Riverside Outfitters

The James River is Richmond’s very own playground running from the suburbs all the way down through the city and Riverside Outfitters allows Richmonders of all skill levels the opportunity to easily take full advantage of this gem of ours. I’ve gone white water rafting, white water kayaking, and have also rented a kayak from them to paddle around on my own at Brown’s Island and each experience was wonderful.
Riverside Outfitters puts together rafting, kayaking, and stand up paddle boarding trips that depart from their main headquarters. These trips include extremely knowledgeable and friendly guides who put even the most inexperienced rafter/​kayakers at ease without making you feel stupid. In colder weather RO provides complimentary wet suits — which I strongly recommend taking advantage of in the fall and spring months. Each trip also includes a little snack break (trail mix and water are provided) along the river and afterwards everyone hangs out at the headquarters (around a fire pit in colder weather) for a beer or Gatorade. These trips are about half a day and are seriously one of the best ways to spend a day in Richmond — especially when it’s a gorgeous day outside. We also took a trip in the fall when the leaves were changing which was awesome. Every time I do a trip I want to do another and another and another…
For city dwellers or workers, they also have an outpost on Brown’s Island during the summer where you can rent bikes and kayaks. The kayak rentals are an hour long and they come with a watch so you can keep track of time without risking the life of your iPhone. Your limited to the flat water area of the river but it’s a great way to unwind and just enjoy the beauty of the river after work or for a bit on the weekends without signing up for a whole trip.
This is such a great Richmond company that also showcases our great city!

Rafted the lower James with Riverside Outfitters yesterday and had a fantastic time! The water was at almost 4′ and the biggest stuff was class III sometimes IVish, so nothing too wild. But the trip is fun and beautiful, with enough rapids to keep you on your toes! The «urban whitewater» setting right through downtown is really cool and unique. We enjoyed the couple of chances to hop out and swim too. The weather for our trip could not have been more perfect, so that didn’t hurt either! Our guide Chris was great, and the rest of the RO staff was super friendly and helpful as well. The prices were reasonable and they really have this operation nailed– just the right combination of of professionalism and fun laid-​back river vibe. We plan to come back again for more!

I have used Riverside Outfitters to paddleboard for several years now. Everyone is friendly and helpful. Normally I just go out for 2 hours. However, last year I went for the 3 hour paddleboard trip down the rapids. It was so much fun. Can’t wait to go again this year.

So much fun! Guides were really knowledgeable and entertaining. Learned the basics and had a blast!

Had a BLAST paddle boarding down the river with friends!!! These guys definitely put safety first and give a lengthy explanation of how to do everything properly. Ride with Ben and Helen and you’ll have a great time!
Be prepared for a half-​day endeavour. You’ll stop in the middle for a snack and some water, provided by the guides. Also, be ready to carry your board up a small hill when you’re done. This is a great workout and not nearly as hard as it looks!

Had an absolute blast during the stand up paddle boarding trip down the James. Our guides were wonderful and very helpful and everything was well organized. We are already planning our next trip. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! Thank you to everyone at Riverside Outfitters for an amazing experience!

Our family of 5 just returned from a fun trip to Richmond (August 2014). A highlight of our trip was whitewater rafting down the James River with this company. Can’t add much to the positive comments of other reviewers, but can mention a few things.
Showed up at 2 PM for our 2:30 trip time (lower river). Signed some waivers, changed into river gear (swim trunks, T-​shirts, water shoes). Left everything in the car, moved the car to the shopping-​center parking lot across the street as requested, left the keys at the front desk. Advice: use the bathroom before you go!
Helmets and flotation vests, then off we went. For some reason our shuttle van was allowed to drive all the way to the river’s edge, rather than hiking (in water shoes) about a half mile down a paved road. Very grateful for that!
Good safety briefing, divide into groups of about 4 – 5 people per raft, then on to the water! On average the guides here have a lot of rafting experience. Follow their instructions for the best results. This is not a «ride», you are actually determining what happens.
The trip itself was terrific and well-​planned. Several fun stops along the way for swimming, jumping, snacking. The rapids look intimidating to a newbie (our teenage kids loved it), but the equipment is solid and the guides are well trained. Still there can be spills and scrapes, we had a few. Another raft mocked us with «you guys are fun to watch», but later the tables were turned as they all tumbled out on a challenging «surfing» maneuver (that they willingly chose).
Couple of notes. The James River is not super clean for reasons both man-​made and natural, but of course that’s no fault of Riverside Outfitters. Also, look online for discounts, particularly through Living Social.
Overall it was a fun, unhurried afternoon. The guides were happy to let us enjoy the river all we wanted; got back to the office around 6:30 PM for drinks and war stories. Our family loved it, a great experience.

