HomeVirginiaPetersburg › Appomattox River Trail - Lower Falls (University Blvd Trailhead)

Appomattox River Trail - Lower Falls (University Blvd Trailhead)

4.9 ★★★★★ 17 Google reviews · Running trail in Petersburg, Virginia · Hours vary

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
25 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Not reported

Confirmed from Appomattox River Trail - Lower Falls (University Blvd Trailhead)'s own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Paved25 miWaterTrailhead parkingQuiet

What runners say about Appomattox River Trail - Lower Falls (University Blvd Trailhead)

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (17 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Instead, it was calm and peaceful, and made for a lovely hike.”

Fun hike. It's about a 10 mile round trip hike. You do have to detour around the substation in order to continue the hike.

★★★★☆ — M_E_T_ , Dec 2023

Very easy with a matching of the soothing sound of the water stream. Ideal for all ages and even pets. I recommend to walk your dogs here if you are looking for a great place to bond with your pets.

★★★★★ — Cha , Oct 2024

Great little walk along the river that has lots of points of interest along the way, and definitely worth a visit from anywhere in the Greater Richmond area. The trail is paved for about a quarter mile and then runs as a typical hiking trail for another 2 and a half-ish miles to an impassable bridge.

★★★★★ — Cherry , Dec 2023

I come down to this trail quite often, because the Appomattox River is beautiful, and always changing. Today it was raining off and on, and I came down because I thought the river would be raging and churning. Instead, it was calm and peaceful, and made for a lovely hike.

★★★★★ — Diane , Sep 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 17 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🛣️ Paved surface 3 mentions

“The trail is paved for about a quarter mile and then runs as a typical hiking trail for another 2 and a half-ish miles to an impassable bridge.”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Instead, it was calm and peaceful, and made for a lovely hike.”

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+) 2 mentions

“It's about a 10 mile round trip hike.”

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🚰 Water fountains

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

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Plan your run at Appomattox River Trail - Lower Falls (University Blvd Trailhead)

The practical stuff

  • AccessHours vary — hours are not posted for this trail, so check before an early or late run
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • Distance25 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, water — reported by runners
  • Websitefolar-va.org
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Where to find Appomattox River Trail - Lower Falls (University Blvd Trailhead)

University Blvd, Petersburg, VA 23803

Get directions

Running trails near Petersburg

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Patton Park

4.2 ★★★★☆ 106 reviews

Petersburg, VA

Scenic

Relaxing park offering trails, swimming, fishing and views.

under a mile away

Appamatuck Park - Appomattox River Greenway

4.3 ★★★★☆ 191 reviews

Colonial Heights, VA

PavedScenicDog-friendly

Public park with a paved path popular for walks and offering river views.

under a mile away

Appomattox River Trail/VSU Trail Head

3.6 ★★★★☆ 17 reviews

South Chesterfield, VA

Paved

under a mile away

Appomattox River Greenway

4.6 ★★★★★ 84 reviews

Colonial Heights, VA

1.5 miPavedScenicDog-friendly

Park featuring trails for walking and biking, plus picnic tables and a fishing spot.

under a mile away

Ettrick Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 543 reviews

Petersburg, VA

Lit

Family-friendly park featuring picnic tables, walking and running trails, and several playgrounds.

1.1 miles away

Rotary Park - Pocahontas Path

4.6 ★★★★★ 36 reviews

Petersburg, VA

1.1 miles away

All running trails in Petersburg, VA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.