The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Pony Pasture is located off Riverside Drive in Richmond, Virginia. One spot had a giant puddle right in the middle of the trail, and the easiest way around was through it. Skip to content. Pony Pasture is one of the most popular swimming and sunbathing spots in the James River Park System. About 1/2 a mile down the road will be an exit ramp, and the signs for the famous Pony Pasture and Huguenot Trail canoe launch. Some trails are covered with wood chips while others are simply soil. Zoom in to see details. Scroll Zoom . Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Many kayak, canoe, raft and inner tube trips are launched from this park. It can be accessed by foot and bicycle. Nice spots with views of the river, the wetlands is a nice walk too. Pony Pasture Rock Trail is a 0.9 mile loop trail located near Richmond, Virginia that features a river. The Wetlands is a quieter, less crowded alternative, but still offers access to river scenery. Routes Trails. What did your dog do today? Widgets, Explore   These two trails are actually part of the James River Park system, and are totally flat with no hills, no gullies, no log crossings, etc... and run parallel with the scenic James River: HUGUENOT TRAIL --- This is a very short, very muddy (especially after it rains), singletrack trail through the woods. Terms | Privacy. Virtual Tour of Pony Pasture Main Loop. Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2020 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | The rapids at Pony Pasture are considered Class II, and the park has a busy takeout. Map Key Favorites Check-Ins. PONY PASTURE --- This is a doubletrack loop from the main parking lot. Pony Pasture is a popular location for photographers to capture sunrise's and sunsets. Length 2.1 miElevation gain 16 ftRoute type Loop Set off on your pony trekking adventure! Stay away during the summertime on the weekends. It does have a few hidden single track sections here and there that connect up through the woods. Parking lot is on your left. Along the banks you find fishermen. 4:30 pm on a Friday. Short Walk to Pony Pasture, A beautiful 1700 Acre Park! Historical Importance for the Park. Contact Information: Friends of the James River Park- friends@jamesriverpark.org; City of Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities – 804-646-5733, AskParkRec@richmondgov.com; Directions Leaflets had a notched terminus. The occasional small beaches broken by boulders run along the River. Honestly we didn’t spend as much time on the trail(s) as we did in the actual river/rapids! Huguenot Trail will come out onto Riverside Drive, and from there you can follow the James River and ride on the blacktop (Riverside Drive) down to the Pony Pasture. It was a warm day so, we went very early around 9am, James River North Bank and Buttermilk Loop Trail, North Bank Trail to Texas Beach Trail Loop. Best MTB Gear | Part road and trails, this hike will take you along the James River on Riverside Drive between Pony Pasture and Huguenot Flatwater Parks, through Flatwater, back to Pony Pasture and then around the outer trails of Pony Pasture, including along the James River. Fishing is excellent at this point and this area is considered to be one of Richmond’s best locations for birdwatching and inner tubing. Help keep our trails and parks open during COVID-19 by committing to social distancing. Pony Pasture has a boat ramp for paddlers to access the class 1 and 2 rapids, but swimming at the ramp is not permitted. Great day for this trail - will return when the leaves change. But it is a nice local place to practice speed and traction control in the mud. Some trails or park services may be closed this weekend so check with local authorities before heading out. If you have the chance, go early or midday as it gets pretty full in the afternoon. Best Bike Trails | Length 0.9 miElevation gain 3 ftRoute type Loop. MTB Podcast | “It was a wonderful childhood experience. The trail is rated as moderate and is primarily used for hiking, walking, trail running, and nature trips. The main trails are gravel and are good for trail runners and cyclists. There is a very short, often muddy, singletrack from Huguenot Trail parking lot (follow the road and turn right into the gravel parking lot). 3 minutes drive to the least busy Target in America! After a couple of trips around the Pony Pasture loop, I decided to check out the trails at the adjacent James River flat-water area. A very unique experience, we plan to come back to go to tubing for a lazier river experience. It was so quiet and the ducks were super friendly. Pony Pasture Rapids is located on the south bank two miles downstream from the Huguenot Bridge on Riverside Drive. These two trails are actually part of the James River Park system, and are totally flat with no hills, no gullies, no log crossings, etc... and run parallel with the scenic James River: HUGUENOT TRAIL --- This is a very short, very muddy (especially after it rains), singletrack trail through the woods. Although it was a bit chilly at first it was an amazing time. Trail was awesome. If you don’t mind to get muddy shoes, it is the perfect trail for a relaxed easy hike close to the city. IMBA Epics | Pony Pasture Park is a great section of the James for multiple water recreation purposes. About Us | From a stable of 14 ponies, choose who will join you on your adventures and once you’ve named your new friend, explore nature, … Tales from the Dog Trails: Canine Adventure's Blog. This section is also the historic foundation for the entire JRPS. Download Pony Trails and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Location: Pony Pasture leaves are long, opposite, pinnately compound, ... An unknown plant encountered along a back trail of the Pony Pasture trails. Posts about Pony Pasture written by canineadventurerl and canineadventurellc. Pony Pasture is a 1.2 mile trail through Pony Pasture Park. Pony Pasture Rapids Trails is a 2.1 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Richmond, Virginia that features a river and is good for all skill levels. As a previous user mentioned, yes it does flood as it’s on the River but that doesn’t earn it 1 star. For the Pony Pasture... turn right off the ramp, and follow the road about 1.5 miles. r/rva: News, events, and goings-on in and around Richmond, Virginia. This parcel connects to The Wetlands park, located just to the east of Pony Pasture. