Charlottesville Parks and Recreation maintains a variety of trails in the City. Multi use trails exist at Riverview Park (and upstream along the Rivanna river), Meade Park, at Schenk's Greenway, Mcintire Park, John Warner Parkway, and at Forest Hills Park. Nature trails exist in the woods of many City parks and alongside creeks. Each trail is described in detail below, or you can view the overall Map of City trails.
National Trails Day Event - Sat. June 1, 2013
Ragged Mountain Natural Area - Trail Building Workday
We are working to restore the sections of trail that will be underwater when the new dam is opened. We have already completed haf of this work but we need your help to keep making progress. This is a half-day work event starting at 9am. Due to construction actvities at the dam, we will be meeting at an off-site parking area and shuttling volunteers to the work site. Call 970-3656 or gensic@charlottesville.org for information and to RSVP so we know how many tools and vehicles we need to bring.
NEWS -
The trail bridge over the railroad at McIntire Park is moving forward in its design phase. To see the presentation from the February public meeting, go HERE
NEWS -
Trails at the Ragged Mountain Natural Area are CLOSED DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW DAM. The trails that will be lost due to the construction (approximately 1/4 of the total system) will be rebuilt during the construction process so when the area re-opens the trails are already in place for use. The area will reopen sometime in 2014 when the construction is complete.
NEWS -
The section of RTF trail between Sunset Avenue bridge and McElroy Drive is closed while we work to obtain private property permission for the trail. Please use the posted detour around Jefferson Park Circle.
NEWS -
The bridge over Moore's Creek at Quarry Park is being replaced with a new bike/ped bridge. The work should be complete by July 2013.
NEWS -
West McIntire Multi-use Trail - The corridor for this trail in the woods behind the fire station is paved. The two bridges will be under construction later this fall. The trail route was carefully selected to avoid loss of large trees, so the trail will have minimal impact on the forest canopy of the park. The trail construction is expected to by complete by spring 2013.
NEWS - Please also note that the culvert under the railroad to/from Greenbrier Park is not open for public use at this time. The City is working with the railroad on safe and legal trail accommodations for the future, possibly using the culvert.
The city has undertaken a major new effort to build trails both within parks—to create loops for walking and biking—as well as longer connections between parks, schools, and other public spaces. The Bicycle, Pedestrian and Trails Plan of Charlottesville includes maps and descriptions of proposed trail systems in the City.
Rivanna Trail
MAP
The Rivanna Trail is a handicapped-accessible paved trail that starts at Riverview Park and meanders north about 2.3 miles, crossing under Free Bridge and Route 250 East along the Rivanna river. The trail is a public right-of-way across private property; please respect the adjacent private property by staying on the path.
Schenk's Greenway
MAP
Schenk's Greenway is a crushed-gravel surfaced trail, good for hiking, biking and pushing strollers and similar in surface to the Saunders Trail at Monticello. While traveling along the trail, which wanders for 1/4 mile along a stretch of McIntire Road, you can enjoy views of Schenk's Branch creek and Art-in-Place sculptures. This section of trail is only the beginning of a much longer route that will soon connect to Preston Avenue and the downtown mall, and eventually north into McIntire Park (pending the Meadowcreek Parkway final plans).
Pen Park Nature Trail
MAP
The Pen Park Nature Trail is a 1.5 mile trail that runs along the Rivanna River. This trail is a combination of a wider main path and a number of side trails that offer closer views of the river. The main trail is very flat and wide, good for jogging or hiking. To reach the trail, enter the park and turn left at the tennis courts. The trailhead is behind the picnic shelters. Pass through the fitness trail and continue down the hill along the fence line to the river. Follow the path to the right (downstream). To return you can follow the new trail up to the cemetery and clubhouse, or retrace your steps back to the fitness trail.
Pen Park Fitness Trail
MAP
This 1/2 mile paved loop offers 20 stations for a variety of stretching and fitness opportunities while jogging or walking. Located behind the Pen Park picnic shelters.
McIntire Park
MAP
A number of nature trails run along the creek and through mature forests at McIntire Park. Enter the trails behind the picnic shelters, to the north of the baseball fields, or from the CHS bridge. There are three parallel trails running north of the descent to the CHS bridge and one running south to Melbourne Road from the bridge. There are also trails on the east side of the railroad tracks just north of the McIntire golf course. Enter behind the guardrail to the right of the gate to the leaf dump on Melbourne Road.
Greenleaf Park
MAP
A soft-surface trail connects Greenleaf Park with Walker School and the school administration building. Go past the raingarden and down the hill into the woods. The trail to the school goes to the left along the creek and 250 bypass. There is a smaller trail connecting the park to neighborhoods to the south.
Forest Hills Park
MAP
A 1/4 mile paved trail connects Forest Hills Park with the Prospect and Johnson Village neighborhoods. The trail passes through mature woods.
Greenbrier Park
MAP
The RTF footpath runs through the middle of Greenbrier Park along Meadow Creek. Within the park, the trail is wider than usual and there are a few benches for resting. Access is available from Greenbrier Drive at RTF trailheads near the elementary school.
Meadowcreek Gardens
MAP
The RTF passes through this park and includes a number of spur trails providing a variety of circuits through wooded and open area.
Buford Forest Trail
MAP
Explore the woods and creek valleys behind Buford School and Smith Recreation Center on these footpaths built by volunteers.
Greenbrier Elementary School - Stone dust loop path around soccer field
Johnson Elementary School - Paved loop path around soccer field and playground
Ragged Mountain and Ivy Creek Natural areas - Natural surface trails provide hiking access to the land around these reservoirs. Maps are located at parking lot trailhead areas. (No biking is allowed in these areas)
Trails at Riverview, Quarry and McIntire Parks are on the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail
NEW TRAILS currently under development include:
250 Bypass-McIntire Park Multi Use trail from Dairy Bridge to McIntire Park - final design is in place and undergoing staff review. Construction will continue in fall 2012.
*VDOT awarded the City a TEA grant to design and build a bike/ped bridge over railroad tracks connecting both sides of McIntire Park. Design starts October 2011, possible construction by fall 2013
Meade Avenue Multi-Use Trail - from railroad to Meade Park - VDOT funded grant to construct multi-use trail along the east side of Meade. Construction may commence in ~June 2013 after a public meeting and VDOT approval of the final plans
Meadow Creek - Land acquisition is complete. Two easements remaining to acquire. The stream project is underway and wraps up by November 2012. Planning for park and trails is underway now.
Moores Creek - Trail easement acquisition underway between Rives, Quarry, Jordan and Azalea Parks.
Rivanna River bike/ped bridges- possible locations between Pen and Darden Park and near Riverview Park to Pantops in planning and design with Albemarle County. These projects will begin in earnest in 2013
CLICK HERE for Bicycle Street Map of Charlottesville.
Other trails in the Charlottesville area include the Albemarle County Greenways/Parks and the Saunders Trail at Monticello.
The regional greenways plan can be found at http://www.tjpdc.org/pdf/TJArea_Bike_Ped_Plan.pdf. For additional information or questions regarding trails, contact the Park & Trail Planner via email at gensic@charlottesville.org or via phone at 434-970-3656.