Virginia Capital Trail Richmond Trailhead
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The Virginia Capital Trail offers a long, paved, and easy-to-ride experience primarily suited for biking. While it boasts 53 miles of clean path and connects to other parks like Dorey Park, parents should be aware that the Richmond section often parallels a main road, leading to traffic noise rather than a deep-woods nature immersion. For a potentially cleaner and friendlier atmosphere, the Jamestown side is suggested by some reviewers.
Key Highlights
- ✓53-mile long paved trail, making it easy for biking and potentially strollers/scooters.
- ✓Path is generally reported as clean and well-maintained.
- ✓Popular for cycling, attracting 'lots of bikes'.
- ✓Connects to or passes by other 'nice' parks like Dorey Park, which can be a destination or starting point.
- ✓Allows for 'quick rides' or potential full-trail excursions.
Standout Features
- ⭐Paved surface ideal for bikes, scooters, and strollers.
- ⭐Extensive 53-mile length offers versatility for short or long trips.
- ⭐Connects to other parks like Dorey Park, providing additional activity options or rest stops.
- ⭐Specific nearby dining option: Cul’s Courthouse Grille is recommended for 'excellent food'.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →If seeking a quieter, more nature-immersed experience, this trail might not be the best fit due to road proximity.
- →Consider starting from the Jamestown side for a potentially cleaner environment and friendlier interactions, based on reviewer feedback.
- →For food near the Richmond side, Cul’s Courthouse Grille is highly recommended.
- →Dorey Park is mentioned as a 'nice' park and a potential starting point or destination, offering additional amenities (reviewer attended a festival there).
Things to Consider
- ⚠The Richmond trailhead section 'parallels the road the entire time', resulting in traffic noise that detracts from a 'nature soaking' experience.
- ⚠Not an 'entirely in the woods' trail, but rather alongside civilization.
- ⚠Litter was observed as 'Terrible and everywhere' in the parking lot just past Dock Street park on the Richmond side.
- ⚠Reviewers found the Jamestown side to be 'definitely cleaner and folks a little friendlier' compared to the Richmond side.
Price & Value
No pricing details are mentioned in the reviews, suggesting the trail access itself is free.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •The trail is described as 'paved and so easy to ride', strongly indicating it is highly accessible for strollers, wheelchairs, and adaptive bikes.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No explicit food policy for the trail itself. However, Cul’s Courthouse Grille is a specific, excellent off-trail dining recommendation.
🚗Parking Info
- •Parking is available, as reviewers mention starting points and issues with litter in a parking lot 'just past the Dock Street park' on the Richmond side. No specific details on capacity or cost are provided.
👥Crowd Levels
- •The trail sees 'lots of bikes', suggesting it can be quite busy with cyclists, especially on popular days. No specific times for peak crowding are mentioned.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features are mentioned in the reviews. Parents should be aware that the Richmond section 'parallels the road' which might impact their perceived safety for children near traffic.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If you are seeking a quiet, secluded, deep-woods nature experience free from traffic noise.
- • If you are highly sensitive to litter in public areas, especially when starting from the Richmond side near Dock Street.
- • If your primary goal is wildlife spotting or a pristine natural environment for hiking, as it parallels a road and isn't 'entirely in the woods'.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Increased Foot Traffic (Run Richmond 16.19)
Saturday, September 27 (from 8:15 am – 10:30 am)
Not specified
Runners will be on the Capital Trail between the Floodwall (MM 51.7) & Rocketts Landing (MM 50) in the Richmond Section. Users advised to stay alert and use caution.
Increased Foot Traffic (Tunnel to Towers 5k Run/Walk)
Saturday, October 4 (starting at 11 am)
Not specified
Starting point at Jamestown Settlement Trailhead (MM 0) in James City County Section (MM 0 - MM 1.5). Users advised to stay alert and use caution.
