Great place to visit on a hot sunny day. In weekends its hard to find parking and all rocks will be filled by people! Still you will find a place and take a dip in the beautiful river!

Better on weekdays lately, Its not as crowdedThank God for this place! A great go-to and are still able to social distance if you find the right spot! Pet friendly

Amazing place! My favorite spot in Richmond! Go for long walks and bike rides (trail leads right back to parking lot), I even take my kids swimming here! Lots of cool rock-pools to hang out in without worrying about the kids being washed down the river

Such a lovely trail to walk, engage with new friends and meditate and speak with the Lord! A beautiful pkace to walk with Jesus.

I will probably go to Belle isle from now on because Pony Pasture is super crowded most of the time. My recommendation is if you dont want to smell marijuana and be right next to another group, go to one of the other spots on the James. I had lots of fun once we went to Belle isle and found a big rock. we all sat and chilled out with some Root beer and chips. It was still a little crowded but better than Pony Pasture

Gorgeous! The area was very crowded today because the weather was beautiful! Go on a day that is not as crowded and youll find multiple areas to go for a swim, kayak/canoe or just play in the water.We left shortly after the cop yelled, EVERYONE WHO IS PARKED IN THE STREET WILL BE TOWED!!

Lovely spot right on the river. Rocks to hop, mellow rapids to float, sun to bathe in...whats not to like?

Beautiful walking trails along the James River. Trails and paths to walk and hike, as well as spots along the shoreline to stop and enjoy the river.

Went on a Tuesday so it wasnt crowded. If you go on the weekends, get there early so you dont have to fight for parking. Very fun place to relax and swim. I would recommend swimming shoes for grip on the rocks

Its always going to be a cool place the teen youth to hang out

A bit of a turn around at the one intersection near this lot (river road and someplace else...) And its got a number of bumps but its a lot with good amounts of room and clear directions to get in and out

Do yourself a favor and go tubing here! Takeout at Reedy Creek lot. So much fun!!

Beautiful, relaxing place. A most visit during the summer.

Nice, big parking lot. Watch out for the dip at the entrance though.

Gorgeous. The park is clean and so serine. Has beautiful walking trails that lead to amazing picnic spots. Great place to run or bring your pupper.

Easy parking. Short walk on maintained trails to the river. Excellent set of steps to the water. big rocks to climb on.

I love this place it is absolutely beautiful and so peaceful! However unfortunately some people have decided not to be respectful. Throwing trash and food waste all around there is just NO sense in that.Considering it is a public place I think everyone should have RESPECT!

Great place to park for river tubing. I have done the float from pony pasture to reedy creek several times. Its a nice relaxing float that takes about 3 hours.

My sister and I went tubing here on July 4th. We dropped one car off at Reedy Creek and drove the other to Pony Pasture and had a wonderful trip down the river. Just make sure to use lots of sunblock if you hang out on the water or on the rocks for very long!

A nice place for a morning walk. A good weekend starter.

Sweet views of the James River, good birdwatching and walking trails.

Perfect place to bring pups and walk through nature!

Good trials for walks alone or with family either close to the water or deep in the woods!

One of my favorite spots to go for a walk in Richmond. Pony Pasture is a large, sprawling park that borders up against the river and has some of the best views you can find in town.Definitely plan on spending a bit of time here, Pony Pasture makes for a great afternoon adventure!

It’s just too small for the amount of people who want to visit. Cars were lined up EVERYWHERE outside of the parking lot, and cops were aggressively towing and ticketing. Pony Pastures itself is amazing, but the parking is insufficient.

Was looking for a good river spot and found this place. Will visit again. Its a nice lil spot.

Amazing river access. Parking lot needs paving

Too crowded! Nobody wearing masks. Had to leave but seems fun though

Not a lot of places for children under 5 to swim. Overall gorgeous area.

Theyve done a great job maintaining these trails. Everyones doing their best to stay 6ft apart so we can keep enjoying the greatest outdoors in the states.

Beautiful place, easy access and shallow pools for small children to play and wade.

Good for a nice stroll in the am, but keep an eye out for snakes while walking this time of year I almost stepped on a baby ring neck then a few minutes later ran into a big rat snake but other then that it’s very nice if you like nature and walking!

Good place. Enjoyed the place.

