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Parks & Forests

Richmond itself, as well as the area surrounding Virginia's capital, is home to many parks and parcels of land open for exploration, recreation and education. Below is a list of the various parcels and park systems that are frequented by UR students and Richmond city natives alike. Next to each location's name is the travel time from the University of Richmond. Click on each header to learn more about these parcels.

The Parks of Richmond
James River Park System

  • Headquarters- Reedy Creek

  • Belle Isle

  • Pony Pasture

  • The Wetlands

  • Riverside Meadow

  • Huguenot Flatwater

  • Pumphouse Park- no river access

  • Texas Beach

  • Trestle Trail

  • Great Shiplock Park

  • Ancarrow's Landing

  • Manchester Climbing Wall

Key

Kayaking-

Parking-

Fishing-

Hiking Trails-

Biking Trails-

Boat Ramp-

Beyond RVA

State Parks

  • Pocahontas State Park (35min)

  • Powhatan State Park (41min)

  • York River State Park (58min)

  • Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park (1hr 4min)

  • Bear Creek Lake State Park (1hr 5min)

  • Twin Lakes State Park (1hr 12min)

  • Caledon State Park (1hr 17min)

  • High Bridge Trail State Park (1hr 18min)

  • Lake Anna State Park (1hr 19min)

  • Chippokes Plantation State Park (1hr 23min)

  • Westmoreland State Park (1hr 27min)

  • Belle Isle State Park (1hr 44min)

  • Holiday Lake State Park (1hr 44min)

  • James River State Park (1hr 51min)

  • First Landing State Park (2hr)

Camping-

This map provides a guide to boaters outlining the natural and historical points of interest along the earliest strethc of the Lower James: Richmond to Presquile National Wildlife Refuge.

State Forests

  • Crawford State Forest (38min)

  • Zoar State Forest (53min)

  • Cumberland State Forest (1hr 5min)

  • Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest (1hr 6min)

  • Prince Edward-Gallion State Forest (1hr 18min)

  • Chilton Woods State Forest (1hr 43min)

  • Whitney State Forest (1hr 43min)

  • Lesesne State Forest (1hr 47min)

  • Conway-Robinson Memorial State Forest (2hrs)

  • Paul State Forest (2hrs 5min)

Wildlife Refuge- Permission needed to access these areas

  • Presquile National Wildlife Refuge (40min)

  • James River National Wildlife Refuge (50min)

  • Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge (1hr 18min)

  • Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge (1hr 25min)

  • Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge (1hr 25min)

  • Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refugd (1hr 29min)

  • Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge (1hr 30min)

  • Nansemond National Wildlife Refuge (1hr 48min)

  • Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (1hr 58min)

  • Fisherman's Island National Wildlife Refuge (2hrs)

Wildlife Management Areas- Permission needed to access these areas

  • Powhatan Wildlife Management Area (44min)

  • Amelia Wildlife Management Area (45min)

  • Mattaponi Wildlife Management Area (50min)

  • Pettigrew Wildlife Management Area (51min)

  • Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area (59min)

  • Lands End Wildlife Management Area (1hr 11min)

  • Hardware RiverWildlife Management Area (1hr 14 min)

  • Big Woods Wildlife Management Area (1hr 15min)

  • Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area (1hr 29min)

  • Hog Island Wildlife Management Area (1hr 31min)

  • Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area (1hr 31min)

  • C.F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area (1hr 32min)

  • Featherfin Wildlife Management Area (1hr 34min)

  • Dick Cross Wildlife Management Area (1hr 39min)

  • Weston Wildlife Management Area (1hr 40min)

Natural Area Preserves- 

  • Cumberland Marsh Natural Area Preserve (47min)

  • Crow's Nest Natural Area Preserve (1hr 16min)

  • Hickory Hollow Natural Area Preserve (1hr 38min)

  • Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve (1hr 42min)

  • Bush Mill Stream Natural Area Preserve (1hr 42min)

  • Hughlett Point Natural Area Preserve (1hr 42min)

  • New Point Comfort Natural Area Preserve (1hr 43min)

  • Dameron Marsh Natural Area Preserve (1hr 45min)

  • Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve (1hr 50min)

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