Hardware River Wildlife Management Area

{{Short description|Protected area of Virginia, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Hardware River Wildlife Management Area

| alt_name =

| iucn_category = V

| photo =

| photo_alt =

| photo_caption =

| photo_width =

| map = Virginia#USA

| map_alt =

| map_caption = Location within Virginia

| map_width =

| location = Fluvanna County, Virginia

| nearest_city = Scottsville

| coordinates = {{coord|37|45|N|78|25|W|type:landmark_region:US-VA_dim:3000|display=title,inline}}{{cite web |url=https://www.protectedplanet.net/555556232 |title=Hardware River |website=ProtectedPlanet |publisher=United Nations Environment Programme's World Conservation Monitoring Centre |access-date=January 3, 2017}}

| area_acre = 1034

| established =

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| governing_body = Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

| url =

}}

Hardware River Wildlife Management Area is a {{convert|1034|acre|km2|adj=on}} Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Fluvanna County, Virginia. Its namesake is the Hardware River which provides a portion of its boundary and runs through its interior; however, it is known for the access it provides to the James River. The area's former farmland today hosts forests of oak, maple, and hickory, with stands of pure pine on the highest ground. Elevations range between {{convert|250|ft|m}} along the James River's floodplain and {{convert|450|ft|m}} at the areas highest points.{{cite web |url=https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wma/hardware-river/ |title=Hardware River |publisher=Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries |access-date=January 6, 2017}}

Hardware River Wildlife Management Area is owned and maintained by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The area is open to the public for hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, boating, and primitive camping. Access for persons 17 years of age or older requires a valid hunting or fishing permit, a current Virginia boat registration, or a WMA access permit.{{cite web |url=https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/access-permit/ |title=Access Permit |publisher=Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries |access-date=January 6, 2017}}