Running trails in Richmond, VA
Richmond has 21 trails in the directory — 3 paved and 5 on crushed gravel or dirt, 9 loops that return to the trailhead, 4 with a stated distance, 5 shaded, and 3 open 24 hours. 17 of them post opening hours, so you can check the gate before an early start. They're ranked here by rating weighted by review volume, across 9,569 Google reviews. Filter by surface, loop, distance, shade or lighting to get to the run you're actually planning — no made-up difficulty score, just the facts you'd check before driving out.
Bryan Park
4.5 ★★★★★ 2,563 reviews
Historic Gabriel's Rebellion locale now hosting events, a farmer's market, bird walks & disc golf.
Forest Hill Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,578 reviews
Partial wetland area with a historic home, nature trails, wildlife, tennis courts, picnics & events.
Byrd Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 1,104 reviews
Picturesque city park offering 3 lakes, a walking path, picnic areas, athletic fields & more.
Virginia Capital Trail Richmond Trailhead
4.7 ★★★★★ 505 reviews
This starting point for a 52-mile trail for hiking & biking features a parking lot & route map.
Ancarrow's Landing
4.4 ★★★★☆ 465 reviews
This functional waterfront space offers a boat launch, fishing access & a network of trails.
Pump House Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 345 reviews
Scenic park trails and river views, featuring a Gothic-style pump house being renovated into an events venue.
James River Park Pony Pasture
4.6 ★★★★★ 342 reviews
Riverside park featuring scenic trails for biking and hiking, as well as swimming.
Powhite Park
4.3 ★★★★☆ 352 reviews
City park featuring multi-use trails amid lush green space, plus a parking area.
Richmond Slave Trail
4.4 ★★★★☆ 285 reviews
Self-guided walking tour of prominent historical sites relating to Virginia’s slave trade.
James River Park System Pony Pasture Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 234 reviews
Park with trails and river views that's good for families, kids, and dogs.
VITA Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 176 reviews
Park offering a trail that's good for running and walking.
James River Park - The Wetlands
4.7 ★★★★★ 162 reviews
Vast wetlands featuring trails, a swampy area and a river.
Larus Park Trailhead, South
4.6 ★★★★★ 121 reviews
Kid-friendly greenery featuring hiking trails (some of which are dog-friendly) and a creek.
Larus Park Trailhead, North
4.6 ★★★★★ 116 reviews
Park with creek access and trails for walking and biking, including one that leads through a tunnel.
North Bank Trail Head
4.7 ★★★★★ 60 reviews
Hiking trails ranging from 2.5 to 6.1 mi through forests beside the James River.
North Bank Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 45 reviews
Riverfront park featuring trails, pedestrian bridges and scenic views.
Buttermilk Trail
4.6 ★★★★★ 23 reviews
Running Trail Near Maymont
5 ★★★★★ 1 reviews
No trails match those filters.
How to pick a trail in Richmond
- Match the surface to your legs. Richmond gives you a choice: 3 paved, 3 natural surface, 2 crushed gravel, and 2 mixed. Asphalt and concrete are fast, predictable and runnable year-round but the least forgiving; crushed limestone and dirt take the sting out of high mileage; boardwalk is flat and scenic but slick in the wet. If your shins or knees are complaining, the fix that actually works is varying the surface you run on rather than chasing one "best" one. More paved trails →
- Loop or out-and-back? 9 trails here are loops, so you finish back at the car with no backtracking — the easiest way to run a set distance without thinking about it. On an out-and-back you turn round at half your target distance, which makes any trail fit any run. The longest stated distance in Richmond is Virginia Capital Trail Richmond Trailhead at 52 mi. 1 trail is long enough for a 5-mile-plus run without repeating yourself.
- Check the hours before a 6am run. 3 trails in Richmond are open 24 hours — the rest can sit inside a park that gates at dusk and doesn't unlock until well after sunrise. 17 of the 21 listings carry posted opening hours — worth a look before you set an alarm. 1 is lit, which is what you want for winter evenings.
- Long run? Check water and restrooms first. 14 have trailhead parking, 7 have restrooms, and 2 have a water fountain in Richmond. Anything over an hour and those stop being nice-to-haves — and in summer, shade counts double.
- The small things that decide it. 5 shaded, 6 with mile markers, 7 that runners describe as quiet, 11 dog-friendly, and 3 smooth and wide enough for a stroller or a wheelchair. Busy or quiet isn't a good-or-bad thing here: a busy path is the safer choice for a solo run at dawn, a quiet one is better for intervals.
More on all of this in the trail-running guides.
Browse Richmond trails by type
- Paved trails
- Natural surface trails
- Crushed gravel trails
- Mixed trails
- Loop trails
- Long-run trails (5+ mi)
- Shaded trails
- Lit for early & night runs
- Flat & fast
- Hilly trails
- Scenic trails
- Trails with restrooms
- Trails with water fountains
- Trailhead parking
- Trails with mile markers
- Quiet, uncrowded trails
- Dog-friendly
- Stroller & wheelchair-accessible
Running trails near Richmond
Worth the short drive — the closest towns with trails in the directory.