Virginia / James River /
Chapel Island @ Great Shiplock Park Public Access
Boat ramp · on James River · near Richmond · Virginia
Status not reported No closure has been posted for this launch, but its agency does not publish open or closed status. Check with the managing agency before you tow.
At the launch
- Type
- Boat ramp
- Car parking
- Small lot
- Tidal
- Yes
- Coordinates
- 37.52651, -77.42263
Channel depths in feet from the Army Corps' surveys (Norfolk District; the one nearest this launch is of June 1, 2026). Not for navigation.
Conditions
- Weather forecast for this launch · National Weather Service
- Tide predictions at Richmond (river locks) · NOAA, 0.2 mi away
Tides
Predicted highs and lows at NOAA's Richmond (river locks) station, 0.2 mi from this launch, in local time above MLLW. Predictions, not observations: wind and weather move the real tide. Full predictions at NOAA.
| Mon Oct 19 | Low 5:57 am 0.5 ft · High 11:36 am 2.8 ft · Low 5:47 pm 0.5 ft · High 11:55 pm 3.3 ft |
|---|---|
| Tue Oct 20 | Low 6:46 am 0.6 ft · High 12:29 pm 3.1 ft · Low 6:49 pm 0.7 ft |
| Wed Oct 21 | High 12:50 am 3.4 ft · Low 7:36 am 0.8 ft · High 1:21 pm 3.4 ft · Low 7:53 pm 0.9 ft |
| Thu Oct 22 | High 1:42 am 3.6 ft · Low 8:25 am 0.9 ft · High 2:10 pm 3.7 ft · Low 8:52 pm 1.0 ft |
| Fri Oct 23 | High 2:31 am 3.7 ft · Low 9:12 am 1.0 ft · High 2:55 pm 4.0 ft · Low 9:48 pm 1.0 ft |
| Sat Oct 24 | High 3:16 am 3.8 ft · Low 9:58 am 1.0 ft · High 3:36 pm 4.2 ft · Low 10:41 pm 1.0 ft |
| Sun Oct 25 | High 3:59 am 3.9 ft · Low 10:43 am 0.9 ft · High 4:16 pm 4.3 ft · Low 11:32 pm 0.9 ft |
On the river
Low-head dams drown people every year: the current below the drop circles back and holds a swimmer or a boat at the face. Portage around them; stay well clear above and below.
- Low-head dam, 1.3 mi upstream: Vepco Flash Board Dam, 8 ft. · Virginia DCR run-of-river and low-head dams
- Low-head dam, 2.0 mi upstream: Hollywood Power Plant Dam, 25 ft. · Virginia DCR run-of-river and low-head dams
- Low-head dam, 6.7 mi upstream: Z-Dam. · Virginia DCR run-of-river and low-head dams
- Low-head dam, 9.6 mi upstream: Bosher Dam, 10 ft. · Virginia DCR run-of-river and low-head dams
Up to 10 river miles each way, from the agencies' inventories; not every hazard is listed and rivers change. Scout before you go.
Channel survey
The Army Corps surveys the channels it maintains and posts every survey.
- Richmond Harbor to Rdwt · 0.1 mi from this launch
Condition survey of June 1, 2026 by the Norfolk District. Least depth in the channel (Richmond Harbor to RDWT): 12.3 ft; project depth 18 ft. Survey sheet (PDF)
US Army Corps of Engineers hydrographic surveys, from eHydro. A survey shows the bottom on the day it was made; channels shoal after high water and change with dredging. Not for navigation.
On James River
River in Virginia. All launches on James River.
Community
Where people who use James River talk about it.
Nearby launches
- Ancarrow's Landing · 0.5 mi · James River
- 14th Street Mayo Island · 0.6 mi · James River
- Floodwall · 0.7 mi · James River
- Tredegar Boat Ramp · 1.4 mi · James River
- Belle Isle · 1.7 mi · James River
- Reedy Creek Boat Launch · 2.5 mi · James River
Sources
- Virginia DCR Water Access Points (statewide public access inventory, Virginia Outdoors Plan) record -77.4226,37.5265 · Public data (Virginia DCR), 'for planning purposes only'; credit Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Recreation Planning and Recreational Resources
Why it is listed as public: listed by Virginia DCR Water Access Points (statewide public access inventory, Virginia Outdoors Plan). Something wrong, or is this launch private? Send a correction; it goes to a person.