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Map data ©2016 Google
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Map data ©2016 Google
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Map data ©2016 Google
Next time you take a drive through Williamsburg, pay attention to the two-wheeler world around you—the cyclists, that is.
You might notice bike lanes, “Share the Road” and “Bicycle Crossing” signs, fix-it stations, and bike racks. You might drive past open fields, twisting turns, and riverfront trails and think, “This would be a cool place to ride a bike.”
Life-long cyclist and Bikes Unlimited owner Barry Herneisey agrees. Williamsburg is, indeed, a great place to ride and it’s getting better and better every year.
“We have the most resources available to us,” he says, referring to places such as the Virginia Capital Trail, parks such as New Quarter, Freedom, and York River, the trails around the College of William & Mary, the Colonial Parkway and all the work the community has accomplished in the last few years to make the greater Williamsburg region more bike friendly.
It’s not perfect. Some cars still honk at cyclists to get out of the way; some cyclists still don’t follow the traffic laws. But Herneisey says the cycling community and the efforts to encourage more people to get on two wheels have been thriving, thanks to an emphasis on making the best trails for cyclists.
Whether you’re new to cycling, new to the area, just visiting, or looking to change up your route, crawl—or bike—through a few of these local favorite road and trail rides.
1. The Virginia Capital Trail
This 52-mile (one way) trail runs from Jamestown to Richmond along Route 5.
Why Ride It?
It’s a no-brainer: a family-friendly, beginner-friendly, multiuse, paved, relatively flat trail with scenic views and historical trailheads.
If you build it, they will come. They’ll come early, they’ll come fast, they’ll come often, and they’ll come in packs to the new Virginia Capital Trail, a 52-mile, paved stretch of road that—you guessed it—connects Williamsburg, the former capital of Virginia, to Richmond, the current capital.
This out-and-back ride runs along the scenic Route 5 corridor and transverses four jurisdictions. You can start at one end (100 Pear Street in Richmond or Jamestown High School in Williamsburg) and do the entire thing. Stay the night at one of the area’s many bed and breakfasts and head back in the morning, or do sections of the trail, parking at one of the trailheads or visitors’ parking lots scattered throughout Route 5. On any given day, the trail is packed with moms pushing strollers, groups of cyclists, and solo Rollerbladers being pulled by leashed dogs. As an added bonus, the trail is free and devoid of cars.
2. The John Blair Trail
This trail is at York River State Park and connected to Bobcat Run Trail. From the visitors’ center it’s about thirteen miles one way.
Why Ride It?
This is a beginner-friendly trail ride.
Rick Bartels takes his Colonial Revolution (www.colonialrevolution.com) middle-school and high-school riders to this trail for practice and recommends it for anyone just starting out in mountain biking. It’s a very gentle, very smooth, out-and-back ride. The nearly thirteen-mile trail is broken up into seven sections, each about a mile and a half apart, so you can always dip off the trail and head back to the parking lot, or do the entire thing if you’re doing a longer ride. Built by the Eastern Virginia Mountain Bike Association (EVMA) two years ago, this trail features smooth, rolling hills and a great view of the York River.
3. Marl Ravine Trail
This trail is at York River State Park. Start from Back Bone Trail fire road. It’s a 5.5-mile loop.
Why Ride It?
It’s a more challenging trail ride.
So you’ve graduated from the beginner-friendly trails and want to test your skills. Head to the opposite end of York River State Park at Marl Ravine, where you’ll find short, steep inclines of 300 feet and steep descents, off-camber single track riding, bridge crossings, and even some overhanging obstacles. This trail is not for the faint of heart. The nearly six-mile loop is recommended for advanced riders only.
4. The Colonial Parkway
The parkway runs from Jamestown Island through Williamsburg to Yorktown. It’s twenty-three miles one way.
Why Ride It?
It’s a scenic, three-lane roadway with plenty of pull-offs with historical markers.
Boasting twenty-three miles of scenic roadway, the Colonial Parkway—part of the Colonial National Historic Park—connects Yorktown, Williamsburg, and Jamestown, otherwise known as the Historic Triangle. The three lanes of traffic give cyclists ample space to ride, but the unmarked cobble aggregate pavement creates a bumpy ride, so a mountain bike or hybrid is recommended on these roads, and a seat pad is a must. The parkway offers a ton of shade, and scenic pull-offs with historical markers are scattered along the roadway, which follows the beautiful York River. Start at the Yorktown or Jamestown end, and if you feel like a break in between the two, stop at Colonial Williamsburg and grab a beer at DoG Street Pub or a Tribe Mocha at Aroma’s. If you’re at the Jamestown end, make your trek a little longer by riding the three-mile or five-mile scenic loop around the island.
5. Yorktown Battlefields
Start at the Yorktown National Cemetery on Cook Road, go through Historic Yorktown, and head on to Battlefield Tour Road or Encampment Tour Road at Surrender Field. This is a seven-mile or nine-mile loop, with opportunities to make the route longer.
Why Ride It?
Journey through the last major battle of the Revolutionary War and encounter historical trailheads, wide-open fields, riverside trails, and wooded areas.
The battlefield where British General Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington while surrounded by American and French forces is a treat to ride through if you’re a big history buff. There are two tour roads in Yorktown: the seven-mile Battlefield Tour Road, marked by red arrows, which starts at the visitors’ center; and the nine-mile Encampment Tour Road, marked by yellow arrows, which starts at Surrender Field. If you’re feeling ambitious, head up to Merchants Square in Colonial Williamsburg, using the Colonial Parkway to get more of your history fix. Once in Merchants Square, you’ll pass almost every major historic building (although you can’t go inside unless you purchase a ticket). Then head to the beautiful campus of the College of William & Mary and enjoy great views of College Creek before passing the Williamsburg Lodge and Inn on the way back to Merchants Square.
6. Little Creek Reservoir
This is in upper James City County, along Jolly Pond Road.
Why Ride It?
It’s a moderate, hilly, road ride with a great view of the reservoir and opportunities to lengthen the route.
Head out to upper James City County for a quick, low-traffic, hilly road ride in nature. Make it an easy outing by simply riding around Little Creek Reservoir in a clockwise direction, starting and ending at the Little Creek Reservoir Park for a 9.1-mile ride. For a longer route (22.9 miles) with more advanced hills, add an extra loop around Jolly Pond Road. From Chickahominy Road, take a left and descend to Cranston’s Mill Pond to reach the second loop around Jolly Pond Road and through Freedom Park. The loop eventually reconnects with the 9.1-mile Little Creek Reservoir loop.
For maps, cue sheets and more information about the rides, visit alltrails.com, mapmyride.com and wabonline.org. For more bike routes, order a copy of the Williamsburg Area Bicyclists (WAB) Route Book at wabonline.org/index.php/9-website-general/5-williamsburg-area-bike-rides-route-book, or purchase a copy at Bikes Unlimited or BikeBeat Bicycle Shop in Williamsburg.