Upon my visit to Richmond, Lena M said walking this pipeline trail was must…read more Honestly, I have never seen anything like this! While at first I was freaked out to climb down the little ladder onto the actual pipe, I am so glad I did. The trail is on a pipe that is over the river and one of the cooler things I have experienced as a walk. There is metered parking in the area and you can easily find a spot before your walk. There are also little beach areas off the pipeline where I saw people relaxing, which seems nice on a good weather day. Overall, you should check this out when in Richmond as it is such a unique experience!

Love the Pipeline Trail... what a cool look at the underbelly of RVA! We hiked all the way along…read morethe river to Belle's Island and loved the scenic views and this bridges and tracks above us! What a fabulous way to get in touch with nature, enjoy the foliage, while getting exercise! I'm looking forward to going again! Word who the wise: wear good shoes! No flip flops!

We headed to Huguenot Flatwater last night to do some kayaking with our group. It is very easy to…read morefind, and there is a small parking lot there. I can see it being frustrating to find a spot as it gets closer to boating season though. I was not a fan of the boat launch area, it's design was not very user friendly for easily getting into your kayak. You have to step off a ledge into your boat, or use the small muddy area to load and push off. The point it puts you into the river is great though, and you can go left for a nice paddle up to Bosher's Dam.

During this crazy time of Covid and politics, our priorities have shifted from dining out…read morefrequently, to attempt a more healthy lifestyle of cooking most meals at home, and seeking out alternative sources of entertainment, ones that permit us to breathe in fresh air, enjoy what nature has to offer, and maintain social distancing. So, after visiting a few terrific Virginia State parks, renting kayaks, we decided that this would be something we would like to do regularly, and purchased our own boats. How many times have you crossed Huguenot bridge and thought, oh neat, look at the people kayaking, what fun? Yea, that has been me for years. So we decided to check out the Huguenot Flatwater put-in area and while it is a challenge, it is doable. By this, I mean, it is CRAZY steep, there is a ramp that the "fit and brave" smaller and experienced kayaker can attempt. For us, we carried our kayaks down the steps and were able to launch from there with relative ease. The main issue we had, was that it got super busy, and it was really noisy with the constant sound of vehicles on the bridge. We paddled down river for a bit but decided to play it safe and head back up river so we could float back and were not fighting the current and didn't get too worn out. When we were about ready to head back in, there were so many people trying to put in, that people were having to wait to get out. And then a bus load from a tour company came and we decided to head over to where a trail end let out on the river, decided it was safe, and we carried our kayaks through the trail and back to our car. Not far. The "coolness" and novelty of urban kayaking wore off within 5 minutes of being in the river. It wasn't peaceful at all, but we did get a decent workout and enjoyed the views. We will definitely continue to seek out different places to kayak, and kudos to those who love the adrenaline of being in that environment. I personally just prefer more quiet and fewer people.

This is a real gem set right in a populated area. Trails, streets, huge trees and, while I parked…read moreat a friends house there seemed to be adequate parking areas. What I loved: the rocky stream is gorgeous, some of the trees are absolutely massive, the trails are laid out well. What might turn some people off: it's loud. Chippenham Parkway is right there, and the fall sound of leaf blowers echoed through the woods. The trails are well loved (ie, some are pretty worn down), but despite obvious heavy use I saw very little trash. It's worth a visit and a stroll, and all I could think when I saw the houses and townhomes that surround the park was what a wonderful resource for the neighborhood!

Nice trails. Don't feel like you're in a city…read more Poorly marked. Use the AllTrails app to help you. The one bright side, is it's so small you can't really get lost. There are parking spots near the Sabot Stony Point preschool at the trail head. The trail to go under the busy road was flooded

Very chill park, great for walking and relaxing but it also has hills for mountain biking. Close to…read morethe city yet so easy to get lost in. Love it!

This is a hidden gem. I recently found this trail when looking for a MTB bike trail to ride. I was…read morevery surprised to find it. There is a little way to the actual trail so the "trail head" is longer than expected. Once you drop down from the parking lot you ride the fence line close to an apartment complex. You'll then cross an open area. Prior to dropping into the trail there is a very steep downhill section that curves to the right. I'm not a very experienced biker and had to hop off because of the grade and cut back. You'll cross a 18-24 in wide footbridge to get to the trail. This is where the fun begins. I ride left at the trail which is a big circle. There are sweeping downhills and pretty steep uphills for the first 1/4. Some tree roots and a small ditch to traverse. The second 1/4 is a choppy section that has some rock features and continues the uphill grade. A few of cut backs in this area but not too many to make the ride difficult. The third 1/4 is the part I dislike the most. It's only slightly up hill but has a lot of cut backs and some tight rides through trees and logs. It isn't technical, just a little too many tight squeezes. The last 1/4 is my absolute favorite. It is carved out of a old stream. It's all down hill (not massive just so you don't have to pedal). You travel up and down through the banks in the first part and then you travel right down the middle. Passing under a fallen tree and through the woods. It's so much fun! Overall a great trail. Not a lot of traffic but some. The trail is a big circle but it also has mini-trails that I've never tried that spoke through the outer circle. It's multi-use so you'll encounter walkers and joggers. It's only about a 2 1/2 mile trail so you'll have to ride it a lot for a good work-out.

