Outdoor Activities

By Andy Thompson - Special Correspondent
Published: September 2, 2008

The area offers opportunities for many additional outdoor activities. At the bottom are groups that provide information and programs.

Birding: The James River attracts an amazing diversity of birds, from osprey and bald eagles to great blue herons and double-crested cormorants. Try Dutch Gap Conservation Area in Chesterfield County. Just south of Richmond, the Presquile National Wildlife Refuge offers sanctuary for migratory waterfowl. The Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, located on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, has a national reputation for its birds. The Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail maps out loops and byways that offer some of the best places to explore. (866) 822-4737 or http://www.www.dgif.virginia.gov/vbwt/

Bicycling: There are numerous opportunities for cyclists, whether they prefer asphalt or packed dirt. Off-road enthusiasts have the Buttermilk-North Bank trail loop as well as Forest Hill and Powhite parks in the city limits. Poor Farm Park near Ashland has about 14 miles of singletrack. Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County has several loops and more than 25 miles of trails specifically designed for mountain bikers. Some county parks offer bike trails. The Richmond Area chapter of Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts organizes regular outings and lists the status of area trails. http://www.richmond-more.org. The Virginia Department of Transportation has info on its Web site, http://www.vdot.virginia.gov. The Richmond Area Bicycling Association coordinates regular rides. http://www.raba.org. For those who like BMX-style riding, Gillies Creek Park on Hobbs Lane in Richmond has a course that is open to the public except when races are being held. http://www.richmondbmx.com.

Riding: With trail riding growing in popularity, many local and state parks offer horse lovers a chance to enjoy the outdoors. Dorey Park in eastern Henrico County has a ring as well as designated trails. Pocahontas State Park offers miles of bridle trails. Horses can be rented at New River Trail State Park (276) 699-6778, and through Foster Falls Livery (276) 699-2460. Contact the Va. Horse Council http://www.virginiahorsecouncil.org; Va. Dept. of Forestry, Charlottesville, (434) 977-6555; the Va. Division of State Parks (800) 933-PARK; and the Va. Dept. of Conservation and Recreation (804) 786-1712

Climbing: There may not be any mountains in the Richmond area, but there are ample climbing opportunities. Belle Isle has several sites popular with climbers, and the Manchester Wall along the southern banks at the end of the flood wall offers a variety of challenges. In Chesterfield County, Peak Experiences has a gym with about 14,000 square feet of surface and more than 140 climbing routes. (804) 897-6800 http://www.peakexperiences.com. For something different, Riverside Outfitters in Richmond offers recreational tree climbing http://www.riversideoutfitters.net (804) 560-0068

Ropes Course: Corporations and school groups try to enhance their leadership and team-building skills through these courses. Challenge Discovery Outdoor Adventures, based in Doswell, (804) 876-9733 http://www.challengediscovery.com, or Outdoor Wilderness Leadership School in Charlottesville (866) 535-6957 http://www.owlsadventures.com.

Shooting: Numerous public and private ranges for firearms and archery are available. VDGIF maintains sighting-in ranges at several wildlife management areas, and seven shooting ranges are located in the George Washington and Jefferson national forests. Old Forge Sporting Clays in Providence Forge offers a public sporting clays range http://www.oldforgesportingclays.com; (804) 966-2955

Skiing: Alpine skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports are offered at four Virginia resorts – Wintergreen, Massanutten, The Homestead and Bryce Mountain (which also has mountain boarding and grass skiing during the summer). For free information on skiing in Virginia call (800) 843-7669

RESOURCES

The James River Outdoor Coalition: plays a key role in helping maintain and coordinate activities in the James River Park System. (804) 543-0331 http://www.jroc.net

The Sierra Club (Falls of the James Group): coordinates outdoor activities and provides environmental information. (804) 225-9113 http://www.virginia.sierraclub.org/foj The James River Advisory Council: serves as a forum on issues concerning the James River and sponsors the James River Parade of Lights in December and James River Days during the summer. (804) 748-1567 http://www.jamesriveradvisorycouncil.com

The Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club: leads hikes not only along the AT, but also in state and local parks; maintains a section of the AT. E-mail president David Olli at or http://www.odatc.net

The Virginia Deer Hunters Association Inc.: provides information on deer hunting as well as wildlife management. http://www.virginiadeerhunters.org

The National Wild Turkey Federation: sponsors conservation efforts, provides information on turkey hunting and coordinates programs for youth, women and disabled hunters. (804) 598-6045 (Greater Richmond chapter) or http://www.vanwtf.com