Central Virginia & Richmond · Chesterfield · Trail running · Network
Pocahontas State Park Trail Network
Miles of forested singletrack and multi-use trail twenty minutes south of Richmond.
- Distance
- 90mi
- Climb (listed)
- Not on file
- Time (hiking est.)
- Your call
- Difficulty
- Not rated
- Terrain
- PavedShaded
The route
Where it is
This is a trail network rather than a single route, so no route line or elevation profile is published. Use the agency map for the individual trails.
What it feels like
What it feels like
A 90-mile corridor you sample rather than finish: pick a trailhead, go out as far as the day allows, and turn around. Firm, even surface, mostly under tree cover.
Before you drive
What to know first
Closures and conditions change. Check the agency's alerts page before leaving.
- Parking
- Not on file
- Fees
- Virginia State Parks day-use parking fee applies.
- Permits
- Not on file
- Hours
- Park open daily 7:30 a.m. to dusk. No separate hours posted for trails; the trail network falls under general park hours. Park office daily 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; visitor center daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (facility hours vary seasonally).
- Restrooms
- Restrooms are at developed facilities — the visitor center, campground, aquatic centre and picnic shelters — rather than along the trail network itself.
- Water
- Not on file
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Cell service
- Not on file
- Emergency
- Not on file
How hard it will feel
Difficulty, explained
Not rated
DCR describes the network as serving all skill levels rather than assigning one rating; Beaver Lake Trail is described as a moderately difficult loop.
Commitment is up to you: turn around whenever you like on a long, level corridor.
- Distance
- +0
- A 90 mi corridor you can join for as little or as much as you like.
- Climb
- —
- Elevation gain not on file.
- Footing
- +1
- Natural tread: roots, mud after rain, uneven in places.
- Technicality
- +0
- Nothing technical recorded; walking the whole way.
- Exposure
- +0
- Mostly sheltered; shade is listed.
Commitment
How long it takes
This is a corridor you join for as long as you like, so there is no honest total. Plan with a pace instead:
- Hiking:
- ~23 min per mile
- Running:
- ~11 min per mile
- Family pace:
- ~40 min per mile
Terrain
Underfoot
- Surface
- Dirt, Gravel, Paved
- Technicality
- Nothing technical recorded
- Crossings
- None recorded
- Exposure
- Not on file
What you'll see
On the record
- Large connected network
- Lake loops
- Camping and cabins on site
Setting on file: Forest, Park.
When to go
Seasonal character
Central Virginia & RichmondYear-round. River trails flood after heavy rain — check park status. Summer is hot and humid with strong afternoon storms.
General seasonal character, not a live condition report. Check the agency's alerts page for closures.
Who it fits
Is this for you?
- Runners
- Yes, running is supported
- Families
- Good with kids
- Strollers
- Not stroller friendly
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Accessibility
- No notes on file
- Experience
- Not rated
The long version
About this route
Pocahontas State Park is Richmond's closest large forest. Its trail network blends wide multi-use paths, mountain-bike singletrack, and quieter hiking routes around Swift Creek Lake and Beaver Lake.
The gentle terrain and dependable signage make it a good place for new trail runners to learn footing before heading to the mountains.
If not this one
Related, and why
Central Virginia & Richmond
Belle Isle & the James River Park System
- Distance
- 2mi
- Elevation gain
- 100ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- ~58 min
- Crushed stone
- Riverside
Shorter version · 2 mi if time is short.
Central Virginia & Richmond
Virginia Capital Trail
- Distance
- 51.7mi
- Elevation gain
- 946ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
- Paved
- Riverside
Nearby · 14 mi from this trailhead.
Before you drive
What to know first
Closures and conditions change. Check the agency's alerts page before leaving.
- Parking
- Not on file
- Fees
- Virginia State Parks day-use parking fee applies.
- Permits
- Not on file
- Hours
- Park open daily 7:30 a.m. to dusk. No separate hours posted for trails; the trail network falls under general park hours. Park office daily 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; visitor center daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m. (facility hours vary seasonally).
- Restrooms
- Restrooms are at developed facilities — the visitor center, campground, aquatic centre and picnic shelters — rather than along the trail network itself.
- Water
- Not on file
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Cell service
- Not on file
- Emergency
- Not on file
Provenance
- Facts:
- verified against the managing agency · last checked August 29, 2026.
- Readings:
- anything marked Trailfinder reading is derived by Trailfinder from those sources, not published by the agency.
Before you go: Trail conditions, access rules, weather, water availability, and closures can change. Check the linked official source before leaving and choose a route appropriate for your experience and current conditions.