Blackwater Creek Natural Area
Nature preserve
392 acres7.6 mi of trail
Creekside TrailBeaver TrailFreer Loop TrailJefferson Park Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trailhead
Carter Glass House · Photo: Richard Cheek, Photographer · Public domainBOutdoors
Outdoors in Lynchburg
Lynchburg has 46 miles of mapped trails, 0.9 for every square mile of land
The biggest trail networks: Blackwater Creek Natural Area (7.6 mi), Peaks View Park (7.3 mi), Riverside Park (1.6 mi). 1,099 acres are parks and preserves, 14 per 1,000 residents. 3% of Lynchburg’s land is conserved, about 1,029 acres.
Ahead of 63% of U.S. towns · #128 of 253 in Virginia. What drives it
Conserved land
3%
1,029 acres · of 48.9 sq mi of land
Trails
46 mi
0.9 per sq mi of land
Park land
1,099 ac
14 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
59%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
23 mi
4.8 mi lanes · 18 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
8
3 boat launches
What kind of outdoors town is Lynchburg?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Lynchburg have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Lynchburg is ahead of 63% of U.S. towns, #128 of 253 in Virginia. Trail miles hold the grade up; the share of residents near a park pulls it down.
B
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Lynchburg’s overall grade.
Conserved land3% of the land · typical VA town 4% · U.S. 4%B−Trails0.9 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (46 mi) · VA 0.7 · U.S. 0.4A−Park land14 acres of park per 1,000 residents (1,099 acres) · VA 8 · U.S. 13B−Parks close to home59% of residents within a half mile of a park · VA 76% · U.S. 72%B−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 63%
LessMore
Virginia towns of 2,500+ (253)Ahead of 50%
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from B− to B+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Blackwater Creek Natural Area, with 7.6 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Peaks View Park
Park
287 acres7.3 mi of trail
CycloneSteve's Bowl-a-RamaBottom OutMimosa Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Riverside Park
Park
53 acres1.6 mi of trail
Alpine Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Ivy Creek Park
Park
33 acres1.1 mi of trail
Woodland TrailClemmons Lake Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Poplar Forest
Park
121 acres0.7 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
Jefferson Park
Park
15 acres0.7 mi of trail
Jefferson Park Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Blackwater Creek Park
Park
17 acres0.3 mi of trail
Creekside Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗
All 26 parks & preserves
Blackwater Creek Natural Area392 acres · 7.6 mi of trail
DirectionsPeaks View Park287 acres · 7.3 mi of trail
DirectionsRiverside Park53 acres · 1.6 mi of trail
DirectionsIvy Creek Park33 acres · 1.1 mi of trail
DirectionsPoplar Forest121 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsJefferson Park15 acres · 0.7 mi of trail
DirectionsBlackwater Creek Park17 acres · 0.3 mi of trail
DirectionsCity Stadium Complex27 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Lynchburg City Parks & Rec
DirectionsHollins Mill Park26 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsDunbar Community Schoolyard9 acres · 0.2 mi of trail
DirectionsMiller Park30 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsFairview Heights Recreation Center7 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsEd Page Entrance1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsCollege Hill Neighborhood Park1 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
Perrymont Park27 acres
DirectionsSandusky Park22 acres
DirectionsYounger Park7 acres · Lynchburg Parks and Recreation
DirectionsRiverfront Park6 acres
DirectionsDaniel's Hill Neighborhood Park1 acres
DirectionsYoder Recreation Center1 acres · Lynchburg Parks and Recreation
DirectionsAerofin Memorial Parkway1 acres
DirectionsJackson Heights Neighborhood Park1 acres
DirectionsBiggers Neighborhood Park1 acres
DirectionsKemper Station Park1 acres
DirectionsRotary Centennial Riverfront Skatepark1 acres
DirectionsDiamond Hill Community Center1 acres · Lynchburg City Parks & Rec
DirectionsWho protects it
1,029 conserved acres
3% of Lynchburg’s land. Who manages Lynchburg’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Town or city828 ac
Other state land254 ac
State conservation129 ac
Not recorded394 ac
Local Park · 1,172 acOther Easement · 173 acConservation Easement · 129 acUnknown Easement · 82 acLocal Recreation Area · 50 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 199 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 2 of 35 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackwater Creek Park Local Park | Not recorded | 709 | Open |
| Peaks View Park Local Park | Town or city | 249 | Open |
| Riverside Park Local Park | Town or city | 50 | Open |
| Sandusky Park Local Park | Not recorded | 34 | Open |
| Ivy Creek Park Local Park | Town or city | 30 | Open |
| Miller Park Local Park | Town or city | 30 | Open |
| Perrymont Park Local Park | Not recorded | 28 | Open |
| City Stadium Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 27 | Open |
| Heritage Park Local Recreation Area | Town or city | 23 | Open |
| Younger Park Local Park | Town or city | 11 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
111 places to go in Lynchburg
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Playgrounds in Lynchburg
Bounce LYHHours: Mon–Sat 10 am – 8 pm; Sun 12 pm – 6 pm
DirectionsFort Hill UMC Playground
DirectionsJJ's Playground
DirectionsKids Cove
DirectionsKiwanis Centennial Riverfront Playground
DirectionsPlay at Linkhorne
DirectionsPlaytime
DirectionsValleyview Play Lot
Directions84 playgrounds are on OpenStreetMap in all; the list shows named ones from the first 30.