One of the best place in Richmond. You can really enjoy in the water, its very much relaxing to sit in the rocks and it has some real good trails to walk. Only issue is to find a parking space as it will be full always in summer.

This is a magical spot for walks in the nature. Quiet, peaceful and truly beautiful!

Not enough parking on busy weekends. Fills up, and then people park in crazy places, causing traffic jams. Lots of illegal street parking, and the small residential streets are far too narrow to accommodate the illegal parking. Also, poor bathroom facilities. City of Richmond should expand and upgrade the parking and facilities

Had a great labor day weekend picking pawpaws. They were awesome!

Great place to enjoy the river but the parking lot is a complete nightmare on weekends!

Super river views. Great wading opportunities when the river is low. Wooded trails along the river. Good picnic spots. Restrooms near parking area. River provides opportunities for fishing, kayaking and canoeing.

Nice river views and hiking trails.

Often busy, we went when the river was high to get a look at it. We have been here a number of times and enjoyed the trails and rocks. Suggestion: have a donation box on site for those who park there and use the money to repair the POTHOLES! Its awful! The condition of the parking lot is terrible and it seems that a donation collection could solve the problem.

Parking is plentiful as long as you get there early...before 9am! The trails are beautiful as is the views of the James River!

Very relaxing, but I wish people take the trash with them.

Get there early in the summer, this is a small lot and it fills up quickly! The park is well kept and the swimming is great! Safety vest required when the River is over 5 feet, rocks can be slippery and sharp! Highly recommend swimming shoes in the water!! This is close to my absolute favorite place to be in the summer months in Richmond! Enjoy!!!

Great place for river hangs

Needs more spots where you can park alongside river, for easier access, the parking lot at end of Riverside is rough with potholes, and gets packed in summer. Perhaps allow street parking in winter when there are no crowds.

We loved going to Pony Pasture! I recommend wearing water shoes because our feet got torn up a lot but other then that it was worth it and so much fun for myself and my kiddos. The rapids werent to crazy and just right for my 7, 9 and 11 year olds.

Beautiful place to admire nature!

Always packed but great easy trails for hiking

Great place to walk with your dog. Peaceful...

We have been going to Pony pasture for a decade or more. When we are there we know the day is going to be full of water and fun.

Great hiking spot! Easy path on the water. If you walk in far enough, there are some good, low traffic, water entry spots for overexcited doggos. If you take a right out of the lot and head up to the old parking area, there is also a great little climbing spot. Good place to get outside without much effort.

Beautiful place to go for a walk, unwind, and sit by the water! So much to see and enjoy.

My stomping grounds...my place of peace.....been exploring this beautiful river since i was a little girl....hometown rva

Very beautiful area by the lake!

Ive frequented The Pony Pasture and all throughout the James River system in Richmond for 40 years. This is a beautiful Park system along this amazing River and theres always a private spot if you explore.And if youre a swimmer or canoeist or kayaker, wading across the river to any of the islands dotting the James between Huguenot Bridge and pony pasture assures youll find a private spot with some private beaches available with rope swings in various spots that most locals know and youll just have to find :-)The biggest tip I can give anyone is wear shoes in and around the river!Get an old pair of shoes that will drain water easily and not become waterlogged and wear them in this River where most rocks are smooth, but where the occasional sharp object can slice your foot wide open. Plus it gives better grip on the rocks and in between the rocks where the growth of plant life can make these excessively slippery.Every good Richmonder has a pair of River ShoesThere are Copperhead snakes, Water Moccasins and other creatures here that do have the potential of harming you but in all my years Ive never heard of anyone being bitten by a snake at the James River.Snakes will quickly depart the area where humans dwell but you can occasionally surprise these snakes that sometimes will be sunning themselves along warmer parts of paths or near rocks mostly away from where people gather. So just be cautious but definitely not scared.And never ever body surf this River or attempt to navigate Hollywood Rapids when the river is swollen. You can die! Ive sadly lost a few careless friends over the years. Respect the river.That being said have a great time and please dont bring glass, and please clean up any debris you may bring and maybe a little extra too to keep this park system clean and beautiful for everyone!

Great place to escape...plenty of trails...the sound of the rushing water can drown at all others if youd like it to. Take a picnic and enjoy the day...

