Open fires are prohibited throughout the park from midnight to 4 p.m. through April 30 per the 4 p.m. Burning Law. This includes wood and charcoal. Gas is permissible. Campground fires are allowed during the restricted time if a camp host is on duty and signage to that effect is posted in the campground. Failure to observe the 4 p.m. Burning Law can result in a fine. Contact the Park Office for additional information.

Mountain Biking

When you want to push the limits on knobby tires, state parks are perfect places to find your adventure.

From simple trails for beginners to rides that challenge the most experienced, we have the mountain bike trails you need.

Mountain biking at Pocahontas State Park

Highlights

Pocahontas State Park, just 20 minutes south of Richmond, is a nationally recognized mountain biker’s dream destination. The park has more than 44 miles of trails available for mountain biking. Choose from directional and multiuse trails including singletrack, machine-built flow and hand-cycle friendly routes. The trails are part of the Richmond Regional Ride Center, making the park a top biking destination in the region. Learn more

In coastal Virginia, York River State Park was the first Virginia State Park to create a bike-only trail guide. The park has 11 miles of singletrack mountain bike-only trails, as well as nine multiuse trails that provide enough to fill a day with excitement and fun. Trails range from short and easy to the singletrack, advanced Marl Ravine Trail.

Burnside, Deering and Early trails total 5.5 miles and offer fun and challenging single-track mountain biking at High Bridge Trail State Park.

New River Trail is a rails-to-trails park more than a 50 miles-long. It includes the 250-acre Hoover Mountain Bike Area. The earth is colored by iron oxide deposits and makes for a unique riding adventure across 4 miles of trails, including easy and moderate loops.

Douthat State Park is mountain bike friendly and has more than 40 miles of trails. Open to hikers and bikers, Mountain Top trail is 2.4 miles and Mountain Side is 1.23 miles. The trails provide challenges much appreciated by experienced mountain bikers.

In addition to roughly 15 miles of multiuse trails, Hungry Mother State Park’s Raider’s Run Mountain Bike Trail System offers 3 miles of mountain bike-only trails, with 2 additional miles scheduled to open in 2025. Raider’s Run features one climbing trail, roughly 0.75 miles, and five downhill trails that diverge, offering multiple options in difficulty, skill rating and length. Technical features include jumps and rock gardens.

Parks with mountain biking trails

For those interested in milder rides, visit the multiuse trails biking page. All state parks have at least one trail suitable for biking.

Know before you go

Maintain your bike. Inspect your equipment before you ride. Check your tires for proper air pressure. Be sure your brakes are in working order. Lubricate and check the chain for broken links or rust. Carry a trail pump and spare inner tube that fits your tires in case you have a flat. You don’t want a 3-mile walk carrying a broken bike.
Ride with others. Ride with a friend in case something happens. Ride with better riders to become better yourself. Learn from watching others as they ride.
Stay loose. Relax. Your best suspension is your arms and legs to absorb the ups and downs. Let the bike do the work.
Choose the right gear. Bad gear choices make rides harder than they need to be. Gear too low and you’ll spin out. Gear too high and it may be hard to get the power you need when you need it. Change gears to maintain the same pedaling RPMs.
Learn to track stand. Learning to balance while you’re stopped without putting a foot down will improve your ability to balance while maneuvering technical features. Practice this important skill.