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Buttermilk Mountain Bike Trail
Richmond, Virginia
MTB TRAIL STATS
Avg Rating:   |
21 trail reviews |
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Status: updated 5/4/08 by westjw2 |
Difficulty:  Advanced |
| Length: 5 miles | Global Rank: #387 |
| Tread: Singletrack | Configuration: Other |
| Ridden: 119 | Wishlist: 51 |
| Avg. Speed: 6.61 mph | Avg. Time: 0hr 45min |
| Elevation Gain/Loss: +804/-1,444 ft (based on partial GPS data) |
Directions:
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Description: A very nicely developed trail located right in the middle of a fairly large city (that would be Richmond). Tight and inermediate to difficult single track that was pretty much hand built by some great volunteers. The sculpting (strange word, but it seems to fit) of this trail is perfect. Nothing is impossible but much of it is really hard. Great scenery. No really long climbs though. It is good to connect this with a trip to Belle Isle.
Description: A very nicely developed trail located right in the middle of a fairly large city (that would be Richmond). Tight and inermediate to difficult single track that was pretty much hand built by some great volunteers. The sculpting (strange word, but it seems to fit) of this trail is perfect. Nothing is impossible but much of it is really hard. Great scenery. No really long climbs though. It is good to connect this with a trip to Belle Isle.
added on April 2, 2004 by 
SIMILAR TRAILS
Riders who liked this mountain bike trail also liked:Northbank Trail in Richmond
Pocahantos State Park in Richmond
Douthat State Park in Millboro
Forest Hill Park in Richmond
TRAIL REVIEWS review this trail
reviewed by mallonation on January 18, 2012
Nice ride linked with the Northbank trail and the bridges over the James, the whole loop is fantastic. With a little bit of everything, even a neighborhood and that suspended city walkway with a ton of pedestrians, its good and tough and worth the hiccups. I haven't found a way to avoid the stairs/footbridge to get over the RR tracks, but who cares
* Review edited 1/18/2012
reviewed by trnsprt on January 8, 2012
Great trail. X-Country style fun. Hard packed and fast. Nicely maintained. Many trail users, use caution. Really excellent ride that I would not miss if I were going to be in the area. I linked it up with Belle Isle, Forest Hill Park and got about 12.5 miles out of it on one loop. Lots of exploring at Belle Isle and Forest Hill Park, Could probably cut out 2 miles of going over the same thing twice with some experience. Trail will rate very difficult because of some of the features but this is an intermediate trail and could be ridden by beginners if they are careful and walk around the few tough areas. Not too much climbing, more of a roller coaster. Very fun. Great asset to Richmond. Thanks Richmond folks. You have done us all a huge favor by keeping this trail in great shape. Other activities, climbing, canoeing/kayaking, running, hiking, walking. Great multi-use area. A little wider than strict single track in a few areas but very much worth it. Very well built and maintained. Not as consistently rooty as Northern VA trails.
Similar Trail: Priddy Creek.
reviewed by Msooch on September 22, 2011
Best trail ive ridden. Very well ridden in and Perfectly maintained. lots of flowing singletrack with all kinds of rocks, roots, climbs, descents, cliffsides, etc. Overall, extremely fun trail. id recommend it to everyone except beginners. its a bit hard for inexperienced riders. Also, ride along with Forest Hill Park, and Northbank. All of it together makes for a great, about 10 mile, loop
Similar Trail: northbank trail
reviewed by downhillbiker on June 24, 2011
I don't know why it took me so long to do the entire North Bank/Buttermilk loop, but I am awfully glad I did. This trail system is the best maintained that I have seen, and offers more technical challenges (AKA rocks) than I have experienced. However, it's still has a great flow to it. I would certainly recommend riding it clockwise.
Similar Trail: Pocahontas State Park
reviewed by inatree on June 18, 2011
Techy, rocky, awesomeness. Just watch out for other trail users! Single-speed friendly (particularly if you ride down-river on the buttermilk & up-river on Northbank). Rolling elevation changes. Lots of rocky, rooty challenges.
Similar Trail: Gap Mountain, Blacksburg, VA
reviewed by avilajj on December 23, 2010
This was a great ride, with some climbs, a lot of rock and roots and some good downhill. I rod in conjuction with north bank and it was a good 7 mile circuit. I rode clockwise and climbed quite a bit. Next time I'm going to go counter clockwise to got a different look at it. All in all fun ride.
reviewed by GRK on November 13, 2010
Nice trail. Challenging enough for most people with great vistas of the James. Lots of rock armoring which is great for the trail...not great for you if you fall without a helmet. Scary when wet. Combine with North Bank for a loop with 2 river crossings.
Similar Trail: Pocahontas State Park.
reviewed by CharlieH81 on October 8, 2010
A great trail. Buttermilk follows the river valley and runs up and down its South side. It's a well maintained single track with with lots of rock and good uphill/downhills. You can get some great elevation here and some of the higher points give a really good view down the valley.
