Buttermilk Trail

Hiking The Buttermilk Trail

There are a few entrances to the Buttermilk Trail in the James River Park System. This image is the 42nd Street entrance off of Riverside Dr. in Richmond, Virginia.

Up or Down the Trail

There are stone steps that one can take to a lower elevation of the Buttermilk Trail in the James River Park System. On this day as I descended the steps down the trees reflected fall foliage.

Autumn on The River Bed Trail

Autumn colors and afternoon sun along Reedy Creek, and plenty of fallen leaves in the river bed trail that runs parallel to the Buttermilk Trail creates a scenic location in the James River Park System in Richmond, Virginia.

Spilling Over

There are times when this area of the river along the Reedy Creek Trail are dry. On this day while exploring, the James River spilled over this portion of the Belle Isle dam in the James River Park System in Richmond, Virginia

The Dry Rocks

The Dry Rocks in the James River along the Buttermilk Trail is a favorite location where people sunbath or have cookouts when the river is low. The Dry Rocks lead to the only access bridge from south of the river to Belle Isle in Richmond, Virginia

Fall Reflections

Glass Reflections

Hiking the Reedy Creek Trail, you will see the old Belle Isle Dam. The Belle Isle Dam extends from the south side of Belle Isle to Reedy Creek Trail. If the James River is high you will see the river flowing over this low portion of the dam. On this fall afternoon, the calm river flowed over the dam creating a glass like reflection.

Access Bridge to Bell Isle

Biking The Buttermilk Trail

There is a wooden access bridge on the south side where one can walk or bike to Belle Isle in the James River Park System in Richmond, Virginia. This bridge is the only vehicle access to Belle Isle and is used by emergency vehicles and park staff.

Forest Hill Reflections

Forest Hill Park is a location with trails that connect the trails in the James River Park System. The Forest Hill trail loop is accessible from Reedy Creek. The Forest Hill Park Trail is 3.2 miles, and at times people combine the Buttermilk Trail with the trail in Forest Hill Park, in Richmond, Virginia