Found this place on a drive by while camping up in Natural Bridge. Did the tubing and it was a great experience. As others have mentioned, wear shoes as the rocks are slick. Went 2 days after storms rolled through so the water wasn't clear, but the pace was great. Staff very receptive and stored keys for free so they don't get lost in the river. Will be back read more

Amazing!! Great outfitter to work with and the campground on the river along the way is great with porta potties! We were given a thorough safety briefing before they drove us to our launch area. This is a well run operation! read more

Twin River Outfitters - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Buchanan, Virginia

My son and I just wrapped up our first overnight kayaking trip together--two beautiful days floating (and occasionally paddling) down the James River! As a dad, planning this kind of trip comes with a lot of moving parts... and a little bit of overthinking. Thankfully, Twin River Outfitters made it all easy. Robert gave us a great orientation and walked us through the whole course like seasoned river guides (which we definitely are not). We booked the glamping tents and took full advantage of their kitchen box, firewood, and luggage service--which meant we could have an awesome adventure without needing a crash course in ultralight backpacking. It was a perfect balance of the outdoors and just enough comfort to keep everyone smiling. read more

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Fantastic as always. I'm really glad they are still apparently enhancing their offerings via newly remodeled access ramps, glamping tents, and a clear maintenance schedule. After so many years doing this, a lot of outfitters start phoning it in. I had to apologize profusely for so many members of my group dropping off close to the reservation dates, but that might explain my only issue this year. I.e., the normally impeccable outhouses had heaps so high that I wondered if they'd make cheek contact. I wonder if they would have emptied those in advance, had my group been the 20-person-strong one they were tracking until shortly before the outing. No hand sanitizer in the outhouses either. Everything else was even better than in years prior. I love taking this trip each year but now feel like I'm no longer willing to put my name on a reservation if my friends are going to cancel last minute and leave this fantastic business holding unused campsites during a popular weekend. read more

We have done many floats with this company. Every drop off has been great! We recently did the two day overnight float! It was amazing. We chose glamping and had the tent right there when we pulled out. We had also pre ordered the firewood which we highly recommend. Tents were awesome. I recommend sight 3 at horseshoe bend. The Adirondack chairs make for a comfy seat around the fire pit. There are 2 tents on that platform. We only packed bedding and food in or kayaks. Made for an easier float for us. We def will be back for more adventures! read more

Twin River Outfitters - Campfire ring with chairs outside of your tent - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Buchanan, Virginia

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TRO has an amazing team. Super friendly, welcoming, and helpful. They gave us a walk through of the river and told us everything to expect. The campgrounds are well maintained, really clean port-o-johns, and easy to find and access. We got to the take out early, and they were already there waiting on us. The James River is beautiful. Thank you TRO. I will be back. read more

The entire team at TRO went out of their way to make sure we had a terrific float and camping experience. We brought our own canoe, which they helped load and even stopped at our campsite to show us exact landmarks that would help us know where to take-out later that day. We were even able to unload some camping gear to lighten our load on the float itself. We had a spectacularly beautiful day on the headwaters of the James, passing through towering stone cliffs and sweeping mountain views. We brought fishing gear and caught a few, but we quickly discovered that we wanted to spend as much time as possible simply looking through binoculars at the wildlife (we saw a Bald Eagle, an Osprey, Great Blue Herons, Egrets, and Mergansers). While there was a cell signal for much of the float, it felt like we were in the wilderness, surrounded by nothing but pristine nature. It was so nice to just be present in the moment, without feeling the need to take more than a few pictures. We should all take a break from experiencing everything we do through a screen - recording everything digitally, without experiencing any of it deeply enough to record it in our own memories. The river was fairly low, but there had been recent rain, so it was up a bit more than usual for late summer / early fall, making the couple Class II rapids, and even some of the bigger Class I runs a good challenge for us. We're not novice paddlers, but certainly not whitewater adrenaline junkies either. Suffice it to say that by the time we got to our campsite, after about 14 miles, we were tired, but very happy! After a great night of eating dinner and talking, while watching the sun set, we went to bed, listening to the sounds of the river. We upgraded our trip to one of TRO's "Glamping" sites, so you could hardly call it "roughing it". That just allowed more time to visit and laugh, instead of pitching a tent and gathering firewood. It was so relaxing, in fact, that I slept-in far too long, meaning our Day 2 float would have been really rushed in order to float down to our car and then drive 3 hours home after breakfast (ok, brunch!). I called the office and asked if it would be possible to pick us up from our campsite and drive us back to our vehicle. Within 20 minutes, we were loading the shuttle van with our gear. Keep in mind, this was Labor Day - one of TRO's busiest days of the year - especially for tubing trips. John, Rob, and Zach really went above and beyond for us. I can't promise that they'll always be able to drop everything to accommodate everyone, like they were able to accommodate a last-minute change from a sleepy middle-aged paddler like myself. What I do know is that the entire TRO team will do EVERYTHING they can to make sure you have an awesome time! This wasn't my first trip with Twin River Outfitters and it certainly won't be the last. Book with confidence! read more

