Kid-friendly Hikes in Richmond, Virginia

Larus Park

This park is completely peaceful, with tons of open space, opportunities to climb and explore.

There are different entrances, but today we parked at 3139 Stony Point Rd., right outside Sabot School. There are only a few spots here, but you could park on the street (it’s not busy – you will find a spot.) This isn’t stroller friendly (lots of roots, rocks), and keep your toddlers close as there are trip hazards. But don’t let this deter you as we started coming here with a 2 year old!

There is a HUGE creek, sand, and rocks. In warm weather, you could splash and play in the creek, or climb on the rocks, trees, and made up games jumping back and forth over the creek. There is one bench by the creek area, where you could sit while your kids play. But the creek extends so far that you may not have full line of sight depending on where your kids explore.

Dogwood Dell to Pumphouse Park

This route is just a tiny snippet of the Dogwood Dell Trail (the trail is long!), but because it takes you to this awesome slide, it fills up enough time.

We started by parking in the lot closest to the Dogwood Dell Amphitheater. My kids love to play and sing on the stage here. From here, we went left on the wide, paved path (stroller-friendly).

We got to the end of the paved trail and then turned right. This is what leads to Pumphouse Park, and the slide! There’s also a picnic table and a bench here, so a good spot for a snack break. BUT, Pumphouse Park itself isn’t safe for young kids to explore, as there are parts that have no barriers between the path and the water.

To get to the slide: Turn left into the park. You will see signs. Then, The Pumphouse will be on your left. There is a small area for sitting on your right (BEFORE the bridge) and just behind this is the slide. It is a little tricky for littles to climb up by themselves, so holding hands may be a good idea.

John J. Radcliffe Conservation Area

Here’s why we love it:

The main trail is packed sand and completely flat. This is so great for a toddler hike, or for biking. No roots, no major inclines.
It is SO quiet out here – you’ll likely see fishermen and people out walking dogs and that is it.
TONS of birds! This is a bird watching paradise!
You have views of the Appomattox, and there are some access points. You’ll also be able to see the Brashfield Dam. (Park and come straight down past the picnic table and it’s on the right.)

-By Lindsay Garrison