Balcony Falls to Snowden Dam

The James River Foot Bridge carries the Appalachian Trail over the James River in Snowden, Virginia, approximately 20 miles northwest of Lynchburg. The bridge was built on the piers of a demolished CSX bridge that had been replaced with a longer trestle just east of the original bridge, providing a straighter course for freight traffic. Trains pass by frequently against the scenic backdrop of rolling hills and refreshing water below.When opened in 2000, the James River Foot Bridge eliminated a dangerous crossing of the James River that mixed hikers with vehicular traffic on US 501. A curious note: While this is indeed a footbridge, its name actually refers to Bill Foot, an Appalachian Trail enthusiast who spearheaded the conversion of the bridge into its present use.

<span>From Glasgow, proceed downstream through the James River gorge to the concrete boat ramp at Snowden. This ramp is located on the left side of the river in a small creek, just downstream from the railroad bridge over the James River. Small boats can be launched at Snowden, but parking is limited. Class II and III rapids throughout the James River gorge make this a challenging float. The most difficult rapid is located at Balcony Falls. The smallmouth bass fishing on this float is very good. A dam immediately downstream from Snowden ramp prevents further downstream travel in this section of the James.</span>