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Bear Creek Lake State Park
Five short easy-to-moderate trails, seven miles total. Wander through
the
hardwood forest and around the 40-acre lake. Bear Creek Lake Park
was
created in 1938 by 100 unemployed men, including carpenters and
farmers
under the direction of the Virginia Department of Agriculture.
Fee;
804-492-4410
Holliday Lake State Park
The five and one-half mile Lakeshore Trail follows the shore of
Holliday
Lake, providing great views of wildlife on the lake and in the
forest.
Other, shorter trails in the park traverse hardwood forests, wetlands
and a
managed pine plantation. Access to the 12-mile Carter Taylor multi-use
trail
can be found in the park as well. Fee. Access: Go east on Route
460 from
Lynchburg through Appomattox. Take Route 24, right on 626, left
on 640, and
right on 692. Call 434-248-6308
Twin Lakes Sate Park
Three different hiking trails (easy to moderate) encompassing six
miles can
be found in this unique 349-acre park, home to Goodwin Lake (15
acres) and
Prince Edward Lake (36 acres). Hikes go around each lake, and the
third is a
forest trek. Dogwood Hollow Trail is a self-guided interpretive
trail. Take
Route 360 west of Burkeville to Route 613 north. Go east on Route
629. Fee;
434-392-3435
Prince Edward County Nature Trail
An easy 1.7-mile double loop, self-guided trail in a 75-acre forest.
Twenty-six interpretive markers guide hikers through mature forest,
lowland
and hardwoods, and past an old mill site. From Farmville, go south
on Route
15 for eight miles to marked parking area. No fee; 434-746-8505
Appomattox River Trail Park
A .75-mile trail in Dinwiddie County operated by the City of Petersburg.
Trail extensions of 4.5 miles into Petersburg are planned. The
trail follows
a towpath along an old canal and is flat and narrow. Open April
through
October. Access off Route 600 (Matoaca Bridge Road) near the village
of
Matoaca. Fee.
Appomattox River Heritage Trail
One mile easy walk on south bank of the Appomattox River. Trail
includes
fishing and canoe access and interpretive signage about the history
of the
river and the community. Operated by Petersburg Public Works Department.
From I-95 take the Washington Street Exit. From Washington Street turn right
onto Sycamore Street and then right again onto Old Street. Go one block to
Cockade Alley, and turn left. At River Street turn right and left at Third
Street. Cross railroad tracks and turn left. Take left on Sapony Street,
right on Rolfe Street. Parking is at end of lot. Fee.
Occoneechee State Park
Situated on Virginia's largest lake, Bugg's
Island, are 3.1 miles of easy
walking trails through woodlands and pass scenic lake views. Visitors
learn
the history of the Occoneechee Indians who lived here for 400 years
and of
an early 19th-century plantation. One-mile interpretive trail leads
to
terraced gardens of old plantation grounds. From I-85 take Route
58 exit at
South Hill. Park is one mile east of Clarksville. Fee; 434-374-2210
Appomattox History Trail
Follow the historical trail of the Confederacy's
last hours on this six-mile
easy-to-moderate interpretive historical loop that starts and ends
at the
Appomattox Court House visitor center. Crosses through forests
and open
fields to the McLean House, where Robert E. Lee surrendered to
Ulysses S.
Grant in 1865. From the Town of Appomattox go east on Route 24
for three
miles to entrance of Appomattox Court House National Historical
Park. Fee;
434-352-8987
Amelia Wildlife Management Area
The 2,217 acres here include 100 acres of water and 850 acres of
fields.
Trails range from .7 to four miles and are all easy, crossing through
a
variety of habitats, which includes Appomattox River frontage.
The four-mile
Woodcock Trail winds along a small stream with access from Route
652. Also
off Route 652 at the boat ramp is the 2.5-mile-loop Lake Trail.