This is one of our favorite trails to walk because of the scenery. They also have a climbing wall…read morefor all you rock climbers and tons of areas to explore that branch off from these trails.

James River Park Pipeline Walkway is part of the James River Park system and is very deserving of…read moreit's own listing. I have heard people describe this as downtown Richmond's best kept secret. When the river is low (it was at five feet when we went) it can be quite scenic. You get to walk across a vast expanse of boulders that are normally underwater. When the river is high prepare for some Class IV rapids (the Pipeline Rapids stretch is considered Class IV and hazardous at times). The trail itself is often times small catwalk on top of a sewer pipeline just above water level. Ok sewer, I know gross, but the water here is re markedly clean (people were swimming) despite the occasional litterbugs. Hey I grew up surfing a break in El Segundo that was over a sewer pipe (affectionately called Shitpipe), and I am no stranger to water treatment and everything seems fine. I'll report back when I have three eyed babies in the future. And this pipe carries street run-off to a storage area and not to the river. The unique part is that this trail is a mix of industrial combined with nature. You got the iron trail and bridges, with abandoned buildings and then you spot a small island that is a large Great Blue Heron rookery, where dozens of herons nest (http://www.rvariverfront.com/trails/blueheron.html). And then you got a ton of rocks and boulders to hang out on and watch the river. I've seen tons of people sunbathing here and dogs swimming. Now about how to get there: I wouldn't depend on Waze or google maps. Find the James Condominiums (that can serve as a landmark when you are hiking) and park around there. There is to access from the walk at South 12th and Byrd streets or from the east end of Brown's Island. There is parking for a few cars and you have to climb down a metal ladder, but it is well worth it.

The Riverwalk is a beautifully maintained walking trail that, while short, offers a great escape to…read morenature. It's a fantastic addition to Hopewell, featuring a lovely park for kids and an eco-conscious redirected rainwater flower bed that serves as home for bees and blooms with color in the spring/summer. To your left, the path is covered in Kudzu vines, maintained by Hopewell Parks and Rec, creating a gorgeous backdrop for selfies or group photos. On your right, the scenic Appomattox River provides a lovely view of the water. Whether you're looking to get some exercise, have a picnic, practice mindfulness, or enjoy one of the many events, like the spectacular fireworks in July. This spot is a real "walk" in the park!

This was my first time going there on Fourth of July of last year. I really enjoyed it. The people…read morewere nice and I had a great time watching the beautiful firework!

Kinda smells bad all of the time but i mean it's okay i guess. it's not even convenient you have to…read morego out of your way to get their.

I really enjoy running at Dutch Gap. It's pretty basic- if you're looking for a strenuous hike with…read morelots of climbs, twists and turns, you won't find it here. If (like me) you are in search of a peaceful getaway with soft surfaces that are easy to navigate then this is a great option. While yes- the park backs up to a coal-powered electrical plant (the largest in the Dominion system) after the first mile or so on the trail you don't see it. Most of the 4 Mile trail offers views out to the tidal lagoon or James River. There are some trail spurs that also offer observation decks out to the water. Parking is shared with the Henricus Historcial Park as are indoor restrooms, which were clean and spacious. About 10 min off I-95 for those traveling through- it's worth the stop to break up a trip.

The often-overlooked Wetlands is a great spot to start/end a hike or run. Part of the James River…read morePark System (JRPS), this portion of the park is sandwiched between the Willow Oaks Country Club and much more popular Pony Pasture section of JRPS. I find that the trails are really well maintained in this section of JRPS. Despite the name, even after some rain, the trails are generally in runable condition. It's not huge, but offers several trails that probably total up to a couple of miles. It's well shaded to be nice in the warmer months and also has access to the James River. Street parking is available on Landria- I've always been able to find a space, though it does get pretty busy on weekends in the warmer months. The trails connect with the trails in the Pony Pasture section, providing the opportunity to get in a nice 3-4 mile loop on all trails. You can also add on some more miles by running or walking with picturesque river views along Riverside Drive.

Visited the wetlands yesterday. There is limited free parking at the end of the road at the…read moreentrance. It has trails through the wetland and down to the river. It seems popular with local dog walkers. There are mosquitoes. Not much here and there are no facilities.