Trailwide Cleanup (Cap Trail Fall Birthday Cleanup)
Saturday, October 11 (from 10 am - Noon)
Volunteer activity (no cost)
Individuals & groups of all ages collecting litter along the entire Trail (MM 0 to MM 51.7). Users advised to be alert, use caution, and thank volunteers.
Increased Foot Traffic (Grove Trotter 5k/10k & Step UP for Down Syndrome 5k)
Saturday, October 11 (Grove Trotter 9 am to 10:30 am; Step UP 9 am onwards)
Not specified
Grove Trotter: Runners from Chickahominy Riverfront Park, along the Capital Trail between MM 7 & MM 10 (Charles City County). Step UP: Runners/walkers along Dorey Park connector trail and Capital Trail between MM 39 & 41 (Henrico County).
🍎Food Policy
- • Picnic areas available at Dorey Park, Chickahominy Riverfront Park, Herring Creek, Harrison Park, Lawrence Lewis Jr. Park, and Jamestown Settlement.
- • Many places to eat along and near the trail (over 50 listed on trail map).
- • Water available at specific locations (Spoke & Art, Chickahominy Riverfront Park, Charles City Courthouse, Lawrence Lewis Jr. Park, Cul’s Courthouse Grille, Indian Fields Tavern, Four Mile Creek Trailhead, Dorey Park) and can be purchased at convenience stores.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Users advised to stay alert and use caution during events with increased foot traffic.
- • Trail Ambassadors provide information, basic first aid, bike repair, and report maintenance issues.
- • Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) responsible for trail maintenance (repairs, clearing debris, cutting grass).
- • Report maintenance issues online at my.vdot.virginia.com or call 1-800-367-7623 (online preferred).
- • In case of emergency, call 911.
- • Rules for trail use exist (link to 'HERE' on website, details not provided).
🚗Parking Information
- • Free parking options: The Jamestown Settlement, Jamestown High School, James City County Marina, Chickahominy Riverfront Park, Charles City Courthouse, Cul’s Courthouse Grille, Indian Fields Tavern, Herring Creek Trailhead, Four Mile Creek Trailhead, Dorey Park, and Great Shiplock Park.
- • Paid parking: Buckland Farms (weekday, dawn to dusk, $5 fee).
- • Overnight parking (at your own risk): Great Shiplock Park (Richmond), Four Mile Creek Trailhead, Herring Creek Trailhead.
- • Overnight parking (with pre-approval): Dorey Park (contact Henrico County Recreation and Parks at 804-501-5127), Jamestown Settlement (contact 757-253-4838), Jamestown Marina (contact 757-565-3699).
- • Paid overnight parking in Richmond area: Amtrak Station (1500 East Main St. Richmond, VA 23219) - $1/hour or $6/24 hours.
- • Parking garage: 14th and Cary Street, Richmond (near the trail).
What People Say
What's Great
- Clean and well-maintained facilities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Mel Bourne
4 months agoWe started our ride outside of Richmond at DoreyPark. Great park. We headed east. Our first impression was wow this is paved and so easy to ride. What we quickly realized was it parallels the road the entire time. Our definition of a good ride is to be entirely in the woods soaking up all that nature has to offer-not listening to cars zoom by. One of the gems we did discover was eating at Cul’s Courthouse Grille-excellent food.
Cindy Morgan
a week agoLiterally viewed this place while traveling on an Amtrak train from Baltimore to Newport News. It definitely looks worth exploring further.
Peter Flint
a month agoFantastic trail, only did a quick ride but had a great experience. Love having this available.
Alysa Polvay
3 months ago53 mile trail, it would be really fun to ride bikes down the entire trail. Really nice path, very clean. Lots of bikes.
Charlie Laurens
10 months agoWe have riden the VCT and started from Jamestown side many times. Today was our 1st ride from the Richmond side. Park is nice but the litter in the parking lot just past the Dock Steet park was Terrible and everywhere. Definitely cleaner and folks a little friendlier on the Jamestown side. Rode to Dorey Park Caribbean festival and back. Corey Park was nice.