Sunday morning Hike

We three began the day with a breakfast at a local restaurant that has been around for decades.  After breakfast we headed to the trailhead.

It was a great sunny Sunday morning, calm with a bit of a chill on the trail as we began the hike from Reedy Creek Parking lot westward, upriver.  The trails were in great shape and the pace was moderately quick.  We passed over several streams and many more bridges, making for a very scenic hike that would almost make you think you were in Shenandoah National Park.

As we continued on and came around a bend the sounds of the rivers passing through the fault line could be heard masking any occasional passing car on the ridge above.  We continued on until we passed under the Boulevard (nickel) Bridge and down to the river which marks the western edge of Buttermilk, so we headed back east with the James river and walked back to the parking lot along the path by the river, passing a group of rafters in vans who were heading out on an adventure on their own. 

We got back to the parking lot, took a break and continued East towards Belle Isle.  Just before crossing over to Belle Isle we took the spiral staircase up to a cross-over bridge (railroad tracks), stopping at the top for a picture (Logan and myself) and rejoining the Buttermilk trail heading west again back towards Reedy Creek. 

The trip length was 5-1/2 miles and was completed in exactly 2 hours.  This is a great morning hike and I hope others are able to join us for this awesome hike.

This is somewhat challenging hike in some places but overall I would consider it a moderate 5.5 mile hike on Buttermilk Trail, part of the James River Parks (on the south side of the river).

There are plenty of streams to cross and switch backs to take that wind you through the hills and streams of the banks of the James river while the sounds of the river below as it flows by many rocks of the fault line on it's way to the Chesapeake Bay.  I've just rediscovered this gem of a trail and want to share it with others.

We'll meet at 930 AM at the parking area called Reedy Creek, Sunday morning.