Shared by Rebecca Whalen, Chief Ranger Visitor Experience, as Guest Blogger.

You would think that with 80 miles of trail, 3 lakes, an aquatic complex, over 100 campsites, an amphitheater, boat launch area, 2 Depression-era dining halls, a Nature Center and a Civilian Conservation Corps Museum, Pocahontas State Park couldn’t possibly add in one more attractor…but we have, a new trail!

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of park staff, Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) members, and local volunteer groups, the dream of Jeff Samuels a park volunteer and chairperson of the Friends of Pocahontas State Park Hiking Trails Committee, has finally come to life.

Jeff Samuels in green leads several YCC Members in the construction of the new trail

The vision

Jeff Samuels first visualized the trail last year and work began on it earlier this year. The new trail links to Beaver Lake trail and Ground Pine Path, creating several loop options of varying distances.

The trail, just under a mile long, winds through towering tulip poplars and lush ferns and offers spectacular views of Swift Creek (especially in winter) as well as many wildlife watching opportunities.

Sunlight breaks through the canopy of the new trail

Just as the shelf fungus, a helpful decomposer, creates new opportunities for growth in the forest, many dedicated individuals helped create the newest opportunity for hiking

Name that trail contest

Pocahontas State Park is hosting this Name That Trail Contest with the grand prize:

Two free nights of camping at a Virginia State Park of your choice

That new trail needs a name and we’re relying on you to help name it, just as we relied on the public to re-name the Swift Creek Recreational Demonstration Area in 1946, when a local high school student won the essay contest and we became Pocahontas State Park.

How to enter 

All you have to do is name that trail, no essays required, no entry fee, but we do have a few rules and the suggested names must meet the following requirements:

1. Must not duplicate part or all of another named trail or road in the Park
2. Must not be more than two (2) words, excluding the word “trail”
3. Must not be the name of a person
4. Must not be vulgar in name, meaning, or suggestion
5. Enter by September 20, 2016

All submissions must contain all of the following:

1. Suggested trail name
2. Date of submission
3. Name, address, and telephone number of the entrant 

Employees of the Department of Conservation and Recreation are excluded from the contest. Click here to view the current trail names. Keep in mind this trail is for hiking only, not multiuse (i.e. biking, equestrian etc.)

The winner will receive two free nights of camping

at a Virginia State Park of their choice

If you want to come out to the park for inspiration, parking is available at the Nature Center and "the new trail" can be accessed by following the Old Mill bicycle trail. After hiking the trail, trail names can be submitted by dropping the name submission off in person at the Nature Center, email it here or mailing it to the park at the following address:

Pocahontas State Park  

Nature Center Attention: Name that Trail

10301 State Park Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832 

Opportunities await on the new trail

The contest runs now until September 20, 2016 with the winner's name announced on September 24, 2016 to celebrate National Public Lands Day. All entries will be reviewed by Rangers, Staff, and the Hiking Board of the Friends of Pocahontas for final determination. 

Pocahontas State Park is located in Chesterfield County, about 20 miles from Richmond. It's easily accessible from Interstate 95, Route 288 and Route 360. For directions, click here.