Pony Pasture is one of those places you have to see to believe. With incredible views of the James River and access to amazing trails. This is a great spot for families, couples or friends looking for water access or a spot for a picnic. I love checking this spot out and sitting on a rock and enjoying the sounds of the water while watching the geese present. There is ample parking in the form of a parking lot, a public bathroom with multiple stalls and most of the trails are well marked with trash containers sprinkled throughout which has definitely caused the litter here to decrease. Definitely check this spot out if you're wanting a nature retreat! read more

Pony Pasture - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Beautiful, serene park worth searching for if you'd like to escape the humdrum or daily grind. It's just so relaxing listening to the river rolling over the rocks and boulders. There's something to be said about unplugging and losing yourself in nature! You should try it! read more

Pony Pasture - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Back at the Rivah to soak up the sun on this Spring day! Lovely breeze, nice natural park... great trails, beautiful sound of the rapids, Lots of wildlife to be explored. Parking area and good signage! AN RVA landmark! read more

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Pony pasture was a great spot to walk my dog and have her swim! Easy parking lot and well established trails. read more

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I love pony pasture , it's nice and relaxing and family oriented. I go there to just sit, read, eat my lunch , listen to music and just get away from stress . read more

Great place to go with the dog good walking paths! Very nice right down the river. I went walking with my dog and she put her feet in the water. She's a new dog and I was pretty amazed that she even did that but it was a very nice place. I've walked there before without my dog. read more

Happy Earth Month! When I think of Pony Pasture I think of summers spent floating down the river. This is the ultimate starting point for most people looking to float. The Pony Pasture to Reedy Creek float is a popular route that can take 3-4 hours (it depends on how high the river is). Besides having a great kayak and float launch, this park is also great for picnics and hikes. There are lovely trails along the James River here and through the park. There is a parking lot, but it can get really packed and crowded during summer months (everyone wants to go on the river). There is overflow parking along the park entrance too. If you want some quality time with the James River, this is a good park for you. read more

Such a beautiful park right on the James River. We came to walk some trails and eat lunch. Beautiful views and so many rafters or kayaks getting in the water. It was beat to watch. Very clean park and newly mulch was laid. They did have a petting zoo that was set up there. We will be back to explore more. read more

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This park is a hidden gem. There's a beautiful trail that is perfect right now as fall is upon us with a nice view of James River. It is so quiet. There's an area where you can dock from with a canoe or raft. Beware of these spiders with long legs that seem to be everywhere, but I didn't manage to get a photo to identify them. read more

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Took a nice little hike just under two miles with a very scenic river view. People enjoy taking a dip ur using floats on the water surrounded by boulders and rocks. Further away notice many ducks and goose on the rock islands. The easy trail runs parallel to the river but then goes inland into the woods. read more

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When I lived in Richmond it was my most favorite escape spot. Sere and green during summer and just as nice during cooler months. Plenty of solitude if that what you want. When the water level is low it's easy to walk to either side, catch some sun and relax. When water is a steady flow it becomes ideal for flotation devices and an exciting ride. Kids will love. read more

Pretty cool spot to bring the dog, fish, BBQ, or just to sunbathe. It's a part of the river that's slow moving so it's safe enough to get the kids out there. Can get crowded though... read more

Def something to do just to be by the water. Though it's not a beach, it is a form of healing and/ or creating space for yourself to just be still. It can be many ppl there depending on when you go so be prepared to find the day and time that works for you in what you seek. Moreover it's not a bad day and worth the experience. Must wear protective foot ware read more

This is my favorite hiking spot nearby as it boasts some beautiful views of the river and there are a lot of options to do either a shorter, 30 min loop or go deeper into the wetlands. I've found that their is usually pretty ample parking, the trails are in good shape overall (though they do get muddy after a rainstorm, so wear good shoes), it's dog friendly if you're into that, and there are options to go into the water! read more

If you want to enjoy the river this is the spot. Warning if you are coming on the weekend and it is nice out, get here early so there is a place to park. Most of the time when we come we head down river a little to the half moon beach. There is a little call area where kids can wade out and be safe. Then you can go further into the river into some bigger rocks. If you go more upstream there are bigger rocks in the water that you can hang out on in the water. You will see people sunbathing, swimming, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, walking dogs, walking the trails. There are porta potties and garbages along the trail. If you are going in the water bring some type of water shoe. The edges are muddy, the rocks can be sharp, and there is broken glass in the river. read more

I've always liked this spot. Very kid and pet friendly. It's really cool to go to pretty much any spot from the huegenot flats all the way to belle isle for some good photos. I've been watching the sunrise there lately and it's gorgeous. read more