Totally wowed by the guided SUP on the river! I had an amazing first SUP experience with Andrew and Ben, who were awesome instructors! They made sure each of us got through the rapids okay however we decided to go through (standing, sitting, kneeling, or in the water) and we all has a great time! It took us all day so plan for it. I did the 3pm tour and we got out of the water around 6:45. I was expecting to float around the calm waters for a few hours but NOOOOOO! We went down the river through a few (okay, 11) small rapids class 1 & 2. We learned to handle our boards before we got going by practicing navigating, turning, dropping to the knees, and falling so we were ready to go.
They tell you to not bring anything however, being an experienced water sports person (just not SUP yet), I decided to bring my waterproof iPhone case that I had on my neck to take a bunch if great shots. Not recommended for people who’s not used to being in water because you do need to pay attention to your surroundings while paddling.
I wish I have known of this place long ago! Now that I’m leaving VA in a few weeks I got to finally try SUP… I’m soooooo glad I did it!
They had beer, water, & Gatorade afterwards if you want to hang out but unfortunately my time has ran out having a three year old waiting for me at home. Maybe next time!

This was my first time rafting, and Riverside Outfitters was the perfect choice. I planned a trip for my best friends birthday with a couple of mutual friends. We got there about 20 minutes early to fill out waivers and kind of just prepare ourselves.
It started off by everybody getting their personal flotation vest and a helmet. Once we were all fitted, we got on the bus that took us to the river. It was a quick walk/​hike to the river from there, where one of the guides gave us a couple of guidelines on how to sit on the raft and general things to do while rafting. Our group of 6 ended up splitting up where four of us stayed together, and the other 2 joined another group of 2.
Our guide, Tyler, was awesome, and we could not have asked for a better tour guide. He was hilarious and catered to our sense of humor. He spit out a lot of facts about Richmond and kept it interesting. He took us through the river and kept us all calm.
There were class 3 rapids and we got to raft through downtown Richmond. It was a lot of fun and exhilarating. I do wish there were more rapids to go through. We got to get off and swim in parts of the river. Floating along the river was super relaxing, but there were certain areas where the water was shallow and there were rocks sticking out, and I kept scraping myself against the rocks.
They provided us with some trail mix and water in the middle of the trip. At the end of the trip, once we got back, they gave us a cold beer or other non-​alcoholic beverages. We got to hang out and talk to our guides for a little bit. All of us had a great time. Riverside Outfitters is well organized, and their staff are well trained! I can’t wait to come back!

What a cool spot! So conveniently located, awesome staff, plenty of toys to choose from, maps, and easy access to enjoy the James!