Twin River Outfitters - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Buchanan, Virginia

Twin River Outfitting went out of their way to make our two day and night trip run smoothly. The booking went smoothly, even with the multiple changes I made to the reservations. John Mays (owner/manager) went out of his way to accommodate our changes and help me through the online bookings. The night before launch, we stayed at Horseshoe Bend campground. The site was fantastic, stretching along some river rapids. Tent sites were spacious, with picnic table, fire ring and hammock stands. The Glamping sites were clean and well sheltered, complete with covered bar/kitchen space, picnic table and comfortable chairs. At check in, we received an orientation of the trip, river maps and a safety talk. We were given an interesting 30 minute shuttle by John Mays, further explaining the river lay out and what to expect at the current lower water levels. Day one river trip was from Eagle Rock back down to Horseshoe Bend campground. It was nice to leave our camp standing, eliminating the need to haul a lot of gear down river. Day one trip is 14 miles with multiple small rapids and plenty of wild life. Day two, we paddled 7.5 miles back to home base, also located along the river In Bucannan. We were giving the option of packing our camp out or leaving it at the campground to retrieve after paddling. Again the river run was scenic with multiple small rapids and wild life. All in all, the two day trip was fantastic. In particular TRO owners and staff went out of their way to accommodate our needs. Speaking for our group, we highly recommend this outfitter for a great adventure and extremely friendly and professional service. read more

Such a well done trip...we were impressed by the back country camping facilities (super clean, hammock accommodations, water provisions) and with the kayak rental (provided dry bags, maps, training). We will be doing this again soon. read more

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Stopped in for a lazy afternoon before the Ironman Race. It was exactly was we needed to gloar in the cool refreshing waterbefoee the race. The staff was very helpful and fun. They had a lot of different tubes to choose from so everyone was comfortable. The ride to the start was short. I definitely recommend water shoes/sandles. There's a short hike down to the water that is quite rocky. We took a short break between trips and went across the swinging bridge and got ice cream from the Drip across the street. Quaint little place. We really enjoyed our 2 trips down the river and would come back. The James river was clean and clear, cool and refreshing. Thanks for a great time. read more

Twin River Outfitters - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Buchanan, Virginia

Awesome way to spend an afternoon on the river with friends. Love that tethers and transportation were provided. Great communication. Only wished it was a little longer!! If we went earlier in the day we could have had two rides read more

The employees are knowledgeable, professional and friendly. They explained how the tubing worked. Made us feel at ease. They made our first tubing experience a positive experience. read more

This was a lot of fun. I drove 4 hours from Northern Virginia for the experience, which was well worth it. The team was very helpful, friendly, and supportive. The trip took about 90 minutes. I did it by myself and found it relaxing, meditative, and rewarding. It requires a little bit of physical exertion keeping the tube on course but not much when you get the handle of the river flow. I can't wait to do it again. BTW, I'm a 60 year old man! read more

