3rd Saturday hike and lunch (optional)

We welcomed a new GO hiker this weekend!  The four of us started off at the Pump House Road trailhead and headed downstream, underneath the nickel bridge, also known as Boulevard Bridge, and then along a fence line that separates the North Bank Trail from Maymont Park, crossed a bridge and travelled along the old Kanawha Canal (canal project was begun in 1785, and half completed by 1851).  We spotted turtles and Canada geese.  At the end of the border with Maymont Park, we climbed up the steep hill to the top and arrived at a temporary break in the trail, travelled along Kansas Ave for 4 blocks to Texas Ave, and back on to the North Bank Trail which is the resumption point for the trail.  We travelled across many streams and bridges and rejoined the Kanawha canal for a while before the trail headed back up to a ridge by Riverview Cemetery before dropping back down to the canal just below Hollywood Cemetery.

We stopped for a rest on Bubba’s Bench and enjoyed the sounds of the rapids and cool breezes, and then we moved on towards the end of the North Bank Trail.  We spotted a group of rafters just heading down the river. We moved on for another half mile and then down to the edge of the river to take in river views and the rafters and take in a quick rest.

We rejoined the North Bank Trail and headed back to our Texas Road and diverted to Maymont park.  We walked by the old horse barn and carriage house towards the Maymont mansion, then wound our way down through the Italian garden, waterfall, Japanese Garden then through the Black Bear enclosure, Raptor exhibit (Bald Eagles, Red Shoulder Hawk, Red Tail Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Horned Owl and Barred Owl), and through the Rhododendron garden up towards the Maymont animal farm and then exited out towards Dogwood Dell and Pump House Park. Another enjoyable GO trip.

Are you looking for the sounds of rapids; hiking over 27 bridges (no trolls) and streams? Looking for beautiful vistas and history?  Trains and train tracks? Then, this is your trip.

Meet at 10:00 a.m., North Bank Trail head off Pump House Drive, Richmond VA.

The route will take us along Maymont Park, Kansas Ave, Texas Ave, then by Hollywood Cemetery, Tredegar Iron Works and out to Belle Island crossing over to the south side of the river to the Buttermilk Trail which has 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 its way to the Chesapeake Bay.  I've just rediscovered this gem of a trail and want to share it with others.

We’ll finally loop back but detour through beautiful and interesting Maymont Park ($5 admission-honor system).  Afterwards, we'll end at our starting point at Pump House Road.  Total mileage will be about 5-6 miles of moderate hiking.  Total hiking time is 3 hours. 

Bring decent shoes, preferably, water-proof, breathable footwear.  Also bring water and a snack.