Staunton River State Park: River Bank Trail (Blog Hike #125)

Trail: River Bank Trail

Hike Location: Staunton River State Park

Geographic Location: east of South Boston, VA (36.70087, -78.65588)

Length: 7 miles (but see the update comment at the end of this hike)

Difficulty: 4/10 (Easy/Moderate)

Dates Hiked: February 2003, August 2015

Overview: A scenic hike along the Dan and Staunton River banks.

Park Information: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/staunton-river.shtml#general_information
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=940896
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: From South Boston, go north on US 360 to SR 344 and turn right on SR 344.  SR 344 dead-ends at the state park entrance.  Pay the nominal entrance fee, assuming you do not have an annual pass.  Follow signs for the state park Staunton River boat ramp, which will take you to the left off of the main park road after passing the park office.  Park in the left side of the parking area for the boat ramp so you will not obstruct any boaters.

The hike: Located in the heavily logged Piedmont of south-central Virginia, Staunton River State Park protects 1597 acres of land located in a peninsula between the Dan and Staunton Rivers.  Thanks to a dam located just downstream, the rivers form the largest lake in Virginia, the John Kerr Reservoir.  This feature makes the park boat ramp very popular with boaters and fishers in season.  In addition, the park has only one vehicle access, (the dead end of SR 344), so the park allows for some privacy without being isolated.

In addition to the lake, the park also features a set of climate-controlled cabins available for reservations on a weekly basis and a 48 site campground with RV and tent camping available.  For the hiker, the park features 6 trails totaling nearly 10 miles.  The main loop, the River Bank Trail described here, follows the park boundary for its entire distance.  The park consists of a triangular piece of land between two rivers, so the park’s boundary is a river for over half the distance.  The park’s other trails form short connector trails between the River Bank Trail and trailheads along the park road.

Start of trail near boat ramp

            From the boat ramp parking area, walk back uphill along the road for 0.1 miles and look for blue signs marking the River Bank Trail, which crosses the road.  Turn left to begin hiking the River Bank Trail clockwise, following the blue paint blazes.  You will be sharing the trail with horses, so be prepared for mud during the wet season. 

Heading east, the trail climbs slightly to cross the road that accesses the park’s cabins.  With the cabin area on your left and the Dan River visible downhill to your right, the trail descends to arrive at an overlook of the confluence of the Dan and Staunton Rivers.  Take a minute to observe the boats and birds in the lake, as this is one of the best views in the park.

Confluence of Dan and Staunton Rivers

            The trail makes a 180-degree right turn at the overlook and begins heading west parallel to the Dan River, which is now on your left.  Staunton River State Park was one of the six original Virginia state parks in 1936, so the forest is a mature mix of maple, beech, and oak in the broadleaf forest and Virginia and loblolly pines in the needleleaf forest.

1.5 miles and a few ravines from the overlook, the trail climbs to a point about 50 feet above the river to skirt a small picnic area.  The trail then curves right and in 0.5 miles arrives at a confusing, unsigned intersection.  The blue blazes follow the trail to the right, but this has been designated as the horse trail.  The horse trail could be followed, but it ascends to a point near the park road, gets rather muddy, and adds 0.5 miles to the hike.  A by-pass has been created for hikers, and it goes left at this intersection through a large riverside picnic area.  The two trails rejoin just inside the woods beyond the picnic area.

Dan River near a picnic area

            Two short connector trails join from the right, but stay left to continue the River Bank Trail, which ascends and descends through several ravines, each one a little larger than the last.  1 mile from the picnic area, the trail gives one final view of the Dan River, then curves right and begins a moderate climb toward the ridge that separates the two rivers.  The ridge is gained, and then the trail descends rather steeply for a short stretch.  The park boundary can now be seen on the left, and an area of pine trees being harvested for timber can be seen just beyond the park boundary.  The section of trail in the highlands between the two rivers will be the wettest area of the hike.

Hiking over the highlands

            0.75 miles from the turn away from the Dan River, the trail crosses SR 344 at the park entrance, entering the forest directly across the road.  The trail turns right and begins a gradual descent along a small stream toward the Staunton River.  The trail maintains a nearly constant elevation 50 feet above the river, only dipping to cross an occasional tributary.  Two more connector trails enter from the right before the trail reaches the Staunton River boat access road to close the loop.  A right turn and short downhill walk along the road will complete the hike.