With permission from landowners, they joyfully rode for hours. These two trails are actually part of the James River Park system, and are totally flat with no hills, no gullies, no log crossings, etc... and run parallel with the scenic James River: HUGUENOT TRAIL --- This is a very short, very muddy (especially after it rains), singletrack trail through the woods. The rapids at Pony Pasture are considered Class II, and the park has a busy takeout. Munch’s Sponsored Walk. Honestly we didn’t spend as much time on the trail(s) as we did in the actual river/rapids! They are totally flat and a little lame, but, they can be fun if you want to get out and get muddy. Great walk for families or lazy dogs! Best MTB Gear | Pony Pasture is a hiking, trail running, walking adventure located in or near Richmond, VA. As a previous user mentioned, yes it does flood as it’s on the River but that doesn’t earn it 1 star. We don't have any videos of this trail yet. Most trails are wide enough for bicycle traffic. Download Pony Trails and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Many kayak, canoe, raft and inner tube trips are launched from this park. Well-worn trails, beautiful river views, and easily accessible. Pony Pasture is one of the most popular swimming and sunbathing spots in the James River Park System. One spot had a giant puddle right in the middle of the trail, and the easiest way around was through it. On weekends, it is best to avoid the area due to crowds - especially in the summertime. It does have a few hidden single track sections here and there that connect up through the woods. Historical Importance for the Park. Best Bike Trails | Mountain Biking Huguenot Trail / Pony Pasture. Crossing the bridge that connects the two areas, I made mental notes about which direction I was heading and physical markers along the way. 4:30 pm on a Friday. There are trails that offer views of the James River, trails for hiking, biking and bird watching. Easy 10 minute drive to Carytown and the Fan Five minute drive to University of Richmond There are approximately 3 miles of trail – mostly wide gravel paths. Zoom in to see details. Richmond Tourism; Richmond Accommodation; Richmond Bed and Breakfast; Richmond Holiday Rentals; Richmond Holiday Packages She said there were so many trails to ride. The peace and quiet of The Wetlands is also recommended, which is connected to Pony Pasture through river trails. Huguenot Trail will come out onto Riverside Drive, and from there you can follow the James River and ride on the blacktop (Riverside Drive) down to the Pony Pasture. Main menu. Posts Tagged With: Pony Pasture. Note: Riverside Drive near the Pony Pasture is closed to automobiles on rainy nights in late winter for the protection of mating Spotted Salamanders. Although it was a bit chilly at first it was an amazing time. For the Pony Pasture... turn right off the ramp, and follow the road about 1.5 miles. Pony Pasture Rapids (also commonly referred as Pony Pasture) is a section of the James River Park System that runs alongside the City of Richmond, VA. Nestled on the south bank of the James River downstream from the Huguenot Bridge, Pony Pasture is known for its local attractions of hiking, swimming, kayaking, and fishing. Beginner friendly, Beautiful scenery. Map Key Favorites Check-Ins. From Chippenham Pkwy, take the Huguenot Rd exit and head east towards Richmond. r/rva: News, events, and goings-on in and around Richmond, Virginia. Some trails or park services may be closed this weekend so check with local authorities before heading out. I went for a run. Pony Pasture is a 1.2 mile trail through Pony Pasture Park. It is a somewhat brisk hike doing about 3 miles per hour or 20 minute miles for 5 miles. Singletracks Merch | Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2020 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | Leaflets had a notched terminus. Tales from the Dog Trails: Canine Adventure's Blog. Length 2.1 miElevation gain 16 ftRoute type Loop Didn't finish the trail due to overcrowdedness. Pony Pasture | Terrain360 is your interactive guide to the natural world, providing 360 ‐ degree panoramic image maps of some of the most beautiful trails, waterways and cherished landscapes in the World. For a more interesting time, take a gravel bike or hike the wetlands area instead! 25 reviews of Pony Pasture "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. I saw in the paper today that three of the people who formed the group that helped fight this died in 2012. Definitely bring water shoes if you have them! Trail was awesome. Parking lot is on your left. I'll continue with the review. There are multiple shaded walking trails with some little-known swimming areas. Google Map. Book your tickets online for Pony Pasture Park (James River Park System), Richmond: See 53 reviews, articles, and 49 photos of Pony Pasture Park (James River Park System), ranked No.37 on Tripadvisor among 167 attractions in Richmond. It can be accessed by foot and bicycle. 3 minutes drive to the least busy Target in America! Really enjoyed this trail with 6 month old puppy and pregnant wife, able to get 2.5 miles. Pony Pasture is an extremely popular and heavily used part of the Park. Fishing is excellent at this point and this area is considered to be one of Richmond’s best locations for birdwatching and inner tubing. It does have a few wood bridge crossings, but nothing really exciting. Location: Pony Pasture leaves are long, opposite, pinnately compound, ... An unknown plant encountered along a back trail of the Pony Pasture trails. MISSING near PONY PASTURE TRAILS in Richmond, Virginia Help Find Woody - He's 16, - DEAF and NEARLY BLIND - Message us if you find Woody! After a couple of trips around the Pony Pasture loop, I decided to check out the trails at the adjacent James River flat-water area. Part road and trails, this hike will take you along the James River on Riverside Drive between Pony Pasture and Huguenot Flatwater Parks, through Flatwater, back to Pony Pasture and then around the outer trails of Pony Pasture, including along the James River. Contact Information: Friends of the James River Park- friends@jamesriverpark.org; City of Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities – 804-646-5733, AskParkRec@richmondgov.com; Directions Support Us | Posts about Pony Pasture written by canineadventurerl and canineadventurellc. Pony Pasture is