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Great Shiplock Park

4.3 (16 reviews)

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Lucky strike from the park
Saysay S.

Great place to park and walk along the river. Not much parking in the lot, maybe 20 spaces. Lots of people park here as it connects with the capital trail. The park itself could use some tlc as the foliage is a bit overgrown and some signs need a fresh coat of paint. Be careful pulling out of the parking lot. Cars tend to speed along dock street.

Joe B.

Perfect if you're visiting if you want to see some history, sights, street art and nice views. Even if you're not an outdoors person it's so easy to get lost in walking a few miles! Need a break? Stop at some of the restaurants on the water or bring some drinks and lunch for a picnic at belle isle.

Great Shiplock views
Kia D.

Cutest little place to have a walk and see great views of the James River! I had forgotten all about this place!! Only downside is the parking lot is small so if a few people are here it can get packed. Nice hiking, walking, bike trails or picnic down by the river!

James River as seen at GSP
Vanessa B.

This is a cute little park. It's excellent for people who enjoy kayaking or swimming as there's a muddy beach entrance to the river on the other side of the canal. I would come here all the time, if I lived in Richmond, by myself to reflect on life, to draw, listen to music, or meditate. There's nothing for small kids to do so it's probably much better suited for adults.

Picture by Dominic B @Great Shiplock Park.
Dee B.

I came across Great Shiplock Park jogging on the Canal Walk. The Great Shiplock Park is a small historic park on the Canal Walk trail. There are many information signs on Great Shiplock Park. All of the signs have interesting information about the Great Shiplock Park history and why the Shiplock is important. You get a nice view of the James River and Rocketts Landing. It's a great place to take pictures of Shokoe Bottom and the James River. There's a small parking lot for visitors.

Ross A.

There's plenty of ways to see the river in Richmond but this way is unique because of the canal and ship lock system which makes for cool and practical landscaping along the banks. I like this place for a casual walk to work off a meal or watch the sunset. Top 5 parks in the city in my opinion.

Dominik D.

I enjoyed this the most on my visit to Richmond. The pedestrian path leading into the park was scenic too. Nice trails and nice views of the industrial part of Schobner.

Beautiful Vistas of rockett's landing

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Review Highlights - Great Shiplock Park

Then, when you go across the little bridge there's an amazing little beach there right in the heart of RVA.

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Forest Hill Park - Flower

Forest Hill Park

4.6(32 reviews)
3.1 miForest Hill Park

This park has amazing trails, gardens, and an amazing playground for kids. It is ADA accessible…read more just know that the playground is next to the Pickleball court.

Beautiful park with a variety of trail offerings. I was here for almost 2 hours and still don't…read morethink I saw everything. There is so much to explore here and offers something for every level of stepper. Whether you're looking for an intense hike or just a leisurely stroll, this is a great spot to be. The park has multiple entrances and different access points which would make multiple visits here still feel fresh. The park is very hilly and has a lot of inclines so keep that in mind. Once you get down to the park you'll be greeted by the lake trail where you can walk in a loop around the stunning lake. You can also do catch and release fishing here which I saw multiple people doing. While the lake trail is paved, this park also has a variety of cobblestone and natural trails as well. The walks are pretty shaded and all have stunning views of either greenery or some water component. This is a great walking spot if you're wanting to really dive into nature and experience some stunning views. This is definitely a more mild intensity walk mainly because of the inclines, they also have stair entrances to get on the trail as well. There were quite a few people on the trail, consisting of families, groups and even solo walkers. Despite its almost secluded nature this park felt relatively safe with the amount of people present. You may want a trail buddy if veering into the natural trails but the paved lake loop was pretty open making it feel safe for solo walkers. Overall, with its variety of entrances, views, and the moderate challenge, this park is a great choice for regular walkers and nature lovers!

Photos
Forest Hill Park - Covered area by the lake

Covered area by the lake

Forest Hill Park - Paths galore

Paths galore

Forest Hill Park - Checking things out.

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Checking things out.

Three Lakes Park and Nature Center - Turtles basking in the sun along the shore.

Three Lakes Park and Nature Center

4.5(23 reviews)
6.4 mi

I had an incredible time at this charming park. As it is getting warmer, I am looking for new to me…read morespots to go on walks after work. Three Lakes Park was the perfect evening refresh. We arrived around 5:30pm and spent until about 7pm exploring all the walking paths. There is something here for everyone. There is a huge playground for little ones, there are paths for walkers/runners/dog walkers, and there were even a bunch of people fishing in the lakes. I love how child-friendly this park is. It felt like most of the bridges, benches, and other fun structures were made by girl or boy scouts. There is a huge parking lot so it's easy to drive to this spot. They also have very clean restrooms. We didn't go in to the nature center, but that was pretty too. I liked that this park had a lot to explore. The water was low enough at one section for us to go to a little island in the middle of one lake. While not all the trees have their leaves yet, I image this is even prettier when everything is in bloom. It was a very serene and lovely place to explore.

Three Lakes is a gem of a park not far from Richmond proper. I love walking here when I happen to…read morebe visiting a business or estate sale nearby and it has always been exceedingly pleasant. This place has plenty of parking, lots of playground equipment, and (as the name suggests) three small lakes to walk around. It's worth noting that the main lake (closes to the park entrance) is where fishing is permitted and has the newest/nicest path as well. The middle lake is enjoyable though is a bit rougher. The far lake was damaged in storms in the past so some of it is pretty rough but still enjoyable to explore. I make sure to hit all three lakes every visit, though if you want a nice clean experience, stick to the main lake. The nature center is nice but fair warning: it's pretty small and won't take more than 10-15 minutes to enjoy in its entirety. Still, the staff member there tends to be nice and there are a few small animals in the little displays there. If you want a fun place to walk (especially if you have kids who like playground equipment), this is a great spot to do it. Overall: 5.0 stars ---- Pros: - Beautiful walking spot. - Pleasant staff. - Lots of free parking. - Fun (if small) nature center. - Plenty of playground equipment for kids. Cons: - It would be great if they fully re-built the third lake, though I suppose the rugged nature of it is part of the charm.

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Three Lakes Park and Nature Center - Turtle

Turtle

Three Lakes Park and Nature Center
Three Lakes Park and Nature Center - A majestic blue heron stands tall in the water.

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A majestic blue heron stands tall in the water.

Great Shiplock Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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