The Pamunkey and its sister river, the Mattaponi, join at West Point to form the York River, which eventually flows into the Chesapeake Bay, between the Rappahannock to the north and the James River to the south. The South Anna is one 27 sub-watersheds in the larger York River basin. Remote in most places and teeming with fish and wildlife of all kinds, the South Anna has many personalities. It also features meandering stretches that lead into the Pamunkey. What it does not feature is people.
Occasional anglers dot the terrain.
But, for the most part, paddlers feel pretty far removed from the nearby growing suburban centers. Once on the river, one passes a number of sandy beaches and some good, old-fashioned swimming holes. About five miles after the confluence, there is a particularly dramatic bend in the river. Here, the current has carved out what seems to be a bottomless pit on the far side of the river. Local canoe outfitter Garrie Rouse tells a story about how he and his brother used to challenge each other to touch the bottom at this spot.