Marsh Point
Trail is a 1-mile hike that runs the ridge. From Route 360 east
of Amelia,
take Route 604 north. Go seven miles to Mason's Corner. Turn
left on Route
616. Go 1.5 miles and turn right on Route 652 to entrance. Fee;
804-561-3350
Staunton River State Park
Five hiking trails from .1 to .7 miles can be used as connectors
to the
7.5-mile multi-use River Bank Trail, which flows through stands
of walnut,
pine locust, sourwood, hickory, cedar and sweet gum and then follows
the
shores of both the Staunton and Dan rivers. Because the park is
a peninsula
between these two rivers, waterfowl are abundant and can be sighted
from any
of the trails. Park is 18 miles east of South Boston. Take Route
360 to
Route 344. Follow Route 344 for ten miles. Fee; 434-572-4623
Sailor's Creek Battlefield State Park
Three loop trails range in length from .7 to one mile and go through
the
battlefield and along wooded areas. Virginia's last major
Civil War battle
was fought here April 6, 1865. Five miles east of Farmville. Take
Route 307
north or Route 307 to Route 617 north. No fee; 434-392-3435
Pamplin Historical Park
Follow the easy 1.75-mile Breakthrough Trail to understand the
decisive
Civil War battle that took place here on April 2, 1865. Optional
interpretive loops wind through woods and field behind earthworks.
Included
on the trail are recreated Confederate winter huts. Take I-95 south
to I-85
south to Exit 63A. Park entrance on left in one mile. Fee; 1-877-PAMPLIN
or
www.pamplinpark.org.
Sandy River Reservoir
There are 300 acres of natural area and a 740-acre lake here. Six
miles east
of Farmville off Route 460. No fee; 434-392-8837
Willis River Trail
Sixteen-mile (one way) moderate trail through mature hardwood forest
and
overlooks at Winston Lake and along the Willis River. Eleven miles
into hike
the trail crosses Little Bear Creek and touches the state park.
Trail can be
entered from Cumberland State Forest by taking Route 45 to Route
663, then
Route 615 to a right on Route 608. Watch for Warner Forest Road
to the
right, and take it to the trailhead at swinging bridge. No fee;
804-492-4121
or 804-492-4410
Cumberland Multi-Use Trail
This 17-mile easy-to-moderate loop through the Cumberland State
Forest and
Bear Creek Lake State Park includes mostly forested trails, including
oak,
hickory and loblolly pine. Cutover areas are managed for wildlife
habitat.
Deer, turkey and bobcats are common in the 16,233-acre forest.
The CMT is a
wide trail marked by blue blazes. Trailheads and parking are at
the forestry
center and state park. Staring from the park adds four miles. Preferred
parking for horses is at the forestry center. Pay to park at the
state park.
804-492-4121 or 804-492-4410
Carter Taylor Multi-Use Trail
A 12-mile loop traversing a variety of terrain, with one steep
half-mile
section. This multi-use trail circles through Appomattox-Buckingham
State
Forest and Holliday Lake State Park and can be accessed from numerous
points
in the loop. A multi-use spur trail in the state park connects
to Carter
Taylor Trail. Much of the hardwood and upland pine forests here
are
re-growth from 19th-century timber operations. Some areas have
been
harvested and replanted in the 20th century by the Virginia Department
of
Forestry. Cross Holliday Creek in the course of a jaunt through
this
Piedmont forest. From Route 60 at Mount Rush, take Route 24 toward
Appomattox. After seven miles, turn left on Route 636 to the forestry
center. No fee; 434-983-2175 or 434-248-6308
Prince Edward Gallion State Forest
Nine-mile out-and-back multi-use trail takes you through oak and
hickory
forests, as well as thick stands of loblolly pine. No fee. Take
Route 360
west to Burkeville to Route 613 north, then 629 to the park. Call
434-392-3435
John H. Kerr Reservoir
There are over 800 miles of shoreline at the John H. Kerr Reservoir
(Buggs
Island Lake) in Mecklenburg County. Two trails are open to hikers,
bikers
and horses. Liberty Hill Nature Trail is a 1.6-mile easy loop trail
with
interpretive signage. The Robert Muford Trail incorporates that
trail and
extends into a 10-mile one-way path. It can be turned into a 14-mile
loop by
using connecting dirt roads. You'll travel through mixed hardwood
forests
and pine stands, cross a small creek, and then go past an old cemetery.