This was such a great experience!! This was my sons' first time tubing (ages 6 and 9) and they loved it! The water moved fast enough that we were in constant motion but they were also able to get out and swim. And you can't be the price for the trip!! I would highly recommend! read more

We've done overnight canoe trips three years now with Twin River Outfitters, and have never been disappointed. The gear is top notch, staff are helpful, and they give you lots of info to stay safe while having a lot of fun. Definitely remember the glamping if you're traveling with a larger group or just prefer to have everything taken care of - very comfortable setup in a quiet private campground near the river. Would recommend! read more

We had a wonderful time on the James. We did the 6 miles and it was so relaxing and beautiful. What a beautiful day. We will definitely do it again. The young girl (I wish I could remember her name) was very kind and helpful. She let us know where to go when we hit a rapid which was extremely helpful. Thank you for a wonderful time. read more

This is a great adventure for the young ( grandkids age 14) and the old grandfather (Age 77) The trips are well placed and timed. You will find one that fits your schedule and budget Beautiful country lots of nature to observe, local restaurants very near by Travel by I-81 or a more scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and Lodge within 20 miles Lots of Day and 1/2 day trips or go for longer with camping options read more

Twin River Outfitters - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Buchanan, Virginia

I took my kids on a kayaking trip with Twin River Outfitters. We all had a great time, but what impressed us as much as the natural beauty of this stretch of the James River was the consummate professionalism of the staff. They are prepared to address any question or worry, and are even more accommodating and flexible than we had hoped. A great company! read more

We had a great time on the float down the river! We had kids ages 9-18, and then my husband and myself. It was very COVID safe, and a great way to have some fun during the pandemic. The staff were all super professional and we couldn't recommend enough! read more

Twin River Outfitters - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Buchanan, Virginia

We just got back from our second multi-day trip with Twin River Outfitters and couldn't be happier. They are professional, accomodating, friendly, and have excellent service. We stayed at one of their new campsites and it was excellent: easy river access, nice gravel surface, new wood shelters, tables, and fire pits, and clean toilets. Excellent river views to boot. Highly recommend! read more

Great service and team. Very thorough and professional communication. Family did an early morning canoe ride down the James. Thank gosh the owner picked up the canoe for us and brought it to the river, that thing was so heavy ;-). Set us up safely and the family had a great send off. Grateful for the service and time on the water. read more

Online check in was convenient. Water was clean and the perfect temperature! RELAXING!

Half of our party got sent down the river before the other half found out there weren't enough paddles. We literally had 8 people paddling up and down the river for four hours trying to find each other. Staff were arguing with each other and with the shuttle driver before we even got to the river so we probably should've just left at that point. Horrible trip, horrible service. We'll never kayak with this company again. read more

The Upper James River is beautiful and every single Twin River Outfitters staff member was friendly and helpful to ensure our day trip was enjoyable and we had everything we needed. This was our second time doing the short trip from Springwood and we had a great time. We will be back! read more

Six of us came from CA, GA and MA for the 5 day canoe and camping trip. The river is beautiful and had plenty of moderate challenges to keep from being bored. We found the equipment and support to be excellent with great campgrounds that were clean and nice. All employees that we met were professional, knowledgeable and friendly. It was quite comical when the owner seemed to not remember what we said to him earlier and then we found out we had spoken to his identical twin brother. We highly recommended these folks! read more

Twin River Outfitters - our personal chef, Hugh - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Buchanan, Virginia

I've done the tubing and the kayaking. So much fun! Anytime I have friends or family visiting I take them to twin River outfitters. It's a great way to beat the heat and experience what the area has to offer. It is very convenient to park, get checked in, and get to your destination to start your experience. The staff are friendly and accommodating. I have had only positive experiences and would highly recommend them to anyone in the area looking for a fun day of tubing or kayaking! read more

