Hikes and Walks Around Richmond, VA:North Bank Trail 

This 2.7 mile trail runs along the north bank of the James River between the Boulevard Bridge and the Lee Bridge. It's a rather easy hike but a challenging mountain bike trail. The trail offers nice views of a canal and the James River rapids. As with most trails alongside the James River which can look like a jungle, you would never know you are in downtown Richmond, Virginia.You can hike it as an "out-and-back," but most folks combine this hike with a hike along the south bank (The buttermilk Trail) to create a large loop.