Find the top rated birding trails in Waynesboro, whether you're looking for an easy short birding trail or a long birding trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a birding trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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This trail has enough to keep you interested. It is easy, and long enough for an afternoon. Was well worth the trip down from Charlottesville. Plan to return.
I confess. I liked it as city river trails go. It's varied. Look at its map and you'll see a reclining squid with arms going on both sides of the river and even down the middle of an island in the river. It helps to learn the various names of the legs so you'll have a clue as to where the heck you are. There are high legs, low legs, jungle legs, urban legs, tunnel legs, bowed legs and unshaven legs. Something for every leg man.
For a person just starting out, this was a great way to get some miles in without killing my knees on hills. Very pretty. VERY FLAT!!
The longest non-road paved section is at Riverview park at 2.1 miles. It is level. Beyond that you will need mountain bike or go on streets.
We started at the Lexington end and the first part of the trail up to the first cow pasture was great—well maintained and highly trafficked with joggers and walkers. The cows were crowding the first gate, which meant a lot of poop. It was impossible to ride or walk the bikes and successfully navigate all the patties. The section of trail that follows the road is uphill traveling east, then a steep downhill gravel path to the trail. We made it a short way beyond the second cow pasture on the other side of rt. 631 when we encountered a mama bear and two cubs on the side of the trail. We rode close enough to determine it wasn’t cows or dogs, but far enough that we were able to turn around and speed back toward the gates. Appa Turn around and sp
Flat, easy, and wear a swimsuit! The river is beautiful and begs for a swim. Note: there’s been some trail maintenance in the first mile (probably related to 6 weeks of rain), and the gravel is a bit deep in some sections. We have hybrids and were fine, just required a little attention.
Nice wide paved trail but short with too many traffic lights. At least 5 lights. Entrance is not well marked. We parked in the McIntire park, close to the YMCA, which had a very hidden path entrance behind the picnic pavilion across from the sports field, which actually led us to the high school. Then we rode down the hill on the sidewalk which finally landed us on the trail. A better place to park might be at the north end, at the Covenant Church of God, 1025 Rio Rd E, Charlottesville, VA 22901 which is near and Exxon if you need drinks or snacks. Runkeeper said it’s 2 miles from end to end, starting at Covenant Church to the end at someone’s driveway along Rt 250, across from the Memorial on the corner.
Nice nearly flat trail along the Piney River. Simple out and back for those that want an easy workout or have children and don't want to deal with crowds. Secluded and easy to navigate. I recommend for those that are nearby.
I drove here from Culpeper VA. Not sure I would go this distance for this ride again, but it was a good day for the wife and I to get some miles in the legs early in the season.
We started in Riverview Park and had a nice ride north for 2 miles then the trail turned to a path that you needed a mountain bike to navigate, so disappointed we returned to our car. We were excited to read about a trail around Charlottsville but very disappointed to learn that it wasn't a reality.
This trail is very nice and honestly i don't understand why everyone is complaining. The cows don't care about you for the most part and even if they do they are just being curious. The Chessie trail doesn't own that farm and has no say as to what the farmer cares to keep in his field. The trail has also been made more bike accessible with small, person and bike sized gates so you don't have to lift bikes anymore.
For a couple of years now the Friends Of The Chessie Trail have been installing pedestrian/bike gates next to the large farm gates that were often difficult or impossible to open. The last pedestrian gate was recently installed on the Buena Vista end of the trail, and now you can bike from one end to the other without having to lift your bike over a gate.
There are still a couple of places where you will have to exercise care or dismount to go around one of the large gates. Those gates are at the Buena Vista trailhead and and at the South River. VMI has plans to replace those gates with bollards which will allow easy passage by pedestrians and cyclists. Hopefully we'll see action on this soon.
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