Pony Pasture - James River - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I've been coming to Pony Pastures for several years now. Don't be fooled by the name - there aren't any ponies nor pastures in sight. Instead what you find is easy access to the James River. The parking lot is spacious and access to the hiking trails are easy to find. My dog loves loves loves coming here! As a courtesy I keep him on a leash until I get to our favorite little swim spot where we stop and play fetch so that he can be a lab- swimming and retrieving are simply his favorite past times. It's easy for me to find a cool rock outcropping to relax on while he ventures into the river. On warm sunny days the main trail can get crowded but there are several off shoots that you can take. The trails are very well maintained and easy to navigate. Even on cooler winter days it's a great place to stretch your legs, get some fresh air and just be in nature. read more

Pony Pasture - Relaxing by the river is easy here! - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Whenever I go to Pony Pastures I always bring my hammock and my dog. It's a great place to go relax and enjoy nature. Most of the river is shallow and calm for swimming. It is a river, it's rocky and slippery in some areas, so be mindful of feet placement. I have seen a few people who wear river/water shoes to protect their feet. read more

Pony Pasture - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

My dog and I love going for walks here. The restrooms are behind the parking lot, for the longest time I didn't think they had any. I haven't had an issue with vehicles where the trail goes to the road off and on throughout the walk. I've only been during Fall and Winter but I'm sure it's a blast in the Summer! read more

Pony Pasture is one of the nicer portions of the park system in Richmond, and it's a popular destination for picnicking and river wading in the summer. It's particularly popular for family picnics and things of that nature- it's a little woodsy so also good for light hiking, or making out in the bushes. Unlike Belle Isle, there aren't as many rocks to be found here for sunbathing, but there are a few beachy strips and of course lots of rivers edge real estate where you can set up a grill, plop down the cooler, and get started drinking. For me, it's a little buggy here because of the standing water near the edges, and the trees... so I prefer to go hiking around here as opposed to picnicking, but I've seen a lot of both. Parking is limited so be prepared to park and walk a little bit on the weekends if you don't get there early. They often have parking attendants when it gets really crowded, but even so it can be challenging. read more

After not feeling well for the last month, I was finally well enough to go on a hike. My husband found this park off of yelp and we went with our puppy. Finding the place was a bit tricky, after reaching the destination on yelp, just drive a bit further and you will come to the parking lot. There are a few trails to take. We took the trail that was next to the river. There are a few beaches where you can sit back, relax, enjoy a cup of coffee and the view. If you go a bit further into the trail you can also visit the wetlands. We saw a lot of people with strollers so the trail is kid friendly as well. I can imagine that this area get packed on nice days. read more

This is one of Richmond's most popular spots for hanging out, playing in the water, sunbathing and just enjoying the James River. Be prepared, if you go on a weekend, it's going to be crowded. This is why I only gave three stars. Parking can be limited, especially on nice days. There are trails all around that lead you down to the water. Once you're down there, you have to wade through the water to get to big, flat rocks where you can relax and enjoy the sun. The later you wait in the day to go, the farther you'll have to wade to get a good rock. Some people really enjoy this, but I'm more of a lounge-next-to-the-pool kind of girl, so this can get kind of annoying to me. Because the water starts at wading level and gets deeper, this is a popular place for people to bring dogs who like to splash around in the river or kids who are just getting used to water. Just be careful: the ground under the water is uneven and you can slip if you don't pay attention. Pony Pastures is a fun place to hang out, but can be a pain if it's too busy. read more

I've been coming here for a couple years whenever I want to run in a scenic area. I love this place for running! There's many outdoor activities that you can do here. The neighborhood is really nice. There are some real beautiful houses on Riverside Drive. There are some real good spots to view the River; I'm going to keep that to myself...lol. I recently found out that there are bald eagles around here. I didn't believe it at first but one of my professors said that he spotted one before while he was fly fishing. Pretty awesome to hear that there are bald eagles around here! All in all...awesome place to visit if you haven't already! akatek1 read more

I've been there only once for a walk but plan to go again. Was a nice and quiet place in the morning. There was noone else there. But I hear it gets crowded on hot days and weekends. read more

I love it here! I walk the dog, go tubing, kayaking, go fishing with the kids (don't eat the fish though) or just have a picnic on the rocks. The only negative is the trash that others leave behind. There are several trash/recycle bins- use them when you visit, please. read more

Pony Pasture - Gunner at Pony Pasture - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Favorite place to spend a warm sunny day! On weekdays it isn't crowded and even on a weekend (Like today on Easter Sunday) there are still plenty of rocks to sit and lay on. If you're adventurous, you can jump rock to rock or go see the island in the middle. Perfect for everyone! read more

