more stats

2.8 miles

Distance

290 ft

Climb

-280 ft

Descent

00:25:54

Avg time

9 ft

Altitude change

73 ft

Altitude min

167 ft

Altitude max

88 ft

Altitude start

95 ft

Altitude end

0.1%

Grade

-21.4%

Grade max

28.9%

Grade min

1 mile

Distance climb

1 mile

Distance down

2,073 ft

Distance flat

00:25:54

Avg time

Forest Hill Park Details

Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
Riding Area

James River Park System
Richmond, Virginia
Difficulty Rating

Blue Rate
Voted Difficulty

Blue (2 votes)
Local Popularity
100 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 85 in Trail Running
- 50 in Hiking
Global Ranking
#8122 in Mountain Biking [+]
- #6818 in Trail Running
- #97715 in Hiking
Trail Type

Singletrack
Bike Type

AM
Direction

Both Directions
Climb Difficulty

Blue
Physical Rating

Moderate
Season

Year Round
Dogs Allowed

Yes
TTFs on Trail

Bridge, Jump, Rock Face
Land Owner

City of Richmond Parks and Recreation

Forest Hill Park has been around for awhile. It celebrated it’s 160th anniversary in 2002 and was also named a historic landmark by both the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. Once a large country estate, the park became a terminus for a trolley line that was brought from downtown Richmond, which drew new residents to South Side Richmond. In the early 1900’s, an amusement park was established in the park. Waning popularity caused the amusement park to close in 1932, partially due to the Great Depression. The park was acquired by the City of Richmond in 1933.

The park is about 100 acres and has 3.2 miles of trails. The trails have been used as part of the Xterra Off-Road triathlon race numerous times since 2000 and were completely over-hauled in 2009. The trails are accessible from the James River Park System at Reedy Creek and Riverside Drive. Since the trail system is so small, most people combine them with Buttermilk, North Bank, and Belle Isle to create a longer route. The trail system would be considered flowing singletrack with several long climbs.

source: rvaMORE: Forest Hill Park

Access Info

From the Reedy Creek parking area take a left on Riverside drive and look for a dirt-ish road immediately after the road crosses over the creek. This is both the entrance and exit point to the loop. I will describe the loop in the counterclockwise direction below.

Stay on the dirt road sized walking path that drops down along the creek until you see a large cement block with a manhole in the top of it (approximately 3' tall). A square pipe crosses the creek here and you ride across it (it's about 3' wide....and be careful, walk if necessary). The easiest access to ride onto the "bridge" is riding around the upstream side of the cement block and then riding across.

From here the trail is fairly straightforward. Continue up a climb, ride the trail skirting the parking lot, down a fun decent with some interesting whoop-dee's, continue up another climb until you reach a single lane paved walk way. Ride across this, down the stairs on the other side and up the brief climb. At the top of this climb you end up at the top of some stone stairs. From here ride the pathway that continues adjacent a chain link fence that encloses the James River Park System "physical plant" (where they keep all of their stuff for maintaining the park). This will lead you to some more trail that continues up to a road with another paved walking trail crossing.

Cross the paved path and continue on the singletrack down to a bridge over Reedy creek (wooden 3' wide with hand railings). Cross this, the trail continues right from here. From here the trail is easier to follow for about a half mile with some side hill meanderings. Eventually you get a descent with a hairpin right turn. After this continue down across the creek and start the climb up right. The top of this climb appears to go straight, but take the left turn up hill here and continue through switchbacks and turns the remaining half mile to where we began.

Note, counter-clockwise is just the direction I prefer. In the last several years (2009 - present 8/10/13) the races in the area have used this section the other direction.

Trail Supporters

past supporters

Coqui Cyclery
2017
Sponsor

Local Trail Association

RVA MORE
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trail development & maintenance.
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Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Powhatan

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week

3 rides
18 miles average

6 Months

57 rides
13 miles avg distance

All

512 rides
Last: Jun 21, 2026

c1	c2	c3	c4
January	February	March	April
May	June	July	August
September	October	November	December

update trails status or condition

Forest Hill Park Trail Reports

status	date	description
	Oct 7, 2025 @ 4:38pm (America/New_York) Oct 7, 2025	Great city loop. some sections blown out from ridings and dry conditions but still loads of fun. just need to be more careful in the turns.
	May 2, 2025 @ 2:32pm May 2, 2025
	Dec 24, 2024 @ 7:15am Dec 24, 2024
	Jun 10, 2024 @ 9:49am Jun 10, 2024
	Dec 26, 2023 @ 12:00pm Dec 26, 2023

Routes with this trail

Tour de Fall Line 2021

42 miles • 1,978 ft • 17 •

An Open House ride format. The entry fee is WAIVED. Our only request is that you stop by the rvaMORE tent,...

2023 Tour de Fall Line - Medium v2

28 miles • 1,333 ft • 22 •

2023 Tour de Fall Line - Medium Course - A tour of Richmond's Downtown singletrack

2023 Tour de Fall Line - Long v2

51 miles • 2,418 ft • 26 • Loop •

2023 Tour de Fall Line - Long Route - A tour of Richmond's Single Track paradise!

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James River Park System

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Frequently Asked Questions About Forest Hill Park

▼ Where is Forest Hill Park located?

Forest Hill Park is located in James River Park System, Richmond, Virginia, United States. It is part of the James River Park System trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 37.523, -77.47022.

▼ How hard is Forest Hill Park?

Forest Hill Park is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 0.1%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.

▼ What is the elevation gain for Forest Hill Park?

Forest Hill Park has 290 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 280 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 73 ft to 167 ft.

▼ Is Forest Hill Park a point to point trail?

Forest Hill Park is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.

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Forest Hill Park