Rivanna Trail

Twenty miles of natural-surface trail encircle Charlottesville, built and maintained entirely by volunteers. The Rivanna Trails Foundation, supported by donations, started with a riverfront concept modeled after the San Antonio River Walk, then expanded the plan until it looped the entire city. The trail threads forested stream buffers, connects six city parks, and crosses private land whose owners opened their woods to the public path. Open dawn to dusk; dogs on leash. Parking at Riverview Park, eastern end of Chesapeake Street.