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Mountain Bike the Lakeview Trails in Pocahontas State Park

Chesterfield, Virginia

Details

Distance

12.5 miles

Elevation Gain

850 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Barry Holloway

Pocahontas State Park’s Lakeview mountain bike trails are part of nearly 30 miles of single track in the park and are included in the Richmond Regional Ride Center which was designated as a bronze level IMBA Ride Center in 2015. Only 20 miles from downtown Richmond, it’s a great place to hone your mountain bike skills or simply enjoy being outdoors.

Lakeview I, II, and III are rated intermediate single track mountain bike trails with continuous descents and climbs, great flow, tight turns, rooty sections, a few logs, and some rocky areas. Because the trails are stacked loops, you can ride only one or all three. Riding all and the connector trail totals 12.5 miles with an elevation gain of 850 feet. Elevations along the entire route range from a low of 130 feet up to 240 feet.

Enter Pocahontas State Park by turning onto State Park Road, from Route 655, Beach Road. Beyond the entrance station, proceed straight for over a mile to the first left for the CCC Museum parking and trail access. To reach the Lakeview trails, follow the Old Mill Bike Trail down the hill to the left of the CCC Museum, cross a small bridge, and up to the left. At the top of the hill, turn left to cross the road you drove in on, curve right and then an immediate left onto the Powhatan trail. Follow this trail up and down several hills before turning onto the second trail to the left; follow it to a small trail kiosk. All intersections to this point are clearly marked with arrows to “Lakeview Mountain Bike Loop Trails”. At the kiosk, proceed into the woods on the single track trail.

This mostly fast, flowy connector trail offers a good warm-up for the Lakeview trails. It is rooty in a few places, but generally a smooth ride with easy descents and climbs. There are two small rock gardens which can be bypassed to the right. After half a mile is a wooden fence where campground fireword is stored; a bike maintenance station with basic tools and an air pump is to the right. Continue downhill through a couple of tight turns. At the bottom is a creek crossing; it’s not difficult, but some riders may want to walk it. A short climb from here is the start of Lakeview I and the beginning of riding one-way in a clockwise direction.

All three loops are similar, though some may consider Lakeview III a little more challenging with most of the bigger and longer climbs. Along Lakeview I are several short side routes offering more technical challenges. Markers point the direction to stay on the intermediate (blue) route or try your skills on the challenges. These side routes will feed back into the main trail a short distance ahead. Great views of Swift Creek Lake are along the trail, and watch for Bald Eagles which make an occasional appearance. Back at the starting point of Lakeview I, you’ll turn left down the hill and follow the connector trail back to where you began. Don’t forget, the connector trail isn’t one way; be aware of other bikers.

Pocahontas State Park Trail Map

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Features

Mountain Biking
Easy Parking
Forest
Lake
Scenic

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