The James River above the fall line becomes part of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

On May 16, 2012, Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, designated the James River, from the head of the James to the fall line, as one of four water trails to be the connecting historic components of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.  Gabe Silver, JRA Education and Outreach Manger, who has been instrumental in the development of the lower James portion of the Captain John Smith Water Trail, was in attendance.

The Upper James River connecting historic component trail is a 220-mile water trail that crosses nine counties and connects to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail at the falls of the James in Richmond, Virginia. Coordination was provided by the James River Association. The nomination of the James River connecting trail was widely embraced by local groups, local governments, Indian tribes, as well as by Governor McDonnell and was one of two top priorities suggested by Virginia for President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative.

“Adding this national designation to the James River above the fall line serves to advance the growing interest by communities along the James to promote river-related recreation, culture, history and tourism,” said HRA Executive Director Bill Street. “Our hope is that more people will be able to enjoy the James River and build a personal connection to it. Only through a personal connection will we also take personal responsibility to protect the river.”

Karenne Wood, a member of the Monacan Indian Nation and former chairwoman of the Virginia Council on Indians, said the Monacan Nation supported the nomination of the Upper James River Connecting Trail. She said establishment of the trail would “offer new opportunities for today’s Monacan Indians, and others, to strengthen their ties to history and to increase conservation, recreation and educational opportunities along the trail in the lands we call home.” The James River Association plans to announce the trails designation at the Monacan Nation Indian 20^th Annual Pow Wow in Elon, Virginia, on May 19 and 20. 

The designations as trail components of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail will enable the National Park Service, which administers the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, to work closely with state and local agencies and partner organizations to provide technical and financial assistance, resource management, facility enhancement, interpretive, trail route marking and promotion along the connecting historic trails. 

The Chesapeake Conservancy worked with the James River Association, Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation and Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to develop the application to the National Park Service to include the rivers as connecting components of the Capt. John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.