Mattaponi River in Virginia

Trip Overview

Check for outgoing tide on salttides App- use Walkertown location.

After dropping his truck at AYLETT, two of us drove about 1 1/2 miles to put down at ZOAR FOREST. Plenty of good parking steps down/ slide boat to narrow river.

Overhanging trees, meandering river, undeveloped. Widens as you go from 25' to about 80' wide. QUIET. Takes 3-4 hours. We took our time.

I photographed a good number of wildflowers in August. Slightly brackish water first, more as you get near Aylett bridge so flowers change. Going with tide made it easy for me.

Shady and pleasant for about 3 miles, sporadic, the last mile then lots of sun. After the Hwy 360 bridge take out. Talk to people fishing lots of fish downstream they say, but motorboats are down there.

Directions:

Go 360 between Richmond and Tappahanock VA. Aylett is small town nearer to Richmond.

Launches:

AYLETT,

ZOAR FOREST

Both are good. Not muddy

Resources:

Found it on launch sites map. Scouted in winter.