Dog parks in Lynchburg
Large Dog ParkIn Blackwater Creek Park
DirectionsSmall Dog ParkIn Blackwater Creek Park
DirectionsPlus 1 dog park without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Boat launches in Lynchburg
Public Canoe Launch
DirectionsPlus 2 boat launches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Scenic views in Lynchburg
6 scenic views without a name on the map.
Picnic areas in Lynchburg
7 picnic areas without a name on the map.
Community gardens in Lynchburg
Daniel's Hill Center GardenIn Daniel's Hill Neighborhood Park
DirectionsDaniel's Hill Garden
DirectionsDiamond Hill Center Garden
DirectionsFairview Center GardenIn Fairview Heights Recreation Center
DirectionsHumanKind and Hill City Master Gardener Davis Instructional GardenFee
DirectionsPierce Street Community GardenHours: Open 24 hours · The Pierce Street Gateway
DirectionsUniversity of Lynchburg Community GardenUniversity of Lynchburg
DirectionsYoder Center GardenIn Yoder Recreation Center
DirectionsTrails & water
25 named trails and 8 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 19.0 miUnpaved · 36.5 mi
Creekside Trail4.1 mi
Beaver Trail1.8 mi
Freer Loop Trail1.5 mi
LC Loop1.3 mi
Powerline Loop1.2 mi
Cyclone1.2 mi
Peak to Peak1.0 mi
Paw-Paw's Trail0.8 mi
Steve's Bowl-a-Rama0.7 mi
Pioneer Trail0.6 mi
15 more trails
Bottom Out
0.6 miMimosa Trail
0.5 miIvy Ridge
0.5 miLower Piney
0.5 miHeritage Trail
0.4 miAlpine Trail
0.4 miBrunswick Trail
0.4 miWoodland Trail
0.4 miMike Donahue Trail
0.4 miBobsled
0.4 miSlick Rock
0.3 miRoller Coaster
0.3 miJefferson Park Trail
0.3 miClemmons Lake Trail
0.3 miLimic Trail
0.3 miLakes & rivers tap for directions
Biking & sports
23 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
4.8 mi
painted or protected bike lanes
18 mi
off-road bike paths
0.2 mi
shoulders & shared lanes
Courts & fields
108Tennis
44Basketball
33Baseball
30Soccer
11Football
8Lacrosse
7Beach volleyball
5Softball
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →57 places on the National Register, one a National Historic Landmark
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 80 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
Academy of MusicBuilding · listed 1969
About itPoint of HonorBuilding · listed 1970
About itLynchburg CourthouseBuilding · listed 1972
About itGarland Hill Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1972
About itOld City CemeterySite · listed 1973
About itWestern HotelBuilding · listed 1974
About itSouth River Friends MeetinghouseBuilding · listed 1975
About itMiller-Claytor HouseBuilding · listed 1976
About itAnne Spencer HouseBuilding · listed 1976
About itMain Hall, Randolph-Macon Women's CollegeBuilding · listed 1979
About itDiamond Hill Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1979
About it45 more on the History page.
When to get out
The best walking months in Lynchburg: April, June and August
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.8 | 10.8 | 11.9 | 13.1 | 14.2 | 14.7 | 14.5 | 13.6 | 12.4 | 11.2 | 10.1 | 9.6 |
| High (°F) | 46 | 50 | 58 | 69 | 76 | 83 | 87 | 85 | 79 | 69 | 58 | 49 |
| Rain (in) | 3.5 | 2.8 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.7 |
February is the driest month (2.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 87 °F). 4.3 inches fall in September, the wettest month. Summer highs reach 87 °F, too hot for the outline. The climate in Lynchburg →
Next door
Lynchburg and its neighbors
Lynchburg has the most mapped trails of the 4 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg | 3% | 0.9 | 14 | 59% | B |
| Timberlake | 4% | 0.2 | 6 | 48% | C+ |
| Madison Heights | 2% | 0.9 | 28 | 9% | B− |
| Forest | 10% | 1.0 | 23 | 39% | B+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Lynchburg
Where can I hike in Lynchburg?
The longest trail networks: Blackwater Creek Natural Area, 7.6 miles; Peaks View Park, 7.3 miles; Riverside Park, 1.6 miles; Ivy Creek Park, 1.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Lynchburg is conserved land?
3% of its land, against a typical 4% for a Virginia town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Lynchburg’s trails?
Blackwater Creek Natural Area and Peaks View Park don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Lynchburg?
23 miles of bike routes are on the map: 4.8 of painted or protected lanes, 18 of off-road paths and 0.2 of shoulders and shared lanes.
Is there public land near Lynchburg?
4,526 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Lynchburg or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,099 of them inside the city line.
How much outdoors does Lynchburg have?
Ahead of 63% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #128 of 253 in Virginia. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Lynchburg neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →