James River

WELCOME TO JAMES RIVER STATE PARK. To make your visit safe and more pleasant, we ask that you observe the following: barrier-free as possible. Universally accessible facilities are available throughout Virginia State Parks. EMERGENCY - Emergency phone numbers are posted at Take only pictures, leave only footprints. Park in designated areas only. Please note there is a parking fee charged year-round at all Virginia State Parks. Self-pay parking information is available at the contact station. contact stations and other places in the park. For more information, visit www.virginiastateparks.gov or contact the park office. PRESERVE – Help preserve your park. Please don’t cut or mar any plants or trees. Collecting animal or plant life is allowed only for scientific purposes by permit from the Richmond headquarters. Don’t feed any wild animals. Parks or to make a cabin or campsite reservation, call 800-933-PARK or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov. The Customer Service Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on all state holidays. ALCOHOL - State law permits alcohol use only in private TRAIL INFORMATION areas (inside your cabin or camping unit) or in areas designated on permits issued by the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. PETS - Pets are permitted in enclosed areas or on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Please clean up after your pet. Pets must be attended at all times. DRONES AND OTHER AIRCRAFT - Drones, other unmanned aerial vehicles, including remote control aircraft, and aircraft in general may not be flown in state parks pursuant to 4VAC5-30-400. LITTER - Please help us keep the park clean by placing INFORMATION - For more information on Virginia State DIFFICULTY SCALE EASY - From .5 to 1 mile; grades are short, typically fewer than 100 feet and less than 10 percent of the trail length; easily accomplished by all users, including the elderly and those with physical or mental disabilities, with little risk of injury or fatigue. MODERATE - From 1 to 5 miles; steepness and grade lengths vary; at least 60 percent of the length is fairly flat; healthy people can accomplish the trail with little risk of injury or fatigue. litter and recyclables in the proper receptacles and recycle centers or carrying out your trash. The releasing of balloons is not allowed. Decorative balloons must be deflated and disposed of as trash. FIRE - Help prevent wildfires. Fires must be confined to grills, camp stoves or designated fire rings. Fires must be attended at all times and extinguished when left. Firewood is generally available for purchase at the park. Campers and guests may collect only downed and dead firewood. We enforce all seasonal and emergency bans on open fires. POLLUTION - Help reduce pollution. Dump stations, laundry sinks and slop sinks, where available, are for the disposal of wastewater. No boat, RV or car washing. FOR EVERYONE’S SAFETY, PLEASE FOLLOW TRAIL ETIQUETTE ON MULTI-USE TRAILS IN THE PARK. HIKERS YIELD TO HORSES. BIKERS YIELD TO HORSES AND HIKERS. TRAIL DESCRIPTIONS CONNECTOR TRAILS - Connector trails offer easy access to extend hikes throughout the park. They are short, and blazes are not used. BRANCH TRAIL - The trail is diverse in geography and plant life. It goes over rolling hills, through hardwood forests, past hillsides full of mountain laurel and through a planted pine forest. Branch Pond and the contact station have access points to the trail. FISHING - A Virginia freshwater fishing license is required. - This short but challenging trail goes around the secluded Branch Pond. This singletrack trail offers fishing access and a picnic shelter at the trailhead. It’s ideal for those wanting a true nature experience. PARKING - All vehicles must be parked in designated areas. BURNSIDE LOOP GROUP EVENTS - A special Use Permit is required for all CABELL SWIMMING - There are no designated swimming areas in the park. Swimming or wading may be hazardous due to swift currents, sudden drop offs and unseen obstructions. Lock valuables in your trunk and keep your vehicle locked when unattended. group events that involve amplified sound, catering, equipment rentals and vendor deliveries. PARK ACCESSIBILITY - We strive to make each park as BRANCH POND LOOP - For mountain bikers, it falls between beginner and intermediate. Hikers will find it a wellmaintained but narrow trail. - This is the longest loop trail in the park. It covers the park’s variety of terrain and vegetation. Upland hardwoods dominate most of the trail, but it also borders wetlands. It is the easiest and most direct route to the Tye River Overlook. CABIN LOOP - This short, easy trail is a great opportunity for cabin guests to stretch their legs. The trail winds through warm season grasses from which quail can often be heard. Deer are also common. DIXON - This is a beginner trail that accesses Cabell Trail from a trailhead parking area. This wide, easy trail has something for everyone. GREEN HILL POND - This ADA-compliant paved trail is perfect for kids and those with disabilities. About half the trail is a boardwalk over water, allowing guests to fish and enjoy nature from a different perspective. The trail has an ADA-accessible floating fishing dock. Bass, catfish and bluegill live in the pond. KERR LOOP - This single-track hiking and mountain bike trail is a great entry-level mountain bike trail. Use this trail to warm up then try the more challenging Burnside Loop. - A single-track hiking and mountain bike trail, this “flow trail” has few technical sections. It’s a great entry-level mountain bike trail and traverses beautiful hardwoods. Virginia State Parks James River State Park TRAIL GUIDE RIDGELINE LOOP RIVER - This trail, beside the James River, offers views of the river and runs between the river and a wetland. Deer, rabbits, beavers, muskrats, otters and various waterfowl may be encountered. RUNNING CREEK - Moderately rolling hills through mature forests make this trail popular. It’s not too long or short, making it perfect for a family stroll. Part of the trail runs along a small creek. TAYLOR POND LOOP - With a trailhead parking area and easy access from cabins and the Red Oak Campground, this short loop around Taylor Pond offers fishing access and a chance to observe wildlife. VIRGINIA STATE PARKS ARE A TONIC FOR THE MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT. Museums, visitor centers and nearby historic sites make state parks cultural treasures. The recreational opportunities in state parks are endless and easy to see – from swimming and boating to horseshoes and hiking, there’s always something to do in a Virginia State Park. TAYLOR - Multiple access points to Taylor make it a great way to extend hikes from Cabell, Cabin or River trails. Fall and winter views of the river’s bottom make this hike especially appealing in cooler months. TYE RIVER OVERLOOK - This trail leads to the park’s most iconic view. It’s ADA-accessible and covered in smooth, crushed gravel. Use Cabell to access this trail. Those with disabilities should contact a park ranger for permission to drive to the start of the Tye Overlook Trail. This is the park’s “must see” trail, so be sure to enjoy the view. 104 Green Hill Drive Gladstone, Virginia 24553 434-933-4355 Jamesriver@dcr.virginia.gov WWW.VIRGINIASTATEPARKS.GOV 800-933-PARK James River State Park Restrooms Campground Boat Launch Cabins Parking Tye River Overlook Pa ll Tr a be R lC Branch Pond Loop ec to be Ca oo p L h nc ra B Tr Po ch a B h nc ra a Tr am ai l Lo rr Ke Cab D l rai ll T be Ca op Bran Equestrian Parking il l ai d e o id nd R Di Green Hill Pond Loop Tra Bu rn s R iv er T ra i l xo n erty rop P ate Priv il Red Oak Campground ry r ll Tr a il o g ndin n La Trail o x i k D rloo Ove Taylor Pond Loop on ix Tr Park Road eek r ell C Trail lor Tay nn da Cu nn ing h es Jam Dixon Landing r ive Ca Contact Station Bo un ai Branch T r il rk Ro ad Visitor Center Equestrian Overlook Access a Tr il ek re nn in g C e Cano ing d n La ad Ro ai l Tr Ri ve rR oa d Ru o ad. R i d geline Loo p Ca bi Sp n L ur oo p ning Run Trail k e Cre R n. Mt rs ea Sp il Tra rail tor T nec Con River Cabin Loop Trail Trail Blaze Branch Branch Pond Loop Branch Trail Connector Burnside Loop Cabell Cabell Creek Connector Cabin Loop Dixon Dixon Landing Overlook Equestrian Overlook Access Green Hill Pond Loop Kerr Loop Ridgeline Loop River Running Creek Taylor Taylor Pond Loop Tye River Overlook Green Light Blue N/A Lime Green Orange N/A Purple Red N/A N/A N/A Pink White Blue Yellow White N/A N/A Mileage Usage 2.5 0.5 0.3 3.0 3.4 0.6 0.8 1.3 0.25 0.2 0.4 2.4 1.4 3.1 1.5 0.7 0.25 0.1 H, B, E H, B H, B, E H, B H, B, E H, B, E H, B, E H, B, E H, B, E H, B, E H H, B H, B H, B, E H, B, E H, B, E H, B, E H H = Hiking B = Biking E = Equestrian = Easy 0 = Moderate Difficulty Access A A A = Handicap Accessible = Difficult 1 Miles