Chickahominy Riverfront Park to Indian Fields Tavern
Length: 33.2 miles round trip
Start: Chickahominy Riverfront Park (just east of mile marker 6.5)
Turnaround Point: Indian Fields Tavern (mile marker 23.1)
Parking: Front of Chickahominy Riverfront Park
Attractions on the Trip:
Chickahominy Riverfront Park
Piney Grove at Southall’s Plantation (east of mile marker 15.5, 5 miles north of trail)
Fort Pocahontas at Wilson’s Wharf (slight east of mile marker 15.5, 1.5 miles south of trail)
Sherwood Forest Plantation (slightly west of mile marker 16.5)
North Bend Plantation (slightly west of mile marker 18.5, 1 mile south of trail)
Charles City Courthouse (mile marker 20)
Cul’s Courthouse Grille (mile marker 20.5)
Lawrence Lewis Jr. Park (slight east of mile marker 21, 2 miles south of trail)
Indian Fields Tavern (mile marker 23.1)
Itinerary:
This trip starts in Chickahominy Riverfront Park which has a little bit of everything. The Chickahominy Riverfront Park offers various campsites, fishing, swimming, kayaking, and a driving range. The park even has a store with concessions for snacks and supplies! To reserve a campsite or check out pricing, visit their website (https://www.jamescitycountyva.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Chickahominy-Riverfront-Park-2). Once you’ve stocked up on water and snacks head east on the trail towards Charles City County. If you want to extend your ride, head over to Piney Grove at Southall’s Plantation, about 5 miles north of the trail. Or ride 1.5 miles south of the trail to find Fort Pocahontas at Wilson’s Wharf, a Civil War fortification. Come in June for a live reenactment or visit their website (http://www.fortpocahontas.org/) to schedule a tour. Around mile marker 16, you will cross paths with Sherwood Forest Plantation, home of former President John Tyler. In two miles you’ll come across North Bend Plantation where nearly 30,000 federal troops camped during the Civil War. Continue west to the Charles City Courthouse Grounds which has a lot of history, it is the oldest courthouse still in continuous use in the US! Across the street you will find Cul’s Courthouse Grille which has great sandwiches and salads. About 2.5 miles from Cul’s Courthouse Grille, Lawrence Lewis Jr. Park stands about 2 miles south of the trail. This park has amenities for fishing and bird watching. Once you’re back on the trail, head west to Indian FIelds Tavern and refuel with a sandwich and a drink! Once you’ve finish head east back to your campsite at Chickahominy Riverfront Park.
Length: 26.2 round trip
Start: Four Mile Creek Trailhead (Just east of mile marker 40)
Turnaround Point: T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge (1.9 miles past Great Shiplock Park trailhead)
Parking: Four Mile Creek Trailhead
Attractions along the trip:
Four Mile Creek Trailhead (Just east of mile marker 40)
Dorey Park and Recreation (Just east of mile marker 42)
Varina Library (Just west of mile marker 45)
The Boathouse (Just west of mile marker 50)
Conch Republic (Just west of mile marker 50
Rockett’s Landing (Mile marker 50)
Great Shiplock Park (Mile marker 51.2)
Lowline Gardens (Just past mile marker 51.2)
Richmond’s Canal Walk (Just past flood wall, you will be leaving the Capital Trail)
Brown’s Island and T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge (1.9 miles past Great Shiplock)
Itinerary:
This 26 mile ride features rural views of Henrico and beautiful river front views of Richmond. Four Mile Creek Trailhead is a great spot to park. Hop on the trail and head west on the trail towards Richmond. Your first attraction will be Dorey Park which features a pond, walking trails, and an 18-hole disk golf course! This is .4 miles from the Capital Trail. Next you will pass the Varina Library which has restrooms and a water fountain. Continue east on the trail and you’ll pass restaurants like The Boathouse and Conch Republic overlooking the river. Once you arrive at the flood wall you’ve officially completed the trail portion of your trip and you can ride along Richmond’s Riverfront and Canal Walk and enter Downtown Richmond. You’ll turn around on T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge, named after the deceased city planner who oversaw the project, connecting Brown’s Island to Manchester. Richmond Magazine stated that the bridge is “seen as a symbolic link joining the city’s north and south sides.” The bridge will give you panoramic views of the James River. Stay and enjoy the riverfront views then head back to Four Mile Creek Trailhead.
Length: 26 miles round trip
- Start: Mile marker 40 (Four Mile Creek)
- Turnaround point: Mile marker 27 (Harrison Park)
Parking: Parking by Four Mile Creek
Attractions along the trip:
- New Market Heights (Slightly east of mile marker 40)
- Deep Bottom Park and Four Mile Creek (Slightly east of mile marker 38.5, 2 miles south of trail)
- Richmond National Battlefield Park Visitor Center (Mile marker 35.5, 3 miles north of trail)
- Shirley Plantation (Slightly west of mile marker 30, about 2.5 miles south of trail)
- Edgewood Plantation (Slightly west of mile marker 27, .5 miles north of trail)
Itinerary
Park in the Four Mile Creek Trailhead parking lot and head west on the Varina Park phase of the trail. Almost instantly you will see New Market Heights – a civil war battleground. As you continue along the trail, 2 miles south of mile marker 38.5 is Deep Bottom Park where you can pier fish and picnic. The next attraction you will come to is another Civil War location, Richmond National Battlefield Park, and it is located just 3 miles north of mile marker 35.5. Virginia’s first planation, Shirley Plantation founded in 1613, is located about 2.5 miles south of mile marker 30. Tours of the plantation are available but see the website for detailed hours. Harrison Park, the turnaround point, is located north of mile marker 27 and features a bike/jogging trail, two tennis courts, a football/soccer field, a basketball court, a playground, and a tot lot. Enjoy a picnic and the park amenities and then head south to get back on the trail and return to Four Mile Creek.
