James River Park System

Take Me To The Water

The wooden boat ramp at Pony Pasture Park provides access for kayaks and stand up paddle boarding on the James River. Pony Pasture is located along Riverside Drive, in the James River Park System, in Richmond, Virginia

Early Morning Swim

The water fowl are out on the James River, along Pony Pasture Park. Pony Pasture is located in the James River Park Sytem, in Richmond, Virginia

Early Morning

Early morning light surrounds the small barrier island of trees in the James River near Brown's Island in Richmond, Virginia. The James River is calm in this stretch of the river known as the Falls of the James.

The Afternoon Coal Train

The CSX Coal train rumbles pass the Kanawha Canal , the North Bank Trail and the City of Richmond on an early autumn afternoon. One can see just a touch of fall foliage in the trees near the river, yet still plenty of green foliage remains as blue skies and white clouds hover over the downtown Richmond buildings.

Richmond On The James

Richmond is the Capital of Virginia and the James River runs north and south through the city. On this beautiful October day sun illuminated the city skyline viewed from Rocketts Landing

Blue Hour Reflections

The Richmond Virginia skyline is reflected in the James River. This stretch of the James River Park is part of the 7 mile stretch known as the Falls of The James. This is where the James River drops in altitude.

The Pump House

The Victorian Gothic Pump House was a source of Richmond drinking water. The Pump House is one of the locations of the James River Park System in Richmond, Virginia. The Pump House was built in 1881-1883 in a Victorian Gothic style. A group Friends of Pump House have taken on the task to renovate the Pump House

The River City Skyline

On the few last days of summer the evening sun light illuminates the Richmond, Virginia skyline along the James River Park System. This view is from the Lee Bridge, where one can see the Richmond, Virginia skyline and Mayo Island

Just One

Pony Pasture is one of the most popular swimming and sunbathing spots in the James River Park System. Pony Pasture is located off Riverside Drive in Richmond, Virginia. There are trails that offer views of the James River, trails for hiking, biking and bird watching. Pony Pasture is a popular location for photographers to capture sunrise's and sunsets. On this evening at sunset a lone blue heron takes a break on the rocks at Pony Pasture.

Fall Foliage at Pony Pasture

The trees along the north and south banks of the James River at Pony Pasture are displaying touches of fall foliage under blue skies. The James River is low along this area of Pony Pasture. This arear is portion of the Falls of The James, where the river drops 100 feet in altitude for a sever mile stretch. Pony Pasture is park in the James River Park System

Hello Summer

The Manchester Bridge at 9th street in downtown Richmond, Virginia has some of the most spectacular views of the James River, the Richmond skyline, Brown’s Island, the T.Tyler Potterfield Bridge, the Lee Bridge and the CSX viaduct railroad tract. The Manchester Bridge carries traffic from 9th street to Commerce Road in south Richmond, Virginia. In 2018 the Richmond BridgePark Foundation has proposed creating a portion of the bridge into a park for walking, biking, bird watching and running. On this hazy summer evening I was able to capture an image of the City of Richmond from the 20th floor balcony of the West Tower of Riverfront Plaza

The River City Blues

Richmond is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Virginia. On this Labor Day weekend the financial district is glowing with reflections in the James River, under a blue sky. The Richmond skyline has a new edition, the Dominion Energy Building at 600 Canal Place, that stands on with a blue glass facade. The James River is calm at this location of a 7-mile stretch known as the Falls of the James. The Falls of the James begins a 100 drops in altitude from Bosher Dam and ends at the Mayo Bridge. Here we see a panoramic view of the Richmond riverfront along the James River.

Blue Twilight

The October harvest moon is glowing over the Richmond city skyline, as viewed from the Lee Bridge. The James River is the largest river in Virginia, and the "Fall of the James" is the 7-mile stretch of the river where it drops more than 100 feet in altitude as it runs through Richmond, Virginia. This 7-mile stretch of the James River is near Bosher Dam and the waters around the 14th Street Bridge in downtown Richmond.