My fiancée and I were invited by a co-​worker to go kayaking down the James about a month ago. Having only kayaked once (but enjoyed it!), and on a lake, we thought it sounded pretty fun, so we decided to go. As the day came closer we weren’t sure how dangerous kayaking down rapids were (lakes are much more calm!), but we were excited all the same.
And what a blast it was! We did one of those guided tours where a small group of 5 — 10 people kayak down the river together with one or two guides showing you where to go to avoid certain death (kidding) and in general how to get the most out of kayaking.
Our guides were Amelia and Mary and both of them were fantastic! They taught us the basic paddle strokes to maneuver around the river, best ways to face the rapids, how to avoid the rocks, and what to do when you still hit them anyway. Not that kayaking itself isn’t fun, but having guides who really enjoy doing what they do is a fun thing.
Cost wise, the experience was fairly light on the wallet. It was roughly $ 50 a person which covers the shuttle from their building to the river, kayak rental, beverages, and a snack break mid way. The whole experience was about 3 hours with a good couple hours of river time. For anyone unsure if they should do the Upper River or the Flat River course, do the upper river. This is the one that contains rapids, and while they’re only Class I and II, they’re really fun and anybody should be able to handle them,
I really don’t have anything bad to say about the company. Besides kayaking, they also offer Stand Up Paddle Boards, White Water Rafting, Tubing, and a shop. If you don’t want to do a group /​guide thing, you can also rent the boats too. People were also hanging around the building because it seems like a pretty laid back and chill place to spend a couple hours after boating on the river.
If anybody is looking to do something a little adventurous and fun and Kayaking sounds fun, by all means give Riverside Outfitters a go. Tons of fun and I know they’ll be seeing me again in the future.

What a great first ever SUP experience! Andrew was our guide today and did an outstanding job making sure we were comfortable with the stand up paddleboards before we hit a couple of low octane rapids. Had a very nice 3 hour cruise with plenty of «get in the water» refreshing stops. Top notch outfitter that took care of every little thing.

Second trip rafting down the James, first for my wife. A grey day in October, cool overall but the water was still warm. The safety training nearly scared the beejesus out of my spouse (staring daggers at her husband), and I seriously thought for a moment or two that the guide had mistaken us for Red Cross Raft Safety course participants instead of Saturday afternoon pleasure seekers. However after it was over and done with, I realized that the training was all necessary and gave our group of 4 a great deal of confidence. Definitely a «plan for the worst» strategy.
The river was at 4 ½ feet — enough water to keep us from getting stuck but not so much as to move the rapids up a class (from 3 to 4 and 4 to 5). In traveling downstream and navigating some very cool white water, I was reminded of what drew me back to the experience again — the views from the middle of the river are worth the price of admission and more: multiple Blue Herons, Snowy Igrits, jumping largemouth bass, seagulls and stellar views of downtown Richmond. The river’s rapids from the vantage point of the raft simply cannot be seen from the shore. I have lived here 30 years and the only way to experience them is to get out there yourself and into the middle of the whitewater. Richmond is the ONLY city in America with urban whitewater at Class 3 or higher. Our guide was full of historical facts and interesting stories, and he clearly had a passion for his work and was an expert rafter. At the end of the trip our group would have rafted with him anywhere.
My wife enjoyed it so much that she never yielded her seat in the bow. The guide humorously poked fun at her turn of emotions but she earned that. A kiss and a thank you from her at the end confirmed my vision for a highly memorable experience that does not come along often enough.
Final note — the cancellation policy seems stringent — a week in advance for a full refund. Our date was in the middle of a week long rain event, and we had to go or else forfeit, which had me a bit grumpy. I understand the policy now — it takes a lot of preparation to make the trip happen. In hindsight while wearing a wetsuit (exchanging it for my jeans which made my wife totally jealous) I was totally glad for the cooler, grey day — the drama of the river was exquisite. An adult beverage and chance to unwind and debrief the experience together was the perfect ending to a unique afternoon.

My boyfriend and I made reservations to go kayaking, We got there and met our own personal instructor/​guide, Mary. She was awesome; I felt very safe and comfortable with her. I’ve never kayaked before, and this was a great experience. We went over class 1 & 2 rapids, and it was a really fun experience. We stopped to snack on trail mix and water, and then got back to it. Mary gave us GREAT recommendations for other things that she thought we’d enjoy in Richmond, and they were spot on. I’d highly recommend her as your instructor/​guide, though everyone that we encountered here was really nice. I hope to do this again next year!

