Place: Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield, VA
Ridden: January 2015
Click on video to play
Pocahontas State Park was our first stop during our weekend adventure to Richmond. If you did not see the blog post last weekend, not too long ago PA was being hit by a winter storm that was dumping a good amount on snow on the area. We decided to escape the snow and traveled to Richmond, VA for the weekend. We rode our bikes, slept in the van, and enjoyed a weekend of warm and sunshine while our northern friends were buried in snow.
Just 20 miles from downtown Richmond Pocahontas State Park offers boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, cabins, hiking, mountain biking, equestrian trails, and environmental programs. The park was part of the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) program (for more on CCC camps see the Tall Pines blog here http://nankmancycling.blogspot.com/2014_09_01_archive.html). The park has more than 80 miles of trails throughout 7,925 acres open to hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. About 52 miles of those trails are multi-use, the remainder being designated only for certain activities.
We rode primarily on the mountain bike specific trails. These are a network of single track trails developed specifically for mountain biking. They are twisty with many short, steep ups and downs. There is a smattering of log overs and rock gardens, but overall the trails and smooth and flowing. The trails are rated beginner to advanced; the advance trails having the log overs and rock gardens and a few skinnies to have fun on. The advanced trails all so have tons of fun "halfpipe" sort of trails features. The trails are set up as multiple loops within loops, so it is easy to add on miles or cut back to the parking area whenever needed. All in all the single track is about 12 miles or so of trails.
To add in some extra time and to see a bit more of the park, we also did a loop of the multi-use trails. What we rode was primarily gravel roads/fire road type of riding. We went by the CCC museum and site of the original CCC camp, the dam, and the park office. These trails are a good way to see the park.
All in all a fun place to ride with various trail options depending on what type of riding one wants to do. A note for visitors- one must pay to use the park. Payment is made at the park office, and then you get a paper to put in your vehicle. We didn't know this and thus it added a bit of extra driving around the park when we already had time constraints to get a ride in before it got dark.
- words by Jess
- video by Joël