Virginia · Buchanan, VA
James River (Upper) float season
Gauge 02019500 on the Upper James River Water Trail around Buchanan. Canoe liveries and fishing rafts work this stretch of the Upper James River Water Trail, all mountain gaps, railroad bridges, and smallmouth ledges.
Right now at this gauge
loading CFS
Checking the live gauge…
Well above typical for this date
Live reading from the USGS gauge page for James River (Upper). Provisional data — subject to revision.
The year on this river
In a typical year at the Buchanan gauge, the James River (Upper) runs fullest Mar–May and leanest Aug–Oct. Where today's reading falls inside that rhythm matters more than the raw number — the same flow that feels thin in spring can be the summer norm. Half of all past March days at this gauge ran above 2,900 CFS; the October median is 618 CFS.
| Month | Typical flow (CFS) | Relative volume |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,790 | |
| February | 2,190 | |
| March | 2,900 | |
| April | 2,615 | |
| May | 2,230 | |
| June | 1,115 | |
| July | 863 | |
| August | 751 | |
| September | 628 | |
| October | 618 | |
| November | 784 | |
| December | 1,450 |
Record context
This gauge has measured daily flow since 1980 — 46 years of record. The largest daily average ever logged here was 102,000 CFS, in November 1986. Rivers do that sometimes; it's why the safety panel above isn't decoration.
Planning dates? The trip-window checker shows what flows have historically looked like on any week you pick for this river, or see what a CFS actually looks like.
More Virginia float rivers
-
James River (Richmond)
Fall line through downtown Richmond, Pony Pasture to Manchester
Fullest: Feb–Apr
-
Maury River
Goshen Pass down toward Lexington and Buena Vista
Fullest: Feb–Apr
-
Rappahannock River
Fall-line rapids into downtown Fredericksburg
Fullest: Feb–Apr
-
Shenandoah River (North Fork)
Seven Bends, Woodstock to Strasburg
Fullest: Feb–Apr
-
Shenandoah River (South Fork)
Bentonville to Front Royal through Shenandoah River State Park
Fullest: Feb–Apr
Common questions
When is the James River (Upper) usually at its fullest?
At the Buchanan gauge, the fullest stretch of a typical year is Mar–May, with the single highest monthly median in March (about 2,900 CFS). The leanest months are usually Aug–Oct.
What is a typical summer flow on the James River (Upper)?
The July median at this gauge is about 863 CFS — half of past Julys ran higher, half lower. Check the ribbon chart above to see how summer compares with the rest of the year here.
Is the James River (Upper) safe to float right now?
No flow number can answer that, and this site never labels a river safe. What the data can tell you is how today's reading compares with 47 years of this date's history — well above typical means pushier, colder, faster water. Pair that context with a PFD, a look at the river from the bank, and a call to a local outfitter before you commit.
Which USGS gauge does this page use?
USGS gauge 02019500 (JAMES RIVER AT BUCHANAN, VA), chosen because it best represents the Upper James River Water Trail around Buchanan. Daily records here reach back to 1980.
Data: USGS gauge 02019500, approved daily records 1980–2026, retrieved 2026-08-07. Live readings are provisional and subject to revision. U.S. Geological Survey data is public domain.