Nice little area to spend on the river!

Awesoooooome. Find a good rock, and chill.

I love coming here to swim in the summer. Nice place to hang out on the rocks, take the kids and the pups. Parking can get full later in the day after noon.

Easy access to the river

People, fun and hikes.

Very refreshing.

Nice place to cool off. Water is a nice temperature to cool off in. I would have given a 5 but there a lot of rude people. We were literally on the smallest rock and a group of 15 people came and took it over. Set up their bbq 3 feet from us which killed the whole point of trying to cool off. Its a fun place for kids to enjoy the river and explore. Bring food and something to sit on and enjoy.

Safe parking and easy access to the river

Best access to fun rapids in the city. Gorgeous sunsets to watch IN the river.

One of the best places to go adventuring on the river. Huge ancient boulders to sun bathe or chill out on. You would definitely need water shoes though.

Pony Pasture is a great place to go and unwind. There are trails and rocks to climb on in the river. Places to set up and have a nice outdoor meal. Fishing is good, and parking is ample. Bring your blanket or an Eno and hang out for a while!

Fun place to cool off!

My wife and I enjoyed lounging in the rapids and crossing the rocks. Great place. Plenty of parking and a bathroom facility

Went there a couple of times. Amazing place to go to for a swim. Huge rocks you can climb on in the river, little pools of deeper water(maybe 5-7 feet deep) to soak in near the rocks. Overall just a really good experience. Dont need to walk too far, maybe a couple hundred feet left or right to find a suitable spot on the river you like. (Theres trails leading left and right from the parking lot, then split off multiple times to go directly to the river). No intense hiking at all, just flat gravel/dirt trails everywhere.

Beautiful view calming sounds

Great viewing of the River, the parking lot is pothole paradise

Parking available almost all year, but on hot summer days even the overflow parking is often taken up. This requires you to walk a long distance. Also, the gate closes at sundown!

Great Place to go swimming and not too crowded either. Recommend some water shoes.

Water was nice. Very low currents were fast place was packed. But was awesome the kids.

Great for picnics and fun for family

Nice trails, great spots to dip in the river. Views are perfect.

Bring your tubes, kayaks, canoes or just towels and picnic! So much to do. We hiked out to a large rock in the middle of the James, set up our towels and enjoyed splashing and swimming in the James. Kids had a blast. Fun for half a day or entire day. Loved it!

The parking lot has lots of scary potholes for my little car but there are some beautiful trails here and fantastic beaches on the James river Theyre hidden away which is perfect if youre wanting to enjoy the river all to yourself.

River and area are simple but nice. The parking lot is small so not enough parking spaces.

Rough lot that fills to capacity. Would be nicer if bigger and/or paved.

Good parking. Pretty safe. Maybeore signs are needed directing to different areas

Beautiful landscape and clean grounds. Parking was a little shoddy but otherwise everything was great

My happy place

Great place to hike along the James River

Pretty and peaceful what more to say

Good place for the family on non holidays. This place is as good as you make it. Clean up after yourselves people!

Parking lot is always overflowing, and is not large enough for demand, but is a great place to put into the river to float downstream. Also several shore places to fish and swim.

Easy access to the river, tons of hiking trails, public restrooms and a large parking lot make this one of the best parks of the James River Parks system in Richmond. Watch out for the pot holes in parking lot area though. Summer months find the lot very full to capacity with good weather so get there early and make a day of it.Also when hiking beware of poison ivy along the edges of trails! Enjoy the nature and leave only footprints.

Always packed in the summer. Get there early to get a parking space.

Perfect place for the whole family! We had a picnic on one of the rocks by the river and it was so nice and relaxing

Been going on river here for years. Very unique park and beautiful!

Great place tobe if u love by water or just unwinding from the stress from a hard day at work

The area is really clean and its a great park to go with friends or family. Richmond does have better river parks but pony is a great default one

Parking is alright. It gets crowded early on weekends though. And by 10:30/11am youll be lucky to find a spot. Also, the lot is loose gravel and dirt with lots of potholes and bumps, like, serious holes and bumps! So, go slow!

Very nice and peaceful

Great fun for fishing and crossing river without any help.

Lovely place,great adventure didnt want to go home....

Great day with my grandkids and daughter down on the James river