The Pagan River (Warraskoyak) is a 12.5-mile-long (20.1 km)[1] tributary of the James River located in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. The historic town of Smithfield (and its National Register-listed Smithfield Historic District) sits on the banks of this river. The name of the river may come from the Algonquin language word for pecan (Cree pakan, Ojibway pagan, Abenaki pagann) "that which is cracked with a tool" referring to the nut. When the area was explored in the early 1600s there were many pecan trees along the banks.[2]
The Pagan River to James River Bridge paddle route offers 8.72 kilometers of scenic tidewater paddling through historic Isle of Wight County, Virginia. Launch from Carrollton and paddle past the historic town of Smithfield, experiencing 351 immersive panoramic scenes along this tributary of the James River. This waterway features calm tidal waters, abundant wildlife, and glimpses of Virginia's colonial heritage along the banks where pecan trees once flourished. ##