Similar Trail: North Bank
reviewed by jtorlando25 on September 14, 2010
Not for beginners. This trail completely whipped me. I started at Belle Isle, rode through Buttermilk, and ended on Northbank. It was around 7 miles. Flowing in parts, some small climbs, rock gardens galore, a few streams and bridges to cross...it was fun but really difficult in parts. I give it a 5 because it was the nicest and best maintained singletrack I have ridden in VA and if my skills were more advanced, it would have been fun.
reviewed by 2quik4u on May 16, 2010
Great trail. I ride it about once a week. It has some challenging areas but is overall not very difficult.
Similar Trail: Pocahontas
reviewed by tommyr73 on May 11, 2010
Great single track trail. Wear a helmet or may wish you did. Take it slow the first time and get to know the trail. Best single track trail that I have ridden in the Richmond Area. A hidden treasure to bikers.
Similar Trail: Forest Hill
reviewed by bikefeen81 on March 21, 2010
Great Ride has some nice technical parts to the trail. Very slippery when wet.
reviewed by DarkAngel on November 10, 2009
This trail has everything head out last saturday with the old man....at 51 he did the entire trail starting from Belle Island going through Buttermilk and Northbank. Very tough climbs and technical downhills. Overall a GREAT flow!! BRING WATER. the only water fountain along the loop does not work :(
Similar Trail: Northbank also in richmond
reviewed by jswalpole on October 13, 2009
It was exhausting although it had a pretty view of the Richmond City Skyline. And there were a lot of sketchy cliffsides :) just my favorite.
Similar Trail: NorthBank Trail
reviewed by urasquid on May 31, 2009
I've been riding since I was in collage 20 years ago when mountian biking was just getting started and Buttermilk is some of the best singletrack I've been on. Great ride and very technical in many places.
reviewed by ac90002 on November 16, 2008
Well-conceived, continually challenging trail. Great job by those who built it and keep adding to it.
reviewed by vculee2002 on August 3, 2008
This trail can be initimidating to the beginning moutain biker--I speak from experience!! The first time I rode it about a year ago, I was terrified for 2 reasons, one was because I was not accustomed to riding a more technical trail & secondly because I was riding with clipless pedals. I would recommend doing neither unless you are very quick at getting out of the pedals BUT I will say that now I absolutely LOVE this trail. This is my favorite pick as far as trails go in Richmond. It has something for everyone including rolling singletrack, climbs, roots, rock gardens, rock faces & even some stream crossings. I saw the posting from someone who lost their brother on this trail & that is tragic but as she said, WEAR YOUR HELMET...To ride without a helmet is like walking down the center line of the highway& hoping you don't get hit. My brother & I ride this trail about once a week & we start on what we call Upper Buttermilk which eventually feeds down into the Reedy Creek parking lot. From there, we take the path over to Belle Isle & the walking bridge over to North Bank trail. This follows along the river & eventually along Maymont Park before coming up onto the Nickel Bridge. Ride across the bridge & cross back onto Buttermilk. The last time we rode, they had made some new improvements in some tighter sections and made it really fun to ride. Have fun & ride to live.
Similar Trail: Pocahontas--Little West VA section
reviewed by rizzocr on June 1, 2007
This trail has several faces on it - it just depends on the weather. I have ridden this for a couple of years, some days not a problem, but it it's even somewhat wet - god help you! Definitely wear a helmet, and watch out -it's crowded with other bikers.
Similar Trail: Pocohontas; Powhite
reviewed by bblizard on November 21, 2005
This trail gives a great workout, starting from the original buutermilk trail across from belle Isle, and going to the progressively harder Buttermilk west and Buttermilk heights. There are some tricky sections and some ride fast sections and there are options for those who don't want to take all the obstacles. Overall, a fantastic trail that takes a few rides before you can clear it
Similar Trail: Northbank Trail
reviewed by SantaCruzer on May 4, 2005
I ride this trail 2 or 3 times a week and I think about Sean every time. I didn\'t know him, but I would bet he was a good guy, most mountain bikers are. You have to be careful out there always. I love this trail. I can ride from my office and can be on it in about 10 minutes. It\'s a beautiful ride. I still find challenges every ride. Love it. We\'re so lucky to have it.
reviewed by FinsFan on January 4, 2005
A great trail in the city, can be very challenging at times but all very fun. The trail is broke up into three sections, buttermilk, buttermilk heights and buttermilk west. Buttermilk is a nice warm up (fairly flat and a few techinical sections) Buttermilk Heights has more climbs (although not to long, steep and techinical at times) a good set of switchbacks and a few log crossings. Buttermilk West (across westover hills blvd.) is a little slower paced but has many techinical sections and few nice switchbacks at the end. Altogether it is about 4-5 miles one way but turn around at the end and ride the other way and it gives the trail a different look.
Similar Trail: Pocahontas State Park
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