Pets allowed
Allowed
Guided tours
No
Backcountry camping
No
Lodging
No
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Established in 1946, Pocahontas State Park is the largest state park in Virginia. It is known for its top-of-the-line mountain bike trails and its three lakes and large pool with waterslides. Located 20 minutes south of Richmond, Pocahontas State Park is the perfect place for a post-work mountain bike ride or weekend day trip.

Pocahontas State Park has some of the best mountain bike trails in the central Virginia area. The park has over 25 miles of mountain biking trails, which are broken up into three trail systems.

The Morgan trail system was first built in the 1990s and was the original trail system in the park. These 9.5 miles of trails are located on the park's western boundary. The rocky and root-ridden single track is known for its twists and sharps turns.

The Lakeview trails are another 12 miles of intermediate trails located on the southern banks of Swift Creek Lake. These trails have long rolling lines with a rough ride. Here riders get spectacular views of the lake from the trail.

The latest and most popular trail system in the park is Swift Creek. Built in 2015, this trail system is located on the north side of the park and can be accessed by a parking lot off Courthouse Road. These flowing trails are wide and smooth with plenty of jumps, banked turns, and other creative trail features. The 7 miles of trails encompassed in this section give opportunities for both beginners and experts to enjoy themselves. Gateway Trails 1 and 2, as well as Blueberry Hill Trail, are hand cycle accessible.  

From the main park entrance, visitors can access the pool and lake area. The three lakes in the park have ample opportunity for fishing and boating. The park rents stand-up paddleboards, paddleboats, canoes, kayaks, and row boats. There is a small boat ramp for visitors bringing their own watercraft. Gas-power motors are prohibited in the park. Volleyball courts and horseshoe pits are located near the lake parking area.

Swimmers can enjoy the large pool area, which includes a playground and several waterslides. Pool access costs an additional $5 for children and $6 for adults. Outside of the pool area, there is a snack bar, restrooms, and a picnic area with charcoal grills. Large picnic shelters can be rented from the park office.

Pocahontas State Park Campground is located inside the park and contains over 120 sites including yurts and cabins. The park also has a large amphitheater that can hold up to 2,000 people. It hosts large concerts and other events. These concerts and other park events can be found at the Virginia State Parks website.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Summer
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

State Park Fee

Pros

Huge mountain biking trail complex. Water activities. Family friendly.

Cons

Multiple entrances to mountain bike trails can get confusing.

Features

Flushing toilets
Boat ramp(s)
Mountain biking
Bicycling
Potable water
Picnic tables
Covered picnic areas
Volleyball
Horseshoes
Marina
Fishing
Playground

Location

Nearby Adventures

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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