A friend and I bought the 3-​hour paddle boarding package through groupon. We had both tried SUP before on the (calm) sounds of North Carolina, but never on rapids. Our main guide, Ben, gave really helpful instructions on the finer points of downriver paddleboarding beforehand as well as great guidance throughout the trip. Even in the drizzle, it was a fantastic trip through Richmond and an exciting workout through small rapids. Can’t recommend this highly enough! Will definitely go again!

The man that checked us in was not at all friendly. He had a very abrupt tone and he actually prompted us to thank him by saying your welcome very loudly after he even more rudely told me to ‘Park where you are supposed to’ which is in a dilapidated shopping center a block away. Not at all secure and not at all an acceptable expectation for the area. Wonder if he thought to ask was there any reason we pulled up there to begin with… My friend that WAS going rafting with me is handicapped, physically able to raft, as we have done this previously but not wiling to leave his only possession insecure… We left immediately, loosing the money we spent, not a good experience at all and we know to call the other rafting guys off of Stockton Street!

this weekend I decided to surprise my girlfriend with a paddleboarding trip. This place was awesome! we got suited up in personal flotation devices and helmets and went at it. It was our first time doing paddleboarding and the instructors/​guides were very nice and knowledgeable. We had a blast going over some small rapids. The equipment was in great condition and I loved the board I used (even thinking about buying one for myself). they have a little patio in the front of the building with a grill and a deck where after the trip the whole group just chilled out. really cool place that has a bunch of activities such as paddleboarding, kayaking, climbing, and rafting

*3.75*
This trip featured the Lower James (class 3 – 4) and it occurred just under a month ago.
Let me just start by letting you know that I was the most diverse person who showed up to raft and my welcome was rather off-​putting by 2 of the river guides. I’ll leave it at that!
Anyhow, not knowing what to expect since it was a river in the middle of downtown Richmond, I was looking for an adventure. For the put-​in, we were dropped off by the bus and had to walk about ½ mile to the actual river. We were then given detailed safety instructions about paddling/​rescuing cues. Once in the water, we coasted along nicely and ran into some class 3 rapids soon enough. This happened for a little while then we ended up in the middle of the river. We got out on some rocks to have a snack – trailmix and ice water. Then it was back in the raft to some calmer and rough waters. We even got to go over a small dam and ride some waves — cause our paddlers were just that great!
The rafting felt like it came to an abrupt stop after the last set of class 4 rapids. Out we went and carried the raft up the stairs to the bus. River and Trail had me spoiled, as the guide carries the raft uphill, no matter how steep the climb is!
We were then taken back to outfitter location to enjoy an adult or other cold beverage of our choice.
Our guide was Lou and control was the name of the game with him; but our best interest and safety was at heart.

First tubing experience on the James!
Highly recommend making reservations for the bus before you go for the tubing. Bus was packed (even with reservations) and some people had to stand in the back. Also wasn’t exactly sure when bus would be coming back to pick us up and we actually had to wait about 30 minutes.
Come 30 minutes early as they state as you have to fill out paper work, repark your care in a neighboring lot and then come back. Also think about what you want to bring because there are no lockers (you can only drop off keys at the store). A lot of people rent an extra tube for a cooler and when you get dropped off it is like Survivor everyone figuring out how they want to bring their cooler down. Best idea was someone who brought a boogie board and put the cooler on top (and duct taped it on). Another gathered sticks and made a raft top.haha. Good times.
There is one rough spot at the end in Pony Pasture where most of us flipped over (and lost glasses!) but otherwise the first 2 hours or so is very slow/​relaxing and requires some arm paddling.
Good first experience if you are unfamiliar with the river, and next time I think we will either buy tubes or rent it and set up our own ride.
I have also seen people rent kayaks and go on rafting trips.

Riverside Outfitters is a great place for folks interested in trying out the James River and its rapids. They rent sit on top kayaks for the upper james and lead raft trips down the lower james through downtown.
I recently took a group of students rafting and all of them had a great time and the staff were excellent as both guides and interpreters.