In Lynchburg, Va., the Blackwater Creek Natural Area feels like remote backcountry – in the middle of town.
As far back as 1934, decades before other municipalities had even begun to think about greenways, the citizens of Lynchburg, Va. were envisioning such places.
Although their plans did not materialize at that time, the concept was reintroduced in the early 1970s. Encouraged by volunteer members of the Friends of Lynchburg Stream Valleys and others, the city included the idea in its master plan, acquired the needed property and developed a network of bikeways and hiking trails.
Located within the center of the city, and officially dedicated on May 17, 1979, the Blackwater Creek Natural Area and its trails were recognized by the federal government to be of such significance that they were proclaimed a part of the National Recreational Trail System in 1981.
In addition to furnishing an easily accessible place in which the city’s citizens and visitors can recreate in the outdoors, the natural area serves as a much-needed green space for the urban environment. Its lush vegetation acts as a filter for water-borne pollutants and soaks up gallons of water, helping to moderate floods.
The linear greenway provides homes and a migration route for many animals not often found within a city’s boundaries. Be on the lookout for deer, foxes, raccoons, snakes, beavers, hawks, owls, blue herons and a wide assortment of songbirds. Even wild turkeys, which need expansive plots of undisturbed land, have been seen here.
The main, paved bike route follows an old railroad bed on a nearly level grade. The terrain is certainly not flat, though, and you’ll walk by numerous instances where the builders of the railroad had to cut through the hillside or fill in small ravines in order to lay down the track on a suitable railroad grade.
My favorite hike descends from the main trail to parallel the creek. Within a few minutes from the parking lot, leave pavement behind and descend onto the pathways of the Ruskin Freer Nature Preserve, named for a local biology teacher.
Much of the area was once open agricultural land and nature is in the slow process of returning it to a climax forest. The sound of moving water overcomes traffic noise. The abundance of wildflowers, such as mayapple, bloodroot, jack-in-the-pulpit, Indian pipe and dogtooth violet adds to this nice illusion of wilderness.
Be alert at 3.7 miles. With an old railroad trestle rising more than 100 feet above you, take your leave of the creek and make a sudden switchback to ascend to the left. Turn left onto the paved bikeway at 3.8 miles. Once again you are on the route of the old railroad bed, so there will be no major ups and downs to negotiate, but you will be rising at a very gradual rate as you begin this return portion of the hike back to your car. Mullein, a member of the snapdragon family, reaches heights of almost five feet.
Walk underneath a utility line at 5.0 miles, soon bypassing the pathway to the left that you followed onto the Freer Trail. From here it is a simple matter of retracing your steps along the bikeway to return to your car at 5.7 miles.
There are many more miles of pathways to discover in the Blackwater Creek area and along the James River. The Blackwater Creek Bikeway connects to the River Walk, which then extends across Percival’s Island and on into Amherst County. Additional hiking places include Ivy Creek Greenway, the Bill Foot Natural Area and numerous other trails.
Other municipalities would be wise to emulate this city’s forward-looking example.
