(804) 796-4255
10301 State Park RdChesterfield, VA 23832
Latitude: 37.373973
Longitude: -77.571782
Just 20 miles from downtown Richmond, the capital of Virginia, Pocahontas State Park has been one of the more popular parks in the state park system. Swift Creek forms the nucleus of the park, which is centered in a wildlife management area.Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), this was the first recreational park in the Richmond-Petersburg-Hopewell area. The National Park Service donated the facility to Virginia State Parks in 1946, making it the largest Virginia state parks with more than 7,600 acres and two small lakes. The area was renamed Pocahontas State Park and Pocahontas State Forest and was operated under a cooperative management arrangement with the Department of Forestry. In 1989 a new master plan, funded jointly by the Commonwealth of Virginia and Chesterfield County, called for expansion of park facilities to accommodate the large urban population surrounding the park.
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Beaver Lake Trail
The Beaver Lake Trail is a 2.5 mile, moderate difficulty hiking trail that is accessible near the CCC museum. The trail is an interesting tour that closely follows the shoreline of Beaver Lake. The trail features shady overlooks of the lake and minimal elevation change. The moderate difficulty rating comes primarily from a few sections where exposed tree roots cross the path, forming obstructions to the unwary traveler. Roughly half way around the lake, an old mill site is visible. Several boardwalks and overlooks provide ample views of the lake and wetlands, where signs of beaver activity may be spotted. From the Beaver Lake Trail, hikers may access the Third Branch Trail and the Ground Pine Trail.
Blaze Color: Blue
- Length: 2.5
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Surface: Earth, Roots, Gravel, Boardwalks
Blue Trail
Blue Trail is an approximately 3 mile moderate trail by mountain biking standards. It takes users through a similar environment to that of the Green Trail but experiences more inclines and declines as well as more obstacles such as dips, logs and rocks to navigate over, around, and through. This trail is accessible from the Old Mill Bicycle Trail near the Qualla lot trail access or from another point on the Old Mill Bicycle Trail slightly east.
Blaze Color: Blue
- Length: 3
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Surface: Earth, Dips, Logs and Rocks
Bright Hope Trail
The Bright Hope Trail is perhaps one of Pocahontas State Park’s best kept secrets. This 5.23 mile, moderate difficulty trail is in the quiet and remote portion of the park located south of Beach Road SR 655. The trail is a multi-use loop for hikers, bikers and horseback riders through the wooded, and otherwise undeveloped, area of the park. While using this trail it is easy to forget that you are within minutes of some of Virginia’s most populated areas.
- Length: 5.23
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Surface: Natural
Fendley Station Trail
The Fendley Station Trail is an extensive, moderate difficulty, 14 mile loop of connected trails with additional loops to explore. The trail incorporates portions of the Old Mill Bicycle Trail and connects to many other trails in the park. This trail circumnavigates the entire portion of the park north of State Route 655. For most of its length the Fendley Station Trail passes through mixed hardwood forest and some of the more remote park areas. Hikers should be well prepared and take along plenty of water if hiking these outlying portions of the trail.
Blaze Color: Brown
- Length: 13.71
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Surface: Gravel, Earth
Fendley Station Trail Loop A
This loop trail is an extension of the Fendley Station Trail in the far, northeast corner of the park. The loop connects the main trail to Dean Fire Road 152 and Courthouse Road SR 604.
Blaze Color: Brown
- Length: 1.11
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Surface: Natural, Gravel
Fendley Station Trail, Loop B
This loop trail is an extension of the Fendley Station Trail along the northernmost section of the park, near Fire Road 120. The loop extends south into an otherwise undeveloped area of the park, climbing to an overlook of Swift Creek Lake.
Blaze Color: Brown
- Length: 0.9
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Surface: Natural, Gravel
Forest Exploration Trail
Forest Exploration Trail is a 2.5 mile, moderate difficulty, multi-use loop that is accessible by crossing the bridge over Swift Creek near the boat rental area. This trail takes users through the woods, passing a timber management project. The trail climbs through some slight changes in elevation and features some rest areas with benches along the way. The area has some nice overlooks of the lake and is an excellent location for observing the parks wildlife.
Blaze Color: Yellow