Blue Tones Over The River City

The James River is the largest river in Virginia, and the "Fall of the James" is the 7-mile stretch of the river where it drops more than 100 feet in altitude as it runs through Richmond, Virginia. This 7-mile stretch of the James River is near Bosher Dam and the waters around the 14th Street Bridge in downtown Richmond. Here is a view of the City of Richmond downtown skyline captured from the under the Manchester Bridge, where the James River is calm with reflections of the city buildings

Under The Manchester Bridge

Late September view of the City of Richmond skyline from under the Manchester Bridge in Richmond, Virginia

November On The River

The Richmond Virginia skyline on a warm November afternoon, viewed from the south banks of the James River. The James River is the largest river in Virginia, and the "Fall of the James" is the 7-mile stretch of the river where it drops more than 100 feet in altitude as it runs through Richmond, Virginia. This 7-mile stretch of the James River is near Bosher Dam and the waters around the 14th Street Bridge in downtown Richmond. Here is a view of the City of Richmond downtown skyline captured from the under the Manchester Bridge, where the James River is calm with reflections of the city buildings

Misty On The Z-Dam

Fog and mist lifts off the Z-Dam on the James River on an early fall morning. The Z-Dam is located along scenic Riverside Dr in James River Park System in Richmond, Virginia. The Z-Dam connects Williams Island to the Riverside Meadow parcel.

Blue Rush

The Z-Dam connects Williams Island to Riverside Meadow The Z-Dam is located along scenic Riverside Drive. One can observed bald eagles, otters, and the great blue herons in this area of the James River Park System. Any day one can see kayakers navigating the river along the Z-Dam.

Light Around The Curve

Early morning along the Pony Pasture Trail in the James River Park System. The sun has just appeared and one can see the warm light near the end of this hiking trail. Pony Pasture is located in Richmond, Virginia

Reflections At Huguenot Flatwater

Early autumn reflections at Huguenot Flatwater. Huguenot Flatwater is located along Riverside Drive, just west of the Huguenot Bridge. The James River is calm, flat and offers beautiful reflections.

Canoeing on The James

Huguenot Flatwater is a quieter part of the James River Park System. The James River waters are calm. There are steps that allow access to the river, where one can canoe, and enjoy water sports.

Paddling On The James River

On this spring afternoon people are paddling their canoes on the James River along Huguenot Flatwater. This stretch of the river is also the Falls of the James, where the river is calm and low.

River Grasses

The green grass on the James River at Pony Pasture have a hint of yellow, indicating the change of fall foliage.

Sunset at Huguenot Flatwater

Huguenot Flatwater is a part of the James River Park System located along Riverside Drive in Richmond, Virginia.

Winter Along Huguenot Flatwater

On most days the James River along Huguenot Flatwater is calm and reflective. On this winter evening as the sun goes down the James River has ripples from days of rain in Richmond, Virginia

Fall Reflections at The Quarry

Traces of autumn are reflected in the waters of the Belle Isle Quarry, on Belle Isle in the James River Park System in Richmond, Virginia The Belle Isle Quarry is also part of the James River Park System. During the Civil War workers mistakenly opened a crack in stone that lead to the James River, and the quarry was filled with water. The rock quarry is now 19-feet deep with stone cliffs behind it. On a calm day the reflection of the trees and rocks is strikingly beautiful. One can reach the Belle Isle Quarry via the pedestrian suspension bridge under the Lee Bridge, or via the wooden walk bridge near W. 22nd St. The first time I saw the quarry it was dry with a swampy effect. After a bit of research I learned how the level of the nearby James River affects the level of water in the Belle Isle Quarry. Last fall we crossed the river via the pedestrian bridge and hiked around Belle Isle only to find the quarry calm and filled with water offering mirrored reflections

Bare Reflections

Fall foliage is reflected in the Kanawha Canal at the Great Shiplock Park in Richmond, Virginia. The Great Shiplock park is the western trailhead for the 52 mile Virginia Capital Trail.

Old Locks

The lock at Great Shiplock Park was built in the 1850's. It connected the James River with the Richmond Dock, completing the Kanawha Canal System. This lock allowed boats to bypassed 7 miles of the Falls of the James. This historic lock was built in the 1850's. One can now see Rocketts Landing in Richmond, Virginia from this location