Rappahannock River

The Rappahannock River provides the northern boundary for the city, running along much of its historic downtown. The river played a dominate role in Fredericksburg’s history and remains one of the community’s biggest assets. It is the county’s longest free flowing river in the eastern United States, originating in the Shenandoah National Park of western Virginia and extending east 184 miles to the Chesapeake Bay.

It offers one of the most scenic and best-protected river corridors in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. View information about the Rappahannock River or information about Friends of the Rappahannock, a volunteer organization dedicated to maintaining the water quality and scenic beauty of the river.