Length: About 28 miles round trip
- Start: Slightly west of mile marker 20 (Charles City Courthouse)
- Turnaround point: Slightly west of mile marker 6.5 (Chickahominy Riverfront Park)
Parking: Plentiful parking at Charles City Courthouse near Visitors Center
Attractions along the trip:
- Charles City Courthouse (Slightly west of mile marker 20)
- North Bend Plantation (Slightly west of mile marker 18.5, 1 mile south of trail)
- Kittiewan Plantation (Slightly west of mile marker 18.5, 1 mile south of trail)
- Sherwood Forest Plantation (Slightly west of mile marker 16.5)
- Fort Pocahontas at Wilson’s Wharf (Slightly east of mile marker 15.5, 1.5 miles south of trail)
- Piney Grove at Southall’s Plantation (Slightly east of mile marker 15.5, 5 miles north of trail)
- Chickahominy Riverfront Park (Slightly west of mile marker 6.5)
Itinerary
Beginning at the Charles City Courthouse, this trip takes you through the entirety of the Sherwood Forest phase of the Virginia Capital Trail while allowing you the opportunity to visit several historic plantations along the way. Stock up on snacks or refreshments at Haupt’s Country Store before setting off through the forest. Just a mile south of mile marker 18.5 you can visit the North Bend Plantation as well as Kittiewan Plantation. Make sure to visit their websites for detailed information. Slightly west of mile marker 16.5 you can visit the Sherwood Forest Plantation, home of 10th U.S. President John Tyler, and give yourself a self-guided tour in between the hours of 9am and 5pm. Slightly east of mile marker 15.5, you’ll have the opportunity to head south off of the trail and visit Fort Pocahontas at Wilson’s Wharf, or head north off of the trail and visit Piney Grove at Southall’s Plantation. Whenever you continue your journey along the trail, you’ll come to the Sandy Point Superette at mile marker 13. Stock up on snacks and/or refreshments here as this is the last stop until you reach Chickahominy Riverfront Park. When you arrive at your destination, Chickahominy Riverfront Park, visit the bike repair station, rent kayaks, hit the driving range, swim, or relax in the shade and enjoy snacks from the concessions store. See the website (http://www.jamescitycountyva.gov/687/Park-Fees) for park-fee information. When you’re well rested and ready to make the trip home, hop on your bike and head back through the Sherwood Forest to the Charles City Courthouse.
Length: 22.4 miles round trip
Start: Mile marker 51.2 (Great Shiplock Park western trailhead)
Turnaround point: Mile marker 40 (Four Mile Creek)
Parking: Free parking in Great Shiplock Park lot; $10 overnight parking/ $5 12-hour parking in Scott Lot (1504 East Cary Street)
Attractions along the trip:
Great Shiplock Park (Mile Marker 51.2)
Libby Hill Park (.5 miles from the Great Shiplock Park trailhead)
Virginia Holocaust Museum (.8 miles past the Great Shiplock Park trailhead)
Rocketts Landing (1.2 miles east of Great Shiplock Park trailhead)
Clarke-Palmore House Museum (Slightly west of mile marker 49, .2 miles north of trail)
Dorey Park and Recreation Center (Slightly east of mile marker 42)
New Market Heights (Slightly east of mile marker 40)
Deep Bottom Park & Four Mile Creek (Slightly east of mile marker 38.5, 2 miles south of trail)
Itinerary
Fuel up for your trip with a bite to eat from Poe’s Pub, Millie’s Diner, or a coffee from Starbucks. For the first leg of the journey, enjoy scenic views of the James River and Rockett’s Landing as you bike along the Richmond Riverfront Phase of the trail. As you enter the Varina Park phase one of the first attractions you will come to is the Clarke-Palmore house museum. If you want a tour, make sure you call and make reservations! You can stop just past mile marker 48 for snacks and refreshments at 7-11 if need be. Continuing along the trail, you will see Ronnie’s BBQ, a must-try lunch spot, just west of mile marker 45. Slightly east of mile marker 42 you will arrive at Dorey Park and Recreation Center. At the park enjoy an 18-hole disc golf course, playground for the kids, walking trail, pond, restroom, and wide-open space! To finish the first half of your trip, ride along the trail until you arrive at Four Mile Creek Park. Before turning around to bike a round-trip, visit the battleground of New Market Heights or enjoy some celebratory ice cream from Dairy Queen.
