1
- Kayak Launch in Stephens City · Lake Frederick
Weber City 1
- Hardware River Boat Ramp (Kayaks Only) · Hardware River
Williamsburg 1
- New Quarter Park Canoe/Kayak Launch · Queen's Creek
Kayak & canoe launches by city in Virginia
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Illustration Ramp etiquette
12 rules regulars expect you to know
Staging, courtesy docks and the Clean, Drain, Dry laws that can bring a fine.
Ramp etiquetteKayak & canoe launches in Virginia: questions and answers
How many kayak launches are in Virginia?
We list 29 kayak launches in Virginia, most of them around Norfolk (3), Chatmoss (2), Lynchburg (2) and Richmond (2).
Which lakes and rivers have kayak launches in Virginia?
Among others James River, Smith River, Blackwater Creek, Lafayette River and North River.
Do kayaks need to be registered in Virginia?
Check with the Virginia boating agency. Many states don't register non-motorized kayaks, but some require a permit at state launches or an invasive species sticker.
Do you need a life jacket to kayak in Virginia?
Yes. Federal rules require a wearable, Coast Guard approved life jacket for every person on a kayak or canoe, and children under 13 must wear it unless the state sets another age.
Are there free kayak launches in Virginia?
6 of the 29 are marked free in the map data, including Bridgeview Park Kayak Launch, Saint Paul Boat Launch and Smith River Sports Complex Canoe Access.
Other states
- New York 211
- Michigan 136
- North Carolina 105
- Pennsylvania 94
- Maine 85
- Massachusetts 64
- Florida 62
- Tennessee 57
- Minnesota 56
- Wisconsin 49
- Illinois 46
- Iowa 44
Guide: How to launch a kayak or canoe · All boat ramps in Virginia