Help Pocahontas State Park name its newest Mountain Bike Trail, currently known as Trail 15. All trail names must be submitted through the surveymonkey link, please see below for the link and instructions.

One of the mountain biking trails at Pocahontas State Park

Suggested names must be submitted by noon on December 25, 2017 and meet the following requirements:

• Must not be more than three (3) words, excluding the word “trail.”
• Must not be the name of a specific person.
• Must not be vulgar in name, meaning, or suggestion.
• All submissions must contain the suggested trail name, name of person submitting, email, and telephone number of the entrant. 
• The selected trail name winner will receive an annual Virginia State Parks Pass.

Enter the contest here.

Entries will be reviewed by Park Rangers for final determination of the trail name with the name to be announced on January 1, 2018 to celebrate First Day Hikes and Bikes. If more than one entry is received for the selected name, a random selection software will be used to determine the winner. This contest does not create a requirement that any of the names submitted are selected. In the event no acceptable name is submitted, the contest will end without a winner selected and the prizes will be used for future events or promotions. Membership in Friends of Pocahontas State Park (FOPSP) is not required to participate, but please consider joining FOPSP today. You will probably do a better job naming the trail if you come out and ride it!

Background:

In July 2017 International Mountain Biking Association Trail Solutions Crew (IMBA) began work on two new mountain bike trails at Pocahontas State Park. These trails are part of a larger concept plan for the development of new mountain bike trails at the park that will compliment the two old bike trail systems. Additionally the Pocahontas mountain bike trails combined with other trails in the Richmond area are part of the Richmond Regional Ride Center which received a bronze ride center designation from IMBA in June of 2015. Learn more about the ride center here.

IMBA finished trails 12 and 15 d and c (now combined as one trail corridor) in early November and a soft opening was conducted on Green Friday (Friday after Thanksgiving). Trail 12 earned its new name from park staff and volunteers but all agreed that trail 15 was too stunning to just be assigned a name. Trail 15 offers awesome views of Swift Creek Lake as it traverses across the hillsides along the lake. Offering a nice mixture of steady climbs and swift descents, this trail has earned a favorite spot in everyone's ride itinerary.  

But what about hiking trails at the park?

While a lot of effort has been devoted to these mountain biking trails, particularly in conjunction with the ride center designation, the park has also adopted a hiking trail concept plan. We are in the process of meeting with the hiking community to develop a task list and begin seeking volunteers and funding to make some new hiking only trails a reality.