From
Route 58 near Boydton take Route 4, which leads into the property.
Stop at
visitor center for maps and directions. Open year round; fee. 434-738-6148
Staunton River Battlefield State Park
The Battlefield Trail is a 1.2-mile path on an old railroad bed.
This is an
easy path open to hikers, horses and bikers. The trail starts at
the park
visitor center and passes by earthen Civil War fortifications,
across three
bridges and through the battlefield. Interpretive signs explain
the Battle
of Staunton River Bridge, during which a rag tag group of Confederate "old
men and young boys" held off an assault by 5,000 Union cavalry.
Access to
the trail is also available in the town of Randolph, on the north
side of
Staunton River, in Charlotte County. Stop by the park's visitor
center to
enjoy the historical exhibits, two wildlife observation towers
and a short
nature trail. Take Route 92 to Clover. Go five miles to Route 600
and turn
left. Go three miles and turn right on Route 855. No fee; 434-454-4312
James River State Park
Currently there are three main loop trails, five miles in length.
All trails
are easy-to-moderate with wide doubletrack dirt and some gravel.
You'll find
some good uphill (yep, and that means downhill, too) portions here.
The
River Trail is about two miles along the James River between the
canoe
put-in and Dixon Landing. Yellow-blazed Running Creek is five miles.
Take
Route 60 west and turn right onto Route 605 at James River Bridge.
Go seven
miles and turn left onto Route 606. Fee; 434-933-4355
Briery Creek Wildlife Management Area
Heavily forested area surrounding an 845-acre lake. The Nature
Trail begins
at the parking lot on Route 790 at the dam and winds along the
lakeshore.
Three to four miles of trails incorporate old logging roads and
take hikers
to various coves and backwater areas. Take Route 15 south from
Route 460 at
Farmville or Route 15 north from Route 369 at Keysville to Route
790. No
fee; 434-738-6044
Dick Cross Wildlife Management Area
Several easy loop trails including a .75-mile loop along Allen
Creek. Total
trails about four miles. Located along the Roanoke River below
John H. Kerr
Dam. Gently rolling elevation varies from 200-300 feet.
Fourteen hundred acres of mainly open upland with 300 acres of
broad flood
plain. Major wintering area for waterfowel. From Route 58 near
Boydton,
between South Hill and Clarksville, take Route 4 south. Go five
miles.
434-738-6044
Horsepen Lake Wildlife Management Area
Numerous logging roads crisscross the rolling hills of this 3,065-acre
tract
drained by many springs and small streams. Five miles of well-maintained
trails offer opportunity to see a variety of forest birds. Access
is from
Route 60 at Buckingham Courthouse. Just west of the courthouse,
take Route
638 south to the WMA. No fee; 434-561-3350
Petersburg National Battlefield
Various trails, all easy and each less than four miles on gravel
or hard
surface roads. Bikers are allowed to go both ways on the otherwise
one-way
Siege Road at the battlefield. Gravel roads lead from Siege Road
to a
variety of sights in this 1,500-acre park. A four-mile route connects
eight
battle sites. Horseback riders have 10 miles of natural surface
riding
available in the battlefield. Maps are available at the park entrance.
Historical markers explain the significance of this Civil War site,
where
the 9 1/2-moth siege went down in the history books as America's
longest.
From I-95 take Washington Street Exit east. Continue 2.5 miles through
Petersburg on Route 36 until you reach the park entrance. Fee; 804-732-3531
Occoneechee Wildlife Management Area
Sixteen-mile out-and-back gravel and doubletrack trails on a peninsula
along the state border. The area is marshy; waterfowl is abundant. Access
through Occoneechee State Park; from I-85 take Route 58 Exit at South Hill.
Park is one mile east of Clarksville. After passing park entrance station,
turn left, staying on hard surface road. The gravel road leading to the WMA
is on the left across from the park office. Park fee; 434-525-7522
Hyde Park Farm Natural Science Center
This plantation farm in Nottoway County has approximately six miles
of
gravel roads meandering through farms and woods. Five miles south
of
Burkeville on Route 625. Call ahead for permission. Fee negotiable;
434-645-8431
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