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Rivanna Trails

News/Blog

Here's where we will keep you up to date on what's happening at RTF and on trails in the area.  Drop us a line at rivannatrails@gmail.com if you have suggestions for news we ought to cover.


  • 07 Aug 2020 7:47 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    We've had reports of sightings of a female coyote following walkers with dogs on the Willoughby Loop (between 5th Street and Jordan Park). It's believed there are pups in the woods. Small mammals of this sort aren't generally a risk, though they can become threatened by aggressive dogs and will protect their young. (As a reminder, dogs are required to be on leash on the entire Rivanna Trail.)

    The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has tips for dealing with wildlife furbearers: https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/urban/.

  • 29 Jul 2020 8:57 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The new bridge at Woolen Mills is officially open, closing a major gap in the Rivanna Trail loop. As you head out to explore the new bridge, please be especially careful along the segment between Rt 20 and Woolen Mills. Our dedicated trail adopters and volunteers have been hard at work mowing and trimming, new trail blazes are coming soon, and we have more improvements planned once we are able to resume monthly work parties. However, portions are rocky and challenging (and we've also had reports of a downed tree after the recent storms), so watch your step.

  • 29 Jun 2020 9:56 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The section of the RT from Rt 20 to Woolen Mills is temporarily closed while work is underway this week to install a new bridge over Moore's Creek at Woolen Mills. Please respect the temporary signage and keep clear of the work crews. We'll post notice here when the bridge is complete and the trail segment reopened.

  • 25 May 2020 8:57 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    With trail use booming, there has never been a more critical moment for our nation to invest in regional trails and greenways. The East Coast Greenway Alliance is assembling a walking and biking route stretching 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida. The East Coast Greenway is designed to transform the 15 states and 450 communities it connects through active and healthy lifestyles, sustainable transportation, community engagement, climate resilience, tourism, and more. The Greenway offers a safe place for bicyclists, walkers, runners, and more — of all ages and abilities — to commute, exercise, and visit new destinations.

    While the route doesn't pass through Charlottesville, it's an exciting development for Virginia trail users.  Learn more at greenway.org.

     

  • 10 Apr 2020 6:16 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Your friends at the Rivanna Trails Foundation hope that you are safe and well. As our community confronts the extraordinary challenge of COVID-19, we want you to know that our trails remain open.

    But to keep area trails open and available for healthy outdoor recreation will require us to take precautions to protect everyone. We implore all trail users to practice physical distancing when out on the trail, in parking lots, and at trailheads. Please show kindness and consideration for others by stepping off the trail as needed to allow at least 6 feet for safe passage with other trail users.

    Remember also that these difficult times have brought many new users out onto the trails. More experienced trail users should offer a welcoming smile and help navigating our trail system. We invite everyone to download and use our mobile app (available for Apple and Android).

    Of course, none of what we do would be possible without you. Your physical and financial support sustains our all-volunteer organization. We have suspended regular monthly work parties until Governor Northam lifts the current stay-at-home order, but please join us when it's safe again to work together on trail maintenance and improvements. And, if your current financial situation permits, please become a contributing member.

    We hope that you will keep hiking and biking to maintain your physical and mental health during these trying times. We look forward to seeing you (at a safe distance) out on the trail.

  • 11 Feb 2020 7:58 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    We need your help to address vandalism in the Observatory Hill area of the Rivanna Trail, along the segment between Ivy Road and Fontaine Avenue. We've had troubling reports from the U.Va. Environmental Sciences department that someone has been removing research flags in the woods that mark plots for student research.

    These flags are essential for ongoing research projects involving many years of students’ efforts. The flags were first removed two weeks ago, after which students carefully re-identified plot boundaries with bright pink flags, only to have every single flag taken again last week.

    • First, please do not remove any flags you encounter while using the RT.
    • Second, if you see someone removing flags, please ask them courteously to stop.
    • Third, please report to us (rivannatrails@gmail.com) with any information you have about who may have removed flags in the past, or suspicious activity you may observe in the future.
    Thank you very much for helping us be a good neighbor and to show respect for other trail users.
  • 24 Jan 2020 6:36 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    A day on the RT in winter may not be quite the challenge of a through hike of the North Country Trail from New York to North Dakota, but the North Country Tail Association offers some tips for winter hiking that are worth knowing, even in an urban environment. And besides, it sometimes snows here. . . . 

    https://northcountrytrail.org/6-tips-for-winter-hiking-and-safety/

  • 18 Jan 2020 8:58 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    We recently connected with our dedicated long-time adopters, the primary force for monitoring and maintaining the trail in such good shape. Unfortunately, several of them are no longer able to help with this important job. We would love for you to step up and take over. Expectations of adopters are minimal: check the trail about once a month, take care of problems that you can, and let us know about problems that are too big for you. We are always looking for ideas for projects as well, so if you have suggestions on making your section better, we want to know that too!

    At this time, we need coverage 1) of Riverview Park, 2) from Holmes Avenue to Melbourne, 3) from Fifth Street to Jordan Park, 4) from Jordan Park to Avon, 5) from Fontaine Avenue to Stribling, 6) from Meadow Creek to Pen Park, and 7) from Pen Park to River Run. It is helpful to have double coverage of any section to lighten the load, so please reach out if you’re willing to help anywhere else. 

    These trails are imaginary without adopters doing the real work of scouting and maintenance. If you are interested or want to talk more about it, please be in touch. We also have details on the role on Trail Adopters page.

  • 15 Jan 2020 7:11 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    C-ville Weekly has an article about efforts to create the Three Notched Trail, which will connect Charlottesville and its network of trails to along the route of the historic Three Notched Road from Charlottesville through Crozet to the Blue Ridge Tunnel outside Waynesboro.

    https://www.c-ville.com/rivanna-trails-foundation-seeks-a-new-path/