The short (2 hour) kayak outing on the Upper James was beautiful - very peaceful with the exception of a couple of fun rapids. Saw herons and turtles and had a couple of nice (intentional) dunks in the river. Twin Rivers people were friendly and efficient - did a great job of organizing the preparations and shuttle. Tammy's, next door, is great for a bite before or after. read more

Professional, friendly and fun! Our first time kayaking and had a great experience. Beautiful trip with several places to stop along the river. Equipment was nice, they offer dry lock boxes and bags at no extra cost and even sunscreen if you forgot yours or decided on this excursion last minute without preparing. Never felt awkward or weird with staff. You will get a little wet especially your feet. Dress accordingly. read more

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This business has now moved to Buchanan and goes by the name Twin River Outfitters. It is still a terrific family-owned and operated business with great service. Twin River Outfitters, Inc | 653 Lowe Street| Buchanan, VA 24066 Office 540-261-7334 | Fax 757-257-0155 | Email tro@canoevirginia.net OPEN APRIL to OCTOBER BY RESERVATION | STORE HOURS Mon - Sat 9 to 6, Sun 1 to 6 read more

Great day on the water. TWO were ready for us and provided great service. Highly recommend for an active family trip!

We went tubing and had a blast. The guys running it are very professional and polite. We will definitely go back if/when we come back this way read more

This was my 5th or 6th time booking with Twin River Outfitters for an overnight trip (Eagle Rock to Buchanan) on the James River and each time I've had a great experience, friendly customer service, and they keep making improvements to their campground. I've brought groups as big as 18 and as small as 2 and they have always accommodated us with patience and understanding when inevitably someone is running late. I look forward to booking with them for as long as I'm living in the region! read more

I went here for a day river float with my friend. It was so nice to be able to have all of the gear provided. Just being able to show up with a water bottle and my river shoes was so nice. I have been on many other river floats with varying levels of safety and this was a gentle float with no scary parts. Such a leisurely afternoon and I appreciate their quick ride up river so we also didn't have to sort out where to leave a vehicle. read more

Took a 2 day trip from Buchanan and loved every second of it. The company came through in every way. The equipment was all in good condition and they sent us off well provisioned and with a good map. Somehow they have exclusive rights to an island in the James and that's where we spent a fun night camping. The white water was enough to have fun but not so much that we were ever worried. At the end of the trip, they were on-time for the pickup and got us back to our cars with no hassle or problems. I couldn't have asked for more. The James is an awesome river BTW. Well worth the ride from DC. read more

It's a simple setup that gets the job done well. They were quick to get us through and to two floats in our time schedule. I didn't plan the trip but I do wish we could have had a longer float. Not sure if that's an option or not. read more

I had a great time tubing and kayaking this weekend. I am a beginner and went on the trips alone. The staff prepared me well and made sure I was safe. I found the staff to be extremely friendly, the trips to be quite affordable, and most of all a lot of fun. It was a great way to escape the city life and relax. I would definitely visit again. read more

Friendly but not weird, family orientated but doesn't stay too long, the twin river outfitters is a great way to kill a couple hours with a group or by your self. Want a Good time on the water, watch the safety brief in the beginning and have fun. read more

All in all I wouldn't change a thing, great pricing and a great experience. Our family did tubing and kayaking which was the perfect day. read more

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Twin River Outfitters did a great job helping our Boy Scout Troop carry-out a two day canoe trip on the James. They provided great gear, thorough safety training, a fantastic river-side campsite for the end of the first day's trip, and shuttle service that was safe and always punctual. Thanks to their experience our trip was pulled off without a hitch for 36 scouts and 11 adult leaders! Beautiful stretch of the James river - 6 miles from Buchanan to Arcadia/Breeden Bottom Campground the first day and 4 more miles from the campground to Alpine the second day. They also supplied firewood and helped with provisioning potable water. read more

The overall experience was interesting and pretty fun. The one thing I wish they would have done is give some lazy river type rapids before directly shooting the customers into a level 1 rapid zone right off the bat. Pay attention to the safety brief, you will need to use that information later on. read more