First Sunday Breakfast and Hike

We had breakfast at McLean's Restaurant, downtown Richmond.  we took our time and enjoyed our breakfast before heading out to the trail head around 9:15 a.m.

We started the hike a few minutes early since everyone was present.  We proceeded down trail down to the old Kanawha Canal, crossed over the footbridge and skirted Maymont Park.  We continued along the canal on one side and the park on the other before coming to some stairs that bring you to the road above, probably about a 80' above.  Once there, the trail ends mergese with a local road.  we walked about 1/2 mile before getting back on to the trail at Texas Road Parking area.  We continue up and down the trail as it would bring you up to the top of the hill and then back down towards the canal, passing by several historic cemetaries, the most famous being Hollywood Cemetary.  As we got closer we spotted a train heading upriver.  We stopped high on a bluff at Bubba's Bench, and noticed little painted stones colored as some sort of geological easter eggs in bring blues and oranges; some with sayings and others with just flowers.

We travelled along another 1/2 mile before reaching out turn around point, hitting a handy portable pottie.  We travelled back to the road just beyond Texas Avenue and headed towards Maymont Park, paid a recommended admission fee and then towards the rose garden, the waterfall and steps down to the beautiful Japanese Garden.  We walked around the pond, across a wooden bridge designed like docks but not in a continuous path as if each dock was offset 2' from the other.  After than we crossed round stepping stones to finally get back to the other side.  There were lots of Koi, some of which were huge, about 3' to 3-1/2 feet long lazily swimming the shallow, warm water taking advantage of free handouts from the many visitors.  We walked around to the bottom the waterfall, over the arched bridge and up the hill towards a landing 1/2 way up the waterfall.

After a few pictures, we move on to the wild animals-Eagles, Hawks, Owls, Fox, Bison and then the petting zoo of goats and sheep before heading over to the sciene center and catching a view of the river otters and eating some popcicles.   We headed out and back to the starting point.  4 hours and 15 minutes later and about 8 miles.  A great way to spend a cool fall Sunday.

Join us for another First Sunday hike where we have breakfast and then hike it off.  Weather should be awesome.

Breakfast will be at McLean's Restaurant 8:30-9:15.  Hike starts at 9:30 a.m.  We'll start at the North Bank Trail Head off Pump House Drive, Richmond VA.  It is the FIRST gravel parking lot on your left when you get at the bottom of the hill, on Pump House Drive (approximately 0.2 mi from Park Drive) See Trail Head map.

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 4-5 miles of moderate hiking.  There will be some areas that are hilly and a bit challenging, but doable for the average person. Bring water and a snack.

This trail is on the North side of the James River, the trail nearest the city.