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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.


  • Deer Culling Resumes in Dunlora

    11 Sep 2019 10:18 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    For those users of the River North segment of the RT -- and in particular the early risers -- please be aware that bow hunting to reduce the deer population has resumed in Dunlora. Hunting may take place seven days a week and initially will be during dawn hours, 5:00 AM to 8:00 AM. Hours will be extended to 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM starting September 28. Please do not use Dunlora private property at any time during these hunting hours.

    The area which will be used is the private property of the Dunlora Community Association and is so marked with signs. Hunting will be roughly confined to the area bounded by the Rivanna River, eastern property boundaries of homes on Barclay Hill and King William Drive, Dunlora Farm Road, and the boundary with Belvedere.

    The season will conclude in the middle of March 2020, but is expected to resume next fall.

  • Meadow Creek Bridge in Place

    07 Sep 2019 8:53 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The new bridge over Meadow Creek between Locust Avenue and Lochlyn Hill was installed this week! There is still work to be done on the approaches, so be alert to continuing construction. This bridge will allow us to open a connection from the main RT loop to the trails through Pen Park and Dunlora. Also, the City will be developing an improved path along the north side of the creek, connecting to Holmes and running parallel to the rustic RT on the south side. The bridge is a proffer by the Lochlyn Hills development.

    From the end of Locust Avenue/Meghan Court, the new bridge is at the bottom of the hill when you first reach the creek.

  • Willoughby Section now Open

    11 Aug 2019 2:06 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Thanks to a partnership with the Willoughby Neighborhood, the Rivanna Trail loop now follows Moore's Creek between 5th Street Station and Jordan Park, eliminating a long road walk along 5th Street. Improved bridges have gone in, and the August work party gave the stretch a good mowing. We've started installing RT signage and blazes--updating our maps and the RTF app are still to come.

    The segment has a number of connections to the neighborhood that are not public--please respect the residents' generosity in making this section available by staying on only the main path.


  • Bridge Coming to Woolen Mills

    04 Jul 2019 10:00 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    The Woolen Mills redevelopment includes a bridge over Moore's Creek that will close a major gap in the southeast segment of the RT. A recent story on CBS19 News, containing an interview with RTF board member John Lewis, highlights the importance of this project to completing the RT loop.

    https://www.cbs19news.com/content/news/Woolen-Mills-project-will-boost-Rivanna-Trail-511927151.html


  • Construction Alert

    13 Jun 2019 8:31 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Construction is scheduled to begin this week on a new bridge over Meadow Creek, from the Locust/Holmes segment of the RT to the development at Lochlyn Hill. The work should not impact the Rivanna Trail, but there may be brief closures as equipment moves in and out from Megan Court.

    The new bridge will provide a direct connection between the Rivanna Trail loop and Pen Park, linking to the River North trails.

  • Trail Closure @ O-Hill, 5/28-5/31

    22 May 2019 8:27 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    A segment of the Rivanna Trail just south of Ivy Road will be closed May 28-31, between the hours of 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Signage and fencing will be installed, and flaggers will be monitoring the operations and use of the trail. Users of the trail will want to use the various spur trails on Observatory Hill to connect to nearby streets and bypass the work site.

    Construction has commenced on a sewer line project to serve the new development planned for the site of the former Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center. The project runs through the end of the year; while additional closures may be required, the project crew will minimize impacts to the RT and keep closures to a minimum.

    For the duration of the project, safety fencing and signage will be in place to provide a safety barrier and prevent access to the construction site.


  • Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Needs Your Support

    17 May 2019 9:30 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Robust bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improves the quality of life for all residents. The recently-completed Jefferson Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan maps a comprehensive network of bike lanes, sidewalks, and shared use paths that connect Charlottesville and Albemarle neighborhoods to schools, shopping, downtown and natural areas. The Rivanna Trail is one piece of that network, the expansion of which is of vital importance to our community.

    The Plan is an important milestone, but it is just a beginning. Now comes the hard work of getting projects in the plan built. The Piedmont Environmental Council worked with many partner organizations to craft a unified letter of community support requesting rapid implementation of the Plan's recommendations. The RTF endorses this plan, and encourages our friends and members to add their support as well.

    You can learn more about the Plan and add your name to the letter at: https://www.pecva.org/our-region/albemarle-charlottesville/walk-bike/1449-sign-the-letter-support-a-more-connected-cville-albemarle.

    Signing this letter will let elected leaders and funders know that we are serious about getting projects implemented.

  • Dunlora Deer Culling Concludes

    08 Mar 2019 9:10 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Deer hunting will cease in Dunlora's common area at 9:00 A.M., Friday, March 15th. Culling will resume around mid-August.

  • Water Main Work near River Road

    20 Feb 2019 8:37 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority has let us know that they are working along the Rivanna River behind River Rd/River Ct, where a section of a water main has been exposed by erosion. They are in the process of stabilizing the bank and exposed pipe using various sizes of riprap (erosion and sedimentation control measures have been implemented to keep mud and debris from washing into the river). The work is just past where the RT turns west toward River Road, so shouldn't directly impact trail users, but please be aware of the ongoing project and alert to equipment, and do not enter any active construction zones.

  • Dunlora Deer Culling Update 2/Change of Hours

    12 Feb 2019 9:22 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Bow hunting will continue in the area south of Dunlora until mid-March. However, since few deer have been taken lately (none this past week, total to date is 13) and hunters are no longer allowed to bait, beginning Friday, February 22, 2019, hunting will be extended from 5:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. The extension will permit the hunters to arrive earlier, settle in and catch the very early dawn light.  Dunlora hopes this change will be of little, if any, disruption to residents and hikers and will improve results.