First Sunday Breakfast and Hike

Forest Hill Park, Richmond VA (42nd Street & New Kent Ave, Richmond, VA)

After a great breakfast and conversation we headed out the parking lot a little after 9 a.m.  We gathered in the Forest Hill Park parking lot near the stone shelter.  After reviewing the map of the James River Park System, we began our hike. The six of us headed down granite stairs to the trail which was a nice walk down through trees and leaves and eventually a gentle, trickling stream.  The trail then followed the stream all the way down the fairly gentle sloping hill with private homes on the other side of the stream.

At the bottom of the hill, we turned left and proceeded to wind up through a very well designed mountain bike trail which brings you up a hill and around to the other side and eventually down to a fork which we took down to the lake.  We did a ½ mile loop around the lake, pausing for a few pictures, and “forked” back to the trail and resumed our hike on the bluffs above, eventually reaching one edge of the park before winding down to a rocky outcropping and stream. We paused for more pictures and crossed the stream and winding up the trail to a blacktop road  and headed for the historic Stone House.  We spotted some staffers at the Stone House and struck up a conversation.  They allowed us a brief view of the house and its curved staircase.  After the “tour” of the house we headed down a path to some granite stairs and a landing that was covering a stream below and paused to listen to the trickling water before walking up another set of stairs to our starting Point.  Total mileage was 3.9 miles.  Total time was about 2-1/2 hours

Breakfast at McLean's, 8:00am - 9:00am   3205 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23230

Meet At park around 9:30 am.  Hike Distance: 4 to 5 Miles; Terrain: Rocks, dirt, gravel, pavement; mostly shaded
What To Bring: Comfortable shoes, a bottle of water, sunscreen, and insect repellant if desired

This park, which was in succession once a quarry, an estate and then an amusement park, is listed in Virginia's Historic Register, and a booklet on the park's history can be purchased from the Friends of Forest Hill Park, a group that also offers volunteer activities in the park.

The park consists of the historic Stone House, once the park manager's home that can now be rented for small meetings or events, a lake, which has been restored in recent years, tennis courts, picnic shelters, a children's playground, and many paths and trails are popular for walking and jogging. A partial wetland, much wildlife can be viewed in the park, and there are also sloping hills for passive recreation. It is well known as a popular sledding site anytime it snows in Richmond, and during the summer months Sunday concerts are hosted in the park.