James River State Park, Gladstone, VA (Buckingham County)

ABOUT THE PARK:  James River State Park - Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 37.623840, -78.799675

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See bottom of post for trail access parking areas if not staying in cabins.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

The cabins at this park are excellent and most importantly for me, are pet-friendly!  I stayed in Cabin 8.  Click here for more information on cabin rentals.

TRAIL MAP: James River State Park Trail Guide

HIKE DISTANCE:
James River State Park - 7.75 miles

Other hikes from base camp at James River State Park:

• Apple Orchard Falls - Jefferson National Forest - 5.6 miles
• Apple Orchard Mountain - Blue Ridge Parkway/Jefferson National Forest - 4.25 miles
• Appomattox Court House - National Park Service - 6 miles
• Cold (or Cole) Mountain - Mount Pleasant Scenic Area - 5.8 miles
• Flat Top - Peaks of Otter, Blue Ridge Parkway - 5.65 miles
• Holliday Lake State Park - Virginia State Parks - 5.2 miles
• Mt. Pleasant Loop - Mount Pleasant Scenic Area - 6.15 miles
• Sharp Top - Peaks of Otter, Blue Ridge Parkway - 3 miles

Hikes along the drive from New Jersey to Virginia and back:

• Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland - National Park Service - 8 miles
• Big Schloss, George Washington National Forest Wolf Gap, Virginia -4.4 miles

HIKE DESCRIPTION:
This 7.75 mile hike forms a loop around the entire park.  The official way to access the Taylor Trail from the cabins is from Cabin Road just beyond where the circle comes together, before the trash dumpsters, where the trail crosses Cabin Road.  The unofficial way is from between cabins 5 and 6 where you can see a faint trail from where others have accessed that way.   This trail brings you down to James River for a very scenic hike along the river.  (For those not staying in cabins, see the hike summary below for parking options along this hike.)

The River Trail ends at Dixon Landing where you walk up the road a short distance to pick up the Dixon Landing Overlook Trail next to Picnic Shelter 6.

There is a bench at Dixon Landing Overlook but the view is obstructed by trees.  Not to worry, the best is yet to come so continue on to the Tye River Overlook.

The hike now continues on to Branch Pond where a short distance off of the trail you can find a nice break spot with picnic areas and restrooms.

You'll cross Park Road at the park office on your way back to the cabins.

An old fence along the Taylor Trail marks an "unofficial" trail which comes out behind Cabin 6.

HIKE DETAILS:
These details are outlined starting from the cabins.  There is no public parking in the cabin area so I have noted where this hike can be started from public parking along the way.
[  0.00]  Find unofficial path between cabins 5 and 6 to Taylor Trail; left on Taylor Trail
[  0.20]  Right at fork towards Cabell Trail
[  0.35]  Turn right at unmarked intersection
[  0.50]  Cross bridge; turn left on blue River Trail at intersection when Cabell Tail goes to the right and a trail goes straight
[  1.25]  Turn left on River Trail when Cabell Trail goes right; after few steps turn left on River Trail when Cabell Trail goes right; cross bridge
[  1.35]  Keep to the right of the picnic area to continue on the River Trail
[  1.50]  Cross bridge
[  1.60]  Cross bridge
[  1.75]  Dixon Landing; turn right and walk along road briefly to Picnic Shelter 6
[  1.90]  Turn left on Dixon Landing Overlook Trail to the right of Picnic Shelter 6
[  2.00]  Bench at top of hill marks seasonal overlook; continue straight
[  2.20]  At gravel road which is the Cabell Trail (no sign) turn left
[  2.70]  Turn left through gate to Tye River Overlook
[  2.80]  Tye River Overlook; retrace steps
[  2.90]  Continue left on gravel road Cabell Trail (no sign)
[  3.00]  At clearing covered with gravel, Cabell Trail turns right on woods road (orange Cabell Trail sign straight ahead at clearing)
[  3.20]  At intersection Cabell Trail turns right, unmarked trail not on map goes left, keep straight on green connector trail; few steps ahead at fork keep left on green Branch Trail
[  3.50]  Branch Pond on the right, continue straight steeply uphill on tree root surface
[  3.75]  For restrooms or picnic area for break, turn right across bridge; otherwise keep straight

FOR PARKING AT BRANCH POND ROAD START AT 

GREEN BRANCH POND TRAIL ON RIGHT OPPOSITE RESTROOMS;

TURN RIGHT AFTER CROSSING BRIDGE

[  4.50]  Trail with intermittent green painted blazes continues through clearing
[  4.65]  Keep left at fork
[  4.85]  At intersection turn left on yellow/green-blazed trail
[  4.90]  Cross over paved Park Road with park office to the right
[  5.00]  At intersection turn left on yellow Running Creek Trail (unmarked - blazes will be painted on trees short distance ahead) where it also goes straight
[  5.40]  At barrier trail turns right and goes downhill
[  5.55]  Cross over bridge
[  5.70]  Turn left on Running Creek Trail when Running Creek Trail Short Loop goes right
[  5.80]  Cross over bridge
[  6.20]  At bottom of switchback jog left briefly then turn right and cross two bridges (yellow blazes on trees); cross paved Canoe Landing Road; parking lot and info board to the right of the trail

FOR PARKING AT CANOE LANDING ROAD

START AT YELLOW RUNNING CREEK TRAIL TO LEFT OF PARKING LOT

[  6.40]  Stay right on the Running Creek Trail when the River trail goes left if returning to cabins

LEFT ON RIVER TRAIL IF PARKED AT LOTS 

AND CONTINUE LOOP BACK TO WHERE YOU PARKED

[  6.45]  At fork keep left; overgrown trail to right; at fork at Taylor Trail sign, keep right
[  6.90]  At intersection keep straight as the trail to the Cabell Trail makes sharp left
[  6.95]  Left at old piece of fence on unofficial trail to cabins; follow treeline behind Cabin 6
[  7.00]  Arrive back at cabin road

PARKING AT BRANCH POND ROAD:  Turn right on Branch Pond Road from Park Road beyond the park office.

PARKING AT CANOE LANDING ROAD:  Turn left on Canoe Landing Road from Park Road after passing Branch Pond Road on the right.