located off Riverside Drive in Richmond, Virginia. Stay away during the summertime on the weekends. The crowds are unbelievable!! It was a warm day so, we went very early around 9am, James River North Bank and Buttermilk Loop Trail, North Bank Trail to Texas Beach Trail Loop. This parcel connects to The Wetlands park, located just to the east of Pony Pasture. Book your tickets online for Pony Pasture Park (James River Park System), Richmond: See 52 reviews, articles, and 49 photos of Pony Pasture Park (James River Park System), ranked No.38 on Tripadvisor among 167 attractions in Richmond. An easy whitewater canoe run begins here and ends at the visitor center. Along the banks you find fishermen. Widgets, Explore   Signs require bathers to wear life jackets if waters are high and fast. Short Walk to Pony Pasture, A beautiful 1700 Acre Park! The area is very … IMBA Epics | What did your dog do today? The occasional small beaches broken by boulders run along the River. Set off on your pony trekking adventure! The access was built by park volunteers and funded by aluminum recycling in the park system. ‎OVER 4 MILLION DOWNLOADS! Pony Pasture Rapids Trails is a 2.1 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Richmond, Virginia that features a river and is good for all skill levels. About Us | Anyone can ride these trails. Another good option, which may be somewhat more secluded, is to begin at the Pony Pasture Trails and continue west on Riverside Drive to Hugenot Flatwater. Pony Pasture Rock Trail is a 0.9 mile loop trail located near Richmond, Virginia that features a river. Turn right to go to the Pony Pasture. It is also in an area that almost became a freeway, which would have been tragic, frankly. Great trees, huge rocks, birds, and River. Why we love it: While Pony Pasture is incredible in every way with it’s large river rocks, trails, and beautiful beachy areas, it gets crowded as soon as the sun comes out. Scroll Zoom . If you have the chance, go early or midday as it gets pretty full in the afternoon. Routes Trails. A very unique experience, we plan to come back to go to tubing for a lazier river experience. Riverside Drive is narrow, and there is not much of a shoulder, but traffic is minimal, with the thin dirt trail following the road at times. The main trails are gravel and are good for trail runners and cyclists. But I had never before hiked the trails here - until today. But it is a nice local place to practice speed and traction control in the mud. Terms | Privacy. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. The main trails are wide and graveled, making them excellent for beginner off-road riders and walkers alike. Other frequent visitors are birdwatchers and dog walkers. There is a very short, often muddy, singletrack from Huguenot Trail parking lot (follow the road and turn right into the gravel parking lot). If you don’t mind to get muddy shoes, it is the perfect trail for a relaxed easy hike close to the city. I would be cautious at higher tide as the river rocks can be harder to find with your bare feet. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. 1.4 Miles 2.2 KM Point to Point. Virtual Tour of Pony Pasture Main Loop. Pony Pasture Rapids Trails is a 2.1 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Richmond, Virginia that features a river and is good for all skill levels. Very easy walk with almost no incline. This section is also the historic foundation for the entire JRPS. There are bathrooms and a large parking lot. Company   The Pony Pasture is part of Richmond's James River Park. Posted on July 30, 2019 by canineadventurerl. It's a place to go play around and get wet and muddy. Pony Pasture Park is a great section of the James for multiple water recreation purposes. Well kept with tons of side paths to branch off to. This plant was tripinnately compound, in the same way that the Nandina, or Heavenly bamboo is. The trail is rated as moderate and is primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips. Mahogany Road and Creque Dam Road weren’t paved at the time and jeep trails followed pasture fence lines. Some trails are covered with wood chips while others are simply soil. Turn left to go to Huguenot Trail. Pony Pasture Park (James River Park System): A great trail along the river - See 52 traveler reviews, 49 candid photos, and great deals for Richmond, VA, at Tripadvisor. First visit on a chilly sunny day. Pony Pasture is a popular location for photographers to capture sunrise's and sunsets. Beautiful natures trails and fine estates! These two trails are actually part of the James River Park system, and are totally flat with no hills, no gullies, no log crossings, etc... and run parallel with the scenic James River: HUGUENOT TRAIL --- This is a very short, very muddy (especially after it rains), singletrack trail through the woods. Flat, easy trail with some wildlife views. Some may say that the area is completely lame, which I kind of agree, but still, it is a good place to goof around and get muddy. Skip to content. About 1/2 a mile down the road will be an exit ramp, and the signs for the famous Pony Pasture and Huguenot Trail canoe launch. There were bikers and other runners and walkers out as well as swimmers and rafters but, not crowded. Enjoy & research Richmond, Virginia with trail guides, topo maps, photos, reviews & GPS routes on Trails.com. The Wetlands is a quieter, less crowded alternative, but still offers access to river scenery. Rebecca Merwin was one of the first Pony Club members in 1967. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. It is all rough gravel and crushed stone and, like Huguenot Trail, it is totally flat, but does have a few muddy sections and wet sand sections. MTB Podcast | Pony Pasture has a boat ramp for paddlers to access the class 1 and 2 rapids, but swimming at the ramp is not permitted. It was so quiet and the ducks were super friendly. From a stable of 14 ponies, choose who will join you on your adventures and once you’ve named your new friend, explore nature, … 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. Pony Pasture Rapids is located on the south bank two miles downstream from the Huguenot Bridge on Riverside Drive. Help keep our trails and parks open during COVID-19 by committing to social distancing. Great day for this trail - will return when the leaves change. 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