From quick and easy loops around town to drives that take you to new heights, Richmond has plenty of places to trail-trek. Lace up your hiking boots because we’ve put together a guide with 15+ routes and trails to help you plan your next outdoor excursion.
Note: While parks and trails may be listed as open, we recommend checking park websites before visiting for further info, current trail conditions, and safest practices for the area.
Key: Easy = 🥾 | Moderate = 🥾🥾 | Difficult = 🥾🥾🥾
James River Park System
Friends of the James River Park has a handy guide and trail maps for the 22+ miles of trails in the system.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2.5 mile loop
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
Also known as the Poop Loop (Yes, you read that right.) — so charmingly named for its proximity to the wastewater treatment plant, this flat area is a great route for mountain bikers.
Pro tip: Be careful after rainy days, as it is typically one of the last trails to dry.
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 3 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: Partially
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
Cross the bridge and follow the path around this historic island. The trails become more difficult as you head towards the top of the island.
Pro tip: Belle Isle is popular for a reason — but that can make driving and parking difficult. If you can, bike or walk to the area. You can also take GRTC Route 87 and get off on 2nd Street at Brown’s Island Way or Spring Street.
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾🥾
- Length: 2.5 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
Choose from three trails — Buttermilk East, Proper, and Heights — featuring narrow, twisty descents, steep climbs, creek crossings, and bridges. With public access now protected for years to come, the trail will likely continue to be among the most popular in the James River Park System.
Add a mental walk through the trail’s history — yes, there’s actual buttermilk involved.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2.5 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: Partially
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
This walk will take you on a reflective journey from Ancarrow’s Landing over the Mayo Bridge to Lumpkin’s Jail. Look out for markers along the way to learn more about our city’s history.
News note: The Capital Region Land Conservancy acquired 4.5 acres of the trail last year to guarantee long-term accessibility to Richmonders.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 1.5 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
This casual, shaded trail takes hikers along the river from Rattlesnake Creek to the Huguenot Flatwater parking lot west of Pony Pasture. The trail is flat but prone to muddiness after wet weather.
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾🥾
- Length: 2.5 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
This rocky trail connects to the Buttermilk Proper and Heights, so be on the lookout for mountain bikers, runners, and walkers. You can follow the trail from the Nickel Bridge to Tredegar Iron Works.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 3 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: Partially
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
This river hangout favorite also has several miles of hiking and biking trails.
Try this: Take a nature walk and try to identify the native plants you see during your travels.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2.5 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
Connected to the Pony Pasture trail, The Wetlands is popular among dog walkers, cyclists, and trail runners. It’s also a nice location for bird-watching, fishing, and scenic views of Williams Island.
T. Tyler Potterfield Bridge and Floodwall Trail
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: Partially
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required — watch out for your pup’s toenails getting caught in planks
Start this riverside exploration in Manchester and walk atop Richmond’s flood wall, or take off near Brown’s Island, cross the T. Pott Bridge, and head east.
Byrd Park/Bryan Park/Maymont
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 1 mile
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
This Byrd Park hiking trail is open for foot traffic only. Find it behind the Carillon and follow it to Pumphouse Park and the North Bank trail.
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: Partially
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
Bring binoculars and see what local wildlife you can spot along the paved park paths + forest trails.
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 1 mile
- Wheelchair accessible: Partially
- Pet-friendly: No
Make your own hike at Maymont, whether you want to explore the Italian and Japanese Gardens or take a nature walk past black bears, Raptor Valley, and the farm.
Southside
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2.6 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: Partially
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
This loop in Pocahontas State Park is one of the more popular in the area due to its shade and family-friendly appeal. There are 60+ miles of trails to explore in the park.
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 3.2 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
This loop will take you around Forest Hill Park Lake — a popular spot among mountain bikers.
Explore Forest Hill with the kids. | Photo by @rva.familyfun
- Difficulty: 🥾
- Length: 2.7 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: No
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
Located among 106 acres of hidden-away parkland, you can access four wooded trails from a small parking area at Old Holly and Beechmont Roads.
Pro tip: Larus Park is an underrated gem in the Richmond area — if you know, you know.
Regional
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 1.3 miles in Richmond, 51.7 miles total
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
Explore this fully paved trail that runs from the City of Richmond through Henrico, Charles City, and James City Counties.
Pro tip: Richmonders can find easy access points at Great Shiplock Park and Dorey Park. Check out the Virginia Capital Trail’s planned itineraries, which include a 2.4-mile trip from Great Shiplock Park to Rocketts Landing and back.
- Difficulty: 🥾🥾
- Length: 43 miles
- Wheelchair accessible: Yes
- Pet-friendly: Yes, leash required
When complete, this upcoming north-south trail will go from Petersburg to Ashland. It’ll connect with the Capital Trail and Appomattox River Trail, as well as numerous parks, including Bryan Park, Battery Park, Abner Clay Park, and JRPS.
Get the right gear
Get the most out of your trip with comfortable, handy, and helpful hiking gear:
- For the best footwear, check out Nordstrom Rack’s sneaker edit for hiking.
- If your trail demands a proper hiking boot, we like Columbia’s collection on Amazon.
- Travel light (but still have room for snacks) with lululemon’s Everywhere Belt Bag.
- Get a good bulk deal on Perfect Bars, Clif Bars, or Kind Bars at a warehouse store like Sam’s Club.
- Don’t forget to bring a compact, portable phone charger (you’ll thank us later).
- We like this Teton hiking backpack.
- Check out this lightweight water bottle.
- Psst — to be ultra-prepared, here are the 10 items you should never enter a national park without, according to the National Park Service.
