This information describes the various sections of the Rivanna Trail that circumnavigate the City of Charlottesville. Trail sections are described in counterclockwise order. (length, cumulative mileage from mile 0, description of footing)

Woolen Mills to Riverview Park

(.41 miles, mile 0 is at railroad trestle, moderate)
Mile 0 is at the railroad trestle. Follow the sandy trail from Moore’s Creek to the Woolen Mills dam, climb up to East Market St., turn right, and do a short road walk past historic mill buildings. Turn right at Riverside Ave., and turn right again into Riverview Park.

Riverview Park to Route 250 at Free Bridge
(1.48 miles, 1.89 from mile 0, easy)
As you follow the trail that hugs the bank of the Rivanna River, watch for the many birds that inhabit the park’s fields and forests. After exiting the fields, continue along the river’s edge. A spur trail (.39 miles) makes possible a loop hike within the park.

Route 250 at Free Bridge to Holmes Ave.

(1.64 miles, 3.53 from mile 0, moderate)

Enjoy rewarding views of the Rivanna River as the trail winds through a valuable strip of buffer vegetation. Look for a roadwalk section of the trail. Side trails near the mouth of Meadow Creek pass through an Osage orange grove and pines. Parking is available at the VFW trailhead on River Rd.

Holmes Ave. to Park St.

(.59 miles, 4.12 from mile 0, moderate)
Enjoy the sounds and wildlife of Meadow Creek as you pass through forest thick with ferns and wildflowers.

Park St. to the Norfolk-Southern RR underpass

(1.12 miles, 5.25 from mile 0, moderate)
Rock hop across small Schenk’s Branch, switchback up a short hill, walk a short distance along an old road bed, and turn left to return into deep forest. Look for the erosion cuts in the banks of Meadow Creek, and watch for the many birds that make this a favorite trail of birders. Near the RR underpass you may pick up the Melbourne Rd. spur trail (.75 miles) to do a loop hike.

Norfolk-Southern RR to Greenbrier/Brandywine Drives(.64 miles, 5.88 from mile 0, easy)
Follow the twisty trail through marsh and forest. The trail widens to become an easy path shaded by mature boxelders and sycamores.

Greenbrier/Brandywine Drives to Hydraulic Rd.
(1.07 miles, 6.95 from mile 0, moderate)
Cross Meadow Creek on stepping stones and meander through a quiet forest of hickory, oak, and tulip poplar. Several areas can be slippery after rains, but your reward is an abundance of ferns, ground cedar, and spicebush. The Senior Center spur (.25 miles) trailhead is on Greenbrier Dr. near the Senior Center.

Hydraulic Rd. to Emmet St. (Rte. 29)

(.62 miles, 7.57 from mile 0, moderate)
Walk upstream beside Meadow Creek as it makes its way under two major roadways. Continue through forest that has grown up on the site of the Old Fairgrounds. Turn right onto Morton Dr. Cross Emmet Street at the pedestrian controlled crosswalk signal.

Barracks Rd. to Old Ivy Rd.

(1.74 miles, 9.70 from mile 0, moderate)
Walk along small streams that form the headwaters of Meadow Creek. Start amid hackberries and ferns, walk past the foundation of the county’s 1806 Poor House, and wander through mountain laurel and chestnut oaks. Cross the North Grounds connector road at the marked crosswalk and proceed through the woods to the first of two large fields. The edge effect of field, pond, and forest makes this pond dependable for wildlife sightings

Ivy Rd. to Fontaine Ave.

(1.88 miles, 11.72 from mile 0, moderate)

Start in pines. Hike the west side of Observatory Hill through pine, tulip poplar, chestnut oak, and hickory. Ferns and ground cedar carpet the understory, and deer are prevalent.

Fontaine Ave. to Stribling Ave.

(.59 miles, 12.31 from mile 0, moderate)
Walk on a carpet of soft pine needles, cross a fence stile, follow road across bridge, and turn left to enter the floodplains of Morey Creek. Look for warblers and a resident beaver. Cross the creek again, this time on stepping stones. The Dept. of Forestry’s Nature Trail spur (1 mile) contains several trees unusual to VA, remains of a 1930′s tree nursery.

Azalea Park to 5th St.

(.87 miles, 14.54 from mile 0, moderate)

Look for plentiful wildlife at all times of year in the park’s newly planted buffer vegetation. Cross Moore’s Creek on stepping stones, and follow the creekside trail through spicebush and a black walnut grove.

5th St. Ext’d to Jordan Park

(proposed, difficult)
Enjoy a thin sliver of wild forest near the confluence of Moore’s Creek and Biscuit Run. Turn left away from the creek, then right to do a short road walk on 5th St. Turn right again onto an old dirt road just north of Rock Creek. A little before Jordan Park look for a side trail to the left that leads to an extraordinary wetland habitat.

Jordan Park to Quarry Park
(1.07 miles, 17.91 from mile 0, moderate)
Meander through a young forest filled with birds and other wildlife. Climb a long gentle hill through pines to high bluffs overlooking Moore’s Creek and an old quarry.

Quarry Park to the Woolen Mills(1.64 miles, 19.55 from mile 0, difficult)
The trail hugs Moore’s Creek as it makes its way to the Rivanna River. Be prepared to scramble over rocks, trample through sand, and see a variety of wildlife, exposed rock cliffs, the livestock market, and historic mill buildings. We plan to build a footcrossing of Moore’s Creek near the old Woolen Mills.