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Who's up
for a run through the wilderness in downtown Richmond?
Lucky for you, Richmond has some of the best trails that deliver the
feeling of biking along an isolated mountain trail right in the heart
of the city.
The James River trail loop is one of the most popular outdoor fitness
areas in Richmond. The Belle Isle, Buttermilk, and North trails combine
for a circuit course that runs along the hillsides above both banks of
the river between the Boulevard Bridge and the Robert E. Lee Bridge
downtown.
The James River Trail Through Downtown Richmond
For years, it has been known as a destination for the mountain biking
community, but now just as many hikers and runners are taking the
challenge as well.
"Weekends at 7 a.m., the trails are packed with runners," said Bill
Wright, a board member of the Richmond Mid-Atlantic Off Road
Enthusiasts, a mountain bike group. "Later in the day, the bikers all
come out and the trails stay busy all day."
The single-track loop covers about nine miles and there are plenty of
challenging sections on both physical and technical levels for mountain
bikers. Expert riders can complete the loop in 30-40 minutes,
intermediate riders could take an hour or more. Novices should stick to
Belle Isle or the gravel trails around Reedy Creek.
There are multiple tight switchbacks, fast descents, and steep climbs
throughout the loop. The Buttermilk Heights section of the trail --
from 42nd Street to the Boulevard Bridge -- has plenty of boulders,
obstacles, creeks and ravines to keep your mind focused on the path.
There aren't many places to coast and there are many blind spots that
need for a "rider up" shout on approach.
"I don't know what I'd do without these trails," Wright said, so he
decided to join RA-MORE and help recruit others to lend a hand.
Much of the work to design, build and maintain the trails comes from
volunteer groups like RA-MORE. After thousands of volunteer hours and
many weekends spent on the trails, the crown jewel -- a large wooden
ramp -- was installed at the east end of Maymont to connect the trail
to Hampton Street in 2005.
"I never thought the trail system would be as big a deal as it is,"
said Wayne Goodman of RA-MORE. "If you tried to take it away from
people now, you'd have a lot of trouble on your hands."
The goal of the trail-building efforts was to make them more
sustainable and make them easier to maintain. One of the best examples
of that work is in Buttermilk Heights where the group installed "The
Patio" -- a granite 180-degree turn embedded in the hillside that
converted a series of eroded switchbacks into an attractive, permanent
feature.
The group is always looking for help, so check richmond-more.org
and volunteer.
If you're into extra exercise, add length to the loop by climbing into
the hills in the wooded center of Belle Isle or tack on another three
miles with the newly renovated trails through Forest Hill Park on the
Southside.
The loop has several places to stop and see the James, people-watch or
maybe even some wildlife. The views from the Boulevard Bridge and the
pedestrian bridge to Belle Isle are excellent.
But if you're riding too hard, you may miss the best tourist
attractions on the North Trail. As you head west from the Boulevard
Bridge, the trail passes between the historic Lower Canal and Maymont
-- so close you can see the bears and what is blooming in the Japanese
Garden as you ride by. It also passes below Mount Calvary, Riverview
and Hollywood cemeteries before reaching Tredegar Iron Works.
On the Southside, you might have to look a little harder for history,
but it's still there. The trail follows the hillside below Riverside
Drive and the section is known as the Buttermilk Trail. The name comes
from Buttermilk Spring, which used to be the place for farmers to cool
their milk before taking them for sale in downtown Richmond.
Much of those hillsides were also fishing grounds for the Powhatan
tribes before Richmond was settled by the colonists. The hills were
eventually quarried for the vast amounts of granite.
Can these historical tidbits help you hike, run or bike better? Maybe
not physically, but it might give your mind something to focus on
besides strained muscles and sweat.
The James River trail loop is a sign of the City of Richmond's
commitment to establishing greenways, which help connect parks and
neighborhoods to the benefit of everyone, not just trail users.
Events like Dominion Riverrock, which just wrapped up this weekend
(check out our slideshow here), as well as events like the Cross
Country festival at Maymont and Duathlon, also use the James River
trail loop and draw visitors to Richmond, bringing in millions in
tourist dollars.
BEST ACCESS
If you can't bike to the trail, we offer advice on the best places to
park:
-Dog park at Dogwood Dell (ride down the hill) or the in the small
parking lot off Pump House Drive
-North Bank Park
-Tredegar and Belle Isle parking area
-Reedy Creek parking lot off Riverside Drive
-Forest Hill Park (bike the trails down to James River trail)
And for more info, check out RA-MORE at http://richmond-more.org.
For accompanying pictures and more, visit Phil Riggan's original post:
www2.richmond.com/content/2010/may/19/biking-downtown-richmond/
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