First Sunday Hike

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

It was another sunny Sunday morning, after several days of rainy, and damp conditions.  We parked as close to the trail head as possible, but due to a race that morning there were a few more cars than usual.  We walked across the Boulevard bridge (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boulevard_Bridge) and about halfway down, I spotted a 2-1/2’ long Longnose gar lazily swimming around the rocks, 100’ feet below. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longnose_gar

We continued our walk across the bridge and hooked up to the Buttermilk trail and passed a dozen runners racing along.  We walked about 2.25 miles, crossed the railroad tracks on the elevated walkway, and took the concrete stairs (bunker style) down to the gravel trail path along the river (as opposed to the buttermilk trail which mostly is above the river in the hills and ravines of the surrounding area).  We continued our walk back and in short order were back at the bridge, although well below it.  We crossed the train tracks and up the hill to the bridge sidewalk and returned to our cars.  The day was sunny, cool to start, and with a hint of fall.  A really good morning hike.

We'll have breakfast at McLean's Restaurant at 830a.m. before proceeding to the trailhead.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/McLEANS+Restaurant/@37.5657923,-77.477027,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89b11400dfea6bef:0x40abe44a7ac51a56!8m2!3d37.5657923!4d-77.4748383

This is somewhat challenging hike in some places but overall I would consider it an easy to 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.