Phil Riggin has lived in Richmond, Virginia, since 1988, and his love for the James River and Richmond’s outdoor adventures are the biggest reasons why he has never wanted to leave. In the past seven years, Phil has dedicated more and more of his free time to volunteering and helping to develop and protect the great recreational amenities and natural beauty of the James River Park. Phil is a positive person, a team player, and sports have always been part of his life. He is a father, husband, cyclist, paddler, hiker, photographer, writer, soccer player, gardener, environmentalist, and someone who cares greatly about where he lives. Phil is a “take the stairs” kind of guy and finds ways to combine fitness with tasks—like biking to work, job assignments, volunteer duties, stores, etc. He is teaching his kids to do the same thing. Phil is a “buy local” kind of guy and supports any businesses that are friendly to cycling, walking, the outdoors, and that help make Richmond a better place to live.

The child of an Air Force officer, Nathan Lott has lived and traveled widely in the United States, Europe, and the Near East. He credits his parents with fostering the appreciation of history, culture, and the natural world that serves him well as a writer. Turning his native curiosity to stories Virginia proved a rewarding task. In particular, the experience reinvigorated his environmentalism, and Nathan now works as executive director of the not-for-profit Virginia Conservation Network. Nathan holds a journalism degree from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, but maintains that the most valuable thing he did in college was meet his wife, Elizabeth, a minister. It was her seminary education that brought the couple to Richmond, where they reside with their young son and daughter.

Overview Map

Hikes List

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Preface

Hiking Recommendations

Introduction

Richmond Central

• Brown’s Island/Potterfield Bridge Loop
• Byrd Park/Pump House Park
• Deep Run Park
• Forest Hill Park
• James River Park Loop
• James River Park Main Area
• Joseph Bryan Park
• Larus Park
• North Bank Park
• Pony Pasture Rapids
• Powhite Park
• Richmond Slave Trail
• Virginia Capital Trail

South of the James

• Amelia Wildlife Management Area
• Appomattox River Trail
• Dutch Gap Conservation Area
• Mid-Lothian Mines Park
• Petersburg National Battlefield Park
• Pocahontas State Park
• Powhatan State Park
• Powhatan Wildlife Management Area
• R. Garland Dodd Park at Point of Rocks
• Robious Landing Park
• Rockwood Park

East to Williamsburg and Tidewater

• Beaverdam Park
• Chippokes Plantation State Park
• Cold Harbor Battlefield, Richmond National Battlefield Park
• Cumberland Marsh Natural Area Preserve
• Dorey Park
• Greensprings Greenway
• Hog Island Wildlife Management Area
• Malvern Hill Battlefield, Richmond National Battlefield Park
• Newport News Park
• Wahrani Nature Park
• Waller Mill Park
• York River State Park

North to Fredericksburg and the Northern Neck

• Belle Isle State Park
• Caledon State Park and Natural Area
• Canal Path/Heritage Trail
• Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve
• Lake Anna State Park
• Motts Run Reservoir
• North Anna Battlefield Park
• Poor Farm Park
• Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield
• Westmoreland State Park
• Zoar State Forest

West to Charlottesville and Central Virginia

• Bear Creek Lake State Park
• Fluvanna Heritage Trail
• Hardware River Wildlife Management Area
• High Bridge Trail State Park
• Ivy Creek Natural Area
• Leakes Mill Park
• Observatory Hill
• Ragged Mountain Natural Area
• Rivanna Trail
• Saunders-Monticello Trail
• Scheier Natural Area
• Twin Lakes State Park
• Walnut Creek Park

Appendixes and Index

Appendix A: Local Shopping for Hikers

Appendix B: Clubs and Organizations

Index

About the Author

Map Legend