Pony Pasture - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Great spot along the river. Parking lot is very close to the river and trails. The trails are nice and I found people were keeping their dogs on the lease. They do have a big sign saying to do so. It is buggy here. Need bug spray or clothes to keep the mosquitos and gnats at bay. I say it is a medium threat here...but if you had south toward The Wetland it gets buggier. You can watch the rapids here. read more

Awesome spot for a scenic hike. Came here recently during the peak of falls where colors of the leaves are glimmering. Make sure you bring your camera! We came here trying to catch a glimpse of the sun rise but it was a cloudy morning. But I've heard plenty of other folks coming here to watch the sunrise. read more

First time visiting a few months ago! My son and I loved it. We found a rock to set our things on a went exploring. The people who were there too were great and there was lots of families and dogs! Be mindful of the currents in the river and I suggest water shoes for the little ones. Some of the rocks can be slippery and ice or worse sooo be careful! Other than that I highly recommend this place read more

Pony Pasture - Enjoying some fun in the sun - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

A cold and rainy morning, but still a good area for a nice brisk jog. Thinking about Spring today! read more

Pony Pasture - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I'm a big fan!!! My dog and I love to go and walk around the hiking trails. Just recently I started to take him into the water areas to learn to swim. The people who frequent this area are friendly and welcoming. It's extremely dog friendly and even if your dogs aggressive or not so well behaved you're able to just keep on a leash and enjoy your time together. A lot of traffic and bustle but overall amazing experience. To be so close to a big city it makes you feel like you're living the country life. Kept very clean and well patrolled by rich minds finest. I highly suggest spending a day with your family or just exercising at this park. Thumbs up. Plenty of trails and river access. Parking is plenty and benches are everywhere. I love it. Easily accessed and signs everywhere so you won't get lost. read more

Pony Pasture - Enjoying a nice sunny day. - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

I am new to the area and have found this place on the internet after some intense searching for a lake/ river for my dogs to swim. I went there today with my dogs and enjoyed this park a lot. There's several beach area where the water is shallow enough for my dogs to swim and play fetch in the water. We found a place that is pretty quiet, far away from the crowd but it was quite a walk from the parking lot (which we did not mind). The water there is decent, not dirty, no algea or any gross stuff that you can see, so it's pretty safe for your dogs if they happen to swallow several sips. If you have a dog (or two, or three) who loves to swim, this is a place to go. I've seen some dogs walking on this trail (on and off leash) as well. The current in Pony Pasture varies depending on the location. If you do not like the current at certain location, walk further down and you'll notice the difference. There are areas for people to kayak, swim, sun bathe, have a small picnic, etc. People seem to gather near the parking lot, but if you walk further down the trail, it'll get less busy. The road leading to this park is narrow, if you miss the parking lot, there is no place for you to make the U turn. Be careful driving because people run, hike, bike, etc. a lot on this road. read more

Great on a sunny day! They have trails that you can walk near the river. Bring a cooler and radio to catch some rays on a big rock or bring a tube to float down the river. The parking lot is pretty big but can fill-up fast, especially on weekends, so get there early. read more

No ponies that Ive ever seen, but I love the trails. Its less popular that belle island but has allot of the same woodsy charm.

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Love this place, and so does my pup. The trails are easy to navigate, with a great view of the river. It can get crowded on the main trails, but there are a bunch of less populated trails away from the river for us loners, too! The one downside is all of the unleashed dogs - that gets annoying. read more

Pony Pasture - Parks Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Came here on a whim. Wasn't planning to come so I didn't have hiking shoes. But the view was the river was so worth it. Next time I'm bringing my Trek! read more

The best! Nice little place next to the river. Awesome trails. Like any park around the area, there are always many bugs especially mosquitoes so don't forget to take some sort of bug spray with you. Actually, it is the best here during the fall when the trees start changing their colors. read more

This is my favorite place to hike around and search for wildlife in RVA and my favorite spot to swim too! In the regular section of the park, I have seen a mother raccoon in the trees, Osprey, Bald Eagle and Broad Winged Hawk circling the waters. In the rapids here is my favorite swimming spot, there are also great rocks for sun bathing further downstream where the water is more gentle. However my favorite hiking and nature watching is in "The Wetlands" section of the park. Here I have seen Barred Owl in the middle of the day near the "Wetlands" park entrance. In the meadow area Eastern Cottontail (bunnies) and Eastern Bluebird and Many great butterfly and dragonfly species. Do not pass by the wooden walls which allow you to peak through at the pond without scaring the wildlife, I have seen Deer, frogs, and Wood Ducks hanging out there. The River side of this part of the park has the same Birds of Prey but it is also where i have seen more Great Blue Herons and water fowl. Lets not forget that this park offers more shade for hiking around then most of the RVA parks. read more