Mountain  Bike Trail Conditions

Trail conditions are based on available regional weather data as a service to help riders decide whether to head for the trails.  Mountain biking is an inherently hazardous activity and individual trails may include muddy or slippery sections or other difficult obstacles at any time.

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FOPSP Calendar

Join our MeetUp Group and Get Event Alterts

Richmond Regional Ride Center

FOPSP and Richmond MORE are partnering with The Virginia Association for Parks, the DCR and the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) to build the Pocahontas leg of a massive new Ride Center in the Richmond region.
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Invasive Species Control Update

Ben Hedges and the Invasive Species task force (IVSquad) are continuing to clear the Wisteria patch.  There is still an acre to do, and it's good exercise if you have a New Year's resolution to fulfill.  This work is ideal for students of all ages who are looking for service projects.  It can be scheduled flexibly and can accommodate teams from 2-3 up to 20 to 30.  If you have a student interested in this service project or any others at the park, please contact us for more information.

Pocahontas Ride Video

"Lifting & Tilting"

IMBA's Doug Vinson recently explained the science behind our new trails.  His description makes clear how fortunate we are to have IMBA on site.  

"A lot of the modern, bike optimized trail that we build is done by what we refer to as "lifting and tilting". This is especially necessary on flat terrain to provide for drainage and a fun experience by cambering the trail tread. When we design the trail, we place pin flags in the ground where we envision the trail being. We also pin flag individual low spots and high spots in the terrain. The low spots become drains, this is where we borrow dirt. The higher spots usually become some sort of feature, be it a banked turn or a rise known as a roller.

First we scrape all organic materials off of the trail alignment with the skid steer. Then we dig holes 8-10 feet wide and 4 to 5 feet deep with the excavator in the low spots. We do this to get to the good, clay loam soil. This clay loam is placed on the trail alignment, all in one smooth action with the excavator. The skid steer comes back and shapes and spreads the soil. The hole the excavator dug is shaped to appear more natural looking, then filled with the spoils-all the organic matter that got scraped off. This leaves a shallow depression. The trail in the immediate area is shaped in such a way that rainfall will drain into the depression, and not stay on the trail."

Leave Your Mark on the Park!

Construction of more than 20 miles of new mountain biking trails as part of the Richmond Regional Ride Center project is underway. This creates an unprecedented opportunity to leave your mark on the Park!

Between September 1 and the end of 2014, we will be holding 14 trail work days.  You can leave your mark by volunteering, by organizing your company or service group to volunteer for a whole day, or by sponsoring trail construction by donating directly to the Richmond Regional Ride Center.

To sign up and volunteer please visit our meetup site.  
If you can't make to one of the events, you can still leave your mark by donating to the Ride Center project.

Monty McNeil Launches a new Platform for Scouts

Long time volunteer and Scouter Monty McNeill is taking Eagle Scout project opportunities to the next level by providing a single contact point for Park-related projects.  Monty and his team have created a complete list of opportunities for Scouts to consider and the Friends of Pocahontas are backing him up with funds for materials and equipment to help Scouts be at their best.

Already we've had Scouts work on trail features, build benches, add bike racks, design information kiosks and more!

If you have an Eagle Scout who is interested in one or more of these projects, please contact us here.

Here's the list:

  1. Design and build an event cart to be used by FOPSP to support group awareness, fund raising activities at concerts, athletic and other park events.
  2. Replace wooden trail features” on Morgan and Lake View Trails.
  3. Skills Area with Pump Track near Morgan or LV. (2 projects i.e. pump and skill)
  4. Tool Stands –  Post kiosk with information on simple repair and bike safety checks. Few key tools and a pump on a cable for users to use. Position these on MTB trailheads and on other gravel trailheads.
  5. Develop a map and list of the “Best of Pocahontas” to guide cyclists and hikers to scenic areas, cemeteries, rock outcroppings, unique natural features or fauna. Include emphasis on preserving these features along with education.
  6. Do interpretive work on the trails; add signs for plant species and locations for bird /animal watching with information kiosk on what to look for. 
  7. Develop virtual geocache trail for identifying trees, plants and mineral out cropping’s on a trail system. Nature center and or Website based guide for geocache trail park user access.
  8. Species map for hikers and bikers to identify the park locations for best viewing each species. Nature center and or Website based guide for park user access.
  9. Species identification kiosks on Beaver lake trail at key lookout points.
  10. Create a fishing guide map to include information to increase success, how to target species, species in the lake and how to identify, tackle tips and lake map with topography to show water depth.. Nature center and or Website based guide for fishermen access. Alternative is a large kiosk at Swift Creek boat launch.
  11. Create map identifying recommended routes/loops for running distances of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30K loops. Create special trail identification symbols on trail to keep runners on track. Include kiosk specifically for running and this information at primary trail head.
  12. Rainfall monitoring station with real time accurate rainfall data that sends data to FOPSP website for updating trail conditions.
  13. Conduct a park trail use study including the use of counters to establish use patterns and data for park staff to utilize for future.
  14. Rain fed horse trough system at suitable points on horse trails.
  15. Signage advising hikers and bikers of equestrian trail use how to respond to equestrians. Keep all trail users safe during encounter between equestrian, hiker and biker.
  16. Rock armoring/hardening of a specific trail loop. LV1, LV2, LV3 Green, Blue, Red and Double Red. Possibly 7 projects.
  17. Develop and build enhanced trail features with sustainable features on specific trail loop. LV1, LV2, LV3 Green, Blue, Red and Double Red. Include signage to help riders accomplish the feature successfully. For the Green and LV1 trail focus on beginner friendly trail features, wide/low teeter totter for example. Possibly 7 projects. 
  18. Develop the garbage dump trail, clean it up. Develop a trail extension that enhances user experience, safety and sustainable.