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Pony Pasture is an extremely popular and heavily used part of the Park. Support Us | Book your tickets online for Pony Pasture Park (James River Park System), Richmond: See 53 reviews, articles, and 49 photos of Pony Pasture Park (James River Park System), ranked No.37 on Tripadvisor among 167 attractions in Richmond. Richmond Tourism; Richmond Accommodation; Richmond Bed and Breakfast; Richmond Holiday Rentals; Richmond Holiday Packages The crowds are unbelievable!! Anyone can ride these trails. This plant was tripinnately compound, in the same way that the Nandina, or Heavenly bamboo is. Another good option, which may be somewhat more secluded, is to begin at the Pony Pasture Trails and continue west on Riverside Drive to Hugenot Flatwater. Some may say that the area is completely lame, which I kind of agree, but still, it is a good place to goof around and get muddy. Note: Riverside Drive near the Pony Pasture is closed to automobiles on rainy nights in late winter for the protection of mating Spotted Salamanders. Didn't finish the trail due to overcrowdedness. Well-worn trails, beautiful river views, and easily accessible. Flat, easy trail with some wildlife views. There are bathrooms and a large parking lot. On weekends, it is best to avoid the area due to crowds - especially in the summertime. It does have a few wood bridge crossings, but nothing really exciting. There are approximately 3 miles of trail – mostly wide gravel paths. With permission from landowners, they joyfully rode for hours. The main trails are wide and graveled, making them excellent for beginner off-road riders and walkers alike. The peace and quiet of The Wetlands is also recommended, which is connected to Pony Pasture through river trails. Great trees, huge rocks, birds, and River. I would be cautious at higher tide as the river rocks can be harder to find with your bare feet. Beautiful natures trails and fine estates! The access was built by park volunteers and funded by aluminum recycling in the park system. It's particularly popular for family picnics and things of that nature- it's a little woodsy so also good for light hiking, or making out in the bushes. Easy 10 minute drive to Carytown and the Fan Five minute drive to University of Richmond There are multiple shaded walking trails with some little-known swimming areas. 25 reviews of Pony Pasture "Pony Pasture is one of the nicer portions of the park system in Richmond, and it's a popular destination for picnicking and river wading in the summer. Mountain Biking Huguenot Trail / Pony Pasture. They are totally flat and a little lame, but, they can be fun if you want to get out and get muddy. ‎OVER 4 MILLION DOWNLOADS! Great walk for families or lazy dogs! I saw in the paper today that three of the people who formed the group that helped fight this died in 2012. Crossing the bridge that connects the two areas, I made mental notes about which direction I was heading and physical markers along the way. There are trails that offer views of the James River, trails for hiking, biking and bird watching. The Pony Pasture is part of Richmond's James River Park. It is a somewhat brisk hike doing about 3 miles per hour or 20 minute miles for 5 miles. Really enjoyed this trail with 6 month old puppy and pregnant wife, able to get 2.5 miles. For a more interesting time, take a gravel bike or hike the wetlands area instead! Singletracks Merch | Pony Pasture | Terrain360 is your interactive guide to the natural world, providing 360 ‐ degree panoramic image maps of some of the most beautiful trails, waterways and cherished landscapes in the World. MISSING near PONY PASTURE TRAILS in Richmond, Virginia Help Find Woody - He's 16, - DEAF and NEARLY BLIND - Message us if you find Woody! She said there were so many trails to ride. Definitely bring water shoes if you have them! I'll continue with the review. Pony Pasture Park (James River Park System): A great trail along the river - See 52 traveler reviews, 49 candid photos, and great deals for Richmond, VA, at Tripadvisor. Main menu. It is also in an area that almost became a freeway, which would have been tragic, frankly. Google Map. Why we love it: While Pony Pasture is incredible in every way with it’s large river rocks, trails, and beautiful beachy areas, it gets crowded as soon as the sun comes out. Turn right to go to the Pony Pasture. Riverside Drive is narrow, and there is not much of a shoulder, but traffic is minimal, with the thin dirt trail following the road at times. But I had never before hiked the trails here - until today. The area is very … Mahogany Road and Creque Dam Road weren’t paved at the time and jeep trails followed pasture fence lines. First visit on a chilly sunny day. I went for a run. Pony Pasture is a hiking, trail running, walking adventure located in or near Richmond, VA. Signs require bathers to wear life jackets if waters are high and fast. Beginner friendly, Beautiful scenery. Most trails are wide enough for bicycle traffic. Company   It is all rough gravel and crushed stone and, like Huguenot Trail, it is totally flat, but does have a few muddy sections and wet sand sections. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. There were bikers and other runners and walkers out as well as swimmers and rafters but, not crowded. From Chippenham Pkwy, take the Huguenot Rd exit and head east towards Richmond. It's a place to go play around and get wet and muddy. Pony Pasture Rapids Trails is a 2.1 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Richmond, Virginia that features a river and is good for all skill levels. Posted on July 30, 2019 by canineadventurerl. We don't have any videos of this trail yet. Enjoy & research Richmond, Virginia with trail guides, topo maps, photos, reviews & GPS routes on Trails.com. Turn left to go to Huguenot Trail. Pony Pasture Rapids (also commonly referred as Pony Pasture) is a section of the James River Park System that runs alongside the City of Richmond, VA. Nestled on the south bank of the James River downstream from the Huguenot Bridge, Pony Pasture is known for its local attractions of hiking, swimming, kayaking, and fishing. 1.4 Miles 2.2 KM Point to Point. Rebecca Merwin was one of the first Pony Club members in 1967. Other frequent visitors are birdwatchers and dog walkers. Munch’s Sponsored Walk. Well kept with tons of side paths to branch off to. An easy whitewater canoe run begins here and ends at the visitor center. Posts Tagged With: Pony Pasture. Very easy walk with almost no incline. Book your tickets online for Pony Pasture Park (James River Park System), Richmond: See 52 reviews, articles, and 49 photos of Pony Pasture Park (James River Park System), ranked No.38 on Tripadvisor among 167 attractions in Richmond. 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