Virginia · Madison / Orange Co.
Rapidan River
🏞 National Park
Madison / Orange Co. · 88 mi · Class I–II
Optimal: 200–1200 CFS · USGS #01667500
167CFS
0.80 ft gauge height
Below Optimal→Stable
Avg flow: 480 cfsHist. median: 432 cfsUSGS #01667500
Shenandoah National Park (headwaters) · Rapidan Wildlife Management Area · Camp Hoover NHL
The Rapidan rises in Shenandoah National Park and flows 88 miles east through the Virginia Piedmont to join the Rappahannock above Fredericksburg. Class I–II paddling through Civil War battlefields — Wilderness, Mine Run, and the Rapidan crossings of Grant's Overland Campaign in 1864. Camp Hoover, President Herbert Hoover's wilderness retreat preserved as a National Historic Landmark, sits on the headwaters in Shenandoah NP.
Outfitters
Clore Bros. Outfitters
Rappahannock and Rapidan paddle rentals, Fredericksburg VA
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Data Quality
River conditions are community-verified. CFS ranges, difficulty ratings, and access points may not reflect every flow level or seasonal change. Always check current conditions, scout unfamiliar rapids, and paddle within your skill level.
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