North Bank Trail and Belle Island Trail

We started off at the Pump House Road trailhead and headed downstream, underneath the nickel bridge, also known as Boulevard Bridge, and then along a fence line that separates the North Bank Trail from Maymont Park, crossed a bridge and travelled along the old Kanawha Canal (canal project was begun in 1785, and half completed by 1851).  We spotted turtles and Canada geese.  At the end of the border with Maymont Park, we climbed up the steep hill to the top and arrived at a temporary break in the trail, travelled along Kansas Ave for 4 blocks to Texas Ave, and back on to the North Bank Trail which is the resumption point for the trail.  We travelled across many streams and bridges and rejoined the Kanawha canal for a while before the trail headed back up to a ridge by Riverview Cemetery before dropping back down to the canal just below Hollywood Cemetery.

We stopped for a rest on Bubba’s Bench and enjoyed the sounds of the rapids and cool breezes, and then we moved on towards the end of the North Bank Trail.  Just before the end, we spotted birds flying around a tree from one limb to another and stopped to look up and spotted a pair of bright orange male Baltimore Orioles, one female Oriole, and a half dozen Cedar Waxwings all gobbling up ripe mulberries.

We moved on another 100’ and the trail ended so we walked around to the suspension footbridge that takes you over to Belle Island, hiked around the island and came back and were greeted by a freight train on the tracks by the trail and watched the trail on the old elevated tracks while we rested.

We rejoined the North Bank Trail and headed back to our start point, halfway back we spotted a Blackburnian Warbler up in the trees, which was a very nice way to end our 7 mile hike.  We got back to the car about 3-1/2 hours after we started, but that was due to many stops along the way to identify birds, flora, and other animals as well as enjoy the scenery.  Another enjoyable GO trip.

THIS IS THE MAY 8TH HIKE RESCHEDULED TO THE 15TH

The route will take us along Maymont Park, Kansas Ave, Texas Ave, then by Hollywood Cemetery, Tredegar Iron Works and out to Belle Island before looping back to our starting point at Pump House Road. 

Total mileage will be about 7-8 miles of moderate hiking and this will take 3-4 hours, depending on your abilities.  Don't worry, no one will be left behind at any point.  There will be some areas that are hilly and a bit challenging, but doable for the average person.

This trail is on the North side of the James River, opposite the Buttermilk Trail that we took a month ago.  If you want to do part of the hike and not the full hike, please contact me and we can coordinate this.