Friday, June 15 is Virginia Capital Trail Day. Rides will be remote start from Chickahominy Riverfront Park (1350 John Tyler Hwy, Williamsburg, VA 23185), which is 11 miles from the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel. All rides will begin and end on the Virginia Capital Trail, a 10-wide asphalt shared use path that crosses the Chickahominy River on a high bridge with three scenic overlooks. Three routes will use the Virginia Capital Trail and connecting low traffic back roads in Charles City County. In addition, there is an out and back route entirely on the Virginia Capital Trail. Here are two videos about the Virginia Capital Trail:  Video 1  Video 2. Each ride has a detailed map and cue sheet, plus a link to the RideWithGPS File. Rides are also listed on the RideWithGPs Event Page for the Eastern Tandem Rally. Printed map and cue sheets will be available at registration, and also at Chickahominy Riverfront Park if you decide to drive directly to the ride start before registering at the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel.  Driving directions between the Hotel and the Park are at the bottom of this page. Parking is available in the parking lot beside the swimming pool and picnic shelter as you enter the park.

The 27-Mile Sturgeon Point Loop follows the Virginia Capital Trail to a loop of low traffic rural roads before joining the Virginia Capital Trail for the ride back. The 28-Mile Sturgeon Point/Blue Heron Restaurant Loop adds an optional lunch stop at mile 10 at the Blue Heron Restaurant (9100 Wilcox Neck Rd, Charles City, VA 23030) overlooking the beautiful Chickahominy River. If you are making a lunch stop, plan your ride start accordingly – the restaurant opens for lunch at noon. Be advised that there is a 0.3 mile gravel driveway leading to the restaurant – we have successfully ridden this with 25mm tires. This ride has 13 miles on the Virginia Capital Trail and 15 miles on back roads.

• ETR Williamsburg Friday – Sturgeon Point Loops 27 and 28 Miles Map & Cues
• RideWithGPS File – 27-Mile Sturgeon Point Loop
• RideWithGPS File – 28-Mile Sturgeon Point/Blue Heron Restaurant Loop

The 28-Mile Capital Trail Out and Back does what it says – ride the Virginia Capital Trail 14 miles to Charles City Courthouse with an optional lunch stop at Cul’s Courthouse Grill (10801 Courthouse Rd, Charles City, VA 23030), and then ride the trail back to the start. The restaurant opens for lunch at 11:00 a.m., so plan your ride start accordingly. There are public restrooms and a small visitor center behind the old courthouse across the street from Cul’s. There is no map or cue sheet provided for this ride (but we do have a RideWithGPS File) – just hop on the trail at Chickahominy Riverfront Park, ride over the bridge, and keep going until you reach Charles City Courthouse, then ride the Trail back to the start.

• RideWithGPS File – 28-Mile Capital Trail Out and Back

The Charles City Loops follows he Virginia Capital Trail and a loop of low traffic rural roads to Charles City Courthouse. The 38-Mile Charles City/Cul’s Courthouse Grill Loop has an optional lunch stop at Cul’s Courthouse Grill (10801 Courthouse Rd, Charles City, VA 23030) at mile 20. The 42-Mile Charles City/Indian Fields Tavern Loop has an optional lunch stop at Indian Fields Tavern (9220 John Tyler Memorial Hwy, Charles City, VA 23030 –  opens for lunch at 11:30 a.m.) at mile 22. The return ride is primarily on the Virginia Capital Trail, with a short loop on back roads at the Sandy Point Superette. If you are planning to stop for lunch, plan your ride start accordingly. There are public restrooms and a small visitor center behind the old courthouse across the street from Cul’s. These rides have 16 or 20 miles on the Virginia Capital Trail and 22 miles on back roads.

• ETR Williamsburg Friday – Charles City Loops 38 and 42 Miles Map & Cues
• RideWithGPS File – 38-Mile Charles City/Cul’s Courthouse Grill Loop
• RideWithGPS File – 42-Mile Charles City/Indian Fields Tavern Loop

The 62-Mile Cool Hill Metric is mostly on the beautiful low-traffic rural back roads of Charles City County, with the apex of the ride on Cool Hill Road (and remember that Tidewater Virginia hills are nothing like Vermont and New Hampshire hills). There are store stops at miles 24 and 51, There are optional lunch stops at mile 42 at Indian Fields Tavern (9220 John Tyler Memorial Hwy, Charles City, VA 23030 – opens for lunch at 11:30 a.m.) and at mile 44 at Cul’s Courthouse Grill (10801 Courthouse Rd, Charles City, VA 23030 – opens for lunch at 11:00 a.m.). If you are making a lunch stop plan your ride start accordingly. This ride has 18 miles on the Virginia Capital Trail and 44 miles on back roads. 

• ETR Williamsburg Friday – Cool Hill Metric 62 Miles Map & Cues
• RideWithGPS File – 62-Mile Cool Hill Metric

If you have questions about the routes, email Reed at reednester@gmail.com.

Driving directions to Chickahominy Riverfront Park (1350 John Tyler Hwy, Williamsburg, VA 23185). The Park is 11 miles from the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel. Leaving the Hotel, turn right onto Visitor Center Drive, then a left turn onto Rt 132 South, then turn right onto Lafayette Street at the traffic light, and keep going until you reach the park. Here is a RideWithGPS link with more details.