THE RIVANNA TRAIL
250)
GUIDE
Trail sections are described in
counterclockwise order.
(length, cumulative mileage from mile 0,
description of footing)
Woolen Mills to Riverview Park
(.41 miles, .41 miles from mile 0, moderate)
Mile 0 is at the railroad trestle. Follow the
sandy trail from Moore's Creek to the old
Woolen Mills dam site; climb uphill to left.
Roadwalk: turn right onto E. Market St.,
right onto Riverside Ave., right into
Riverview Park.
Riverview Park to Route 250 at Free
Bridge
(1.48 miles, 1.89 from mile 0, easy)
Follow hard-surfaced trail through the park’s
fields and forests along the Rivanna River. A
spur trail (.39 miles) makes possible a loop
hike within the park.
Route 250 at Free Bridge to Holmes Ave.
Follow hard-surfaced trail to VFW fields. Just
upriver, turn left. Roadwalk: right onto River
Rd., right onto Locust Ave., left onto Locust
Ln., right onto Megan Ct. and into forest.
Turn left to follow Meadow Creek. At
junction, trail across creek leads to River
North Trail.
Holmes Ave. to Park St.
(.59 miles, 4.12 from mile 0, moderate)
Trail follows Meadow Creek.
Park St. to the Norfolk-Southern RR
underpass
(1.12 miles, 5.24 from mile 0, moderate)
Follow signs on the trail and information on
the RTF website for temporary detours
between Park St. and Hydraulic Rd. during
construction projects.
Norfolk-Southern RR to
Greenbrier/Brandywine Drives
(.64 miles, 5.88 from mile 0, easy)
See above note about construction.
Greenbrier/Brandywine Drives to
Hydraulic Rd.
(1.07 miles, 6.95 from mile 0, moderate)
See above note about construction.
Hydraulic Rd. to Emmet St. (Rte. 29)
(.62 miles, 7.57 from mile 0, moderate)
Walk upstream beside Meadow Creek as it
makes its way under two major roadways.
Continue through forest near City Gardens.
Turn right onto Morton Dr.
Emmet St. to Barracks Rd.
Cross Emmet St. Follow Earhart St. to a
footbridge. Turn left onto Cedars Ct. after
second footbridge.
Barracks Rd. to Old Ivy Rd.
(1.74 miles, 9.70 from mile 0, moderate)
Follow the headwaters of Meadow Creek,
past the foundation of the county's 1806
Poor House, through a forest of mountain
laurel and chestnut oaks, through two large
fields, and past a small pond.
November 2009
Old Ivy Rd. to Ivy Rd. (Rte.
(proposed)
Ivy Rd. to Fontaine Ave.
(1.88 miles, 11.72 from mile 0, moderate to
difficult)
Start near the fire station. Keep your eyes
open for RTF blazes that mark the main path
around Observatory Hill.
Fontaine Ave. to Stribling Ave.
(.59 miles, 12.31 from mile 0, moderate)
Walk under pines, cross a fence stile, follow
road across bridge, turn left to enter the
floodplains of Morey Creek. Cross the creek
on stepping stones. The adjoining Dept. of
Forestry's Nature Trail spur (1 mile)
contains several trees unusual to VA,
remnants of a 1930s tree nursery.
Stribling Ave. to Sunset Ave.
Roadwalk: right onto Stribling Ave., right onto
Sunset Rd., right onto Sunset Ave.
Sunset Ave. to Azalea Park
After walking along Moore’s Creek, follow roadwalk:
straight on McElroy, right onto Middleton, across
Old Lynchburg, right onto Mobile Ln., left at trail
sign.
Azalea Park to 5th St.
(.87 miles, 14.54 from mile 0, moderate)
Look for plentiful wildlife in the park’s
vegetated buffer along Moore’s Creek. Cross
the creek on stepping stones, continue
through forest and field.
5th St. Ext'd to Jordan Park
Be alert to detours and roadwalks. Return to
forest trail (right turn) to walk along Rock
and Moore’s Creeks.
Jordan Park to Quarry Park
(1.07 miles, 17.91 from mile 0, moderate)
Follow the trail to Avon St. Turn right, cross
Avon St., cross road bridge, turn left onto
trail near tall pines. Meander through a
young wildlife-filled forest. Climb a long
gentle hill through pines to high bluffs
overlooking Moore's Creek.
Quarry Park to the Woolen Mills
(1.64 miles, 19.55 from mile 0, difficult)
The trail hugs Moore's Creek as it makes its
way to the Rivanna River. Be prepared to
scramble over rocks, trample through sand,
and see a variety of wildlife, exposed rock
cliffs, the old livestock market, and historic
mill buildings. We hope to build a
footcrossing of Moore’s Creek near the old
Woolen Mills.
November 2009