Swift Creek Beginner Loop

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

The 7 miles of newly built trail at Pocahontas was designed with beginners and hand cycles in mind. Richmond already had miles of technical singletrack and more primitive trail at Pocahontas Morgan and Lakeview Trails. However, this loop is completely different with rollers and berms. At speed, it can be a challenge for fast, fit riders.

Scout all jumps before hitting them. Wear a helmet. Dropper post is recommend.

From the trailhead, ride up the access road to access the Gateway trails, Virginia's premier handicap accessible mountain bike trails, navigable by hand cycles and recumbents.. You can ride them in whichever order you'd like, but this ride accesses Gateway 1 first. Gateway 1 is a great attraction for all on a relatively level area of the park, rollers, banks, and optional features have been built into an extra-wide tread. There is a skinny buried at grade for those still learning to hold their line, and a couple optional ones for two-wheelers that are trying to master it.

After you've finished both Gateway Loops, look for the entrance to Bell Lap which is a nice downhill flow trail that can be sessioned again and again via singletrack or fire road climbs. This is a one-way circuit trail that treats you with a nice downhill to a tiny section of fire road at the bottom. After the fire road, bear right back onto singletrack which climbs back toward the Blueberry Hill trailhead. This is a nice, easy climb through hardwoods and a few pines. It climbs for one mile at a nice gentle grade. If you are fit, it could be ridden quickly and you might find a jump on the way up, or a TTF or two...

At the bottom of Bell Lap, climb to the top and make a left on the Blueberry Hill loop. Please use caution as trail intersects popular walking trails and Forest Roads, but don't miss this gem. The jumps really uncork the gravity just below the Forest Exploration crossing which is a convenient spot to rest and hydrate if need be since there is a bench right there (actually on Forest Exploration Trail). This is how lift and tilt is done! Watch for turtles on the trail...they seem to love it here. A skinny is in the plans.

Once you've finished Blueberry Hill, follow the access trail back to the trailhead, or add some more laps of your choosing!