Texas Beach
Texas Beach, part of the James River Park System, is a 4.8 mile hiking trail with beach access locations along its narrow pathway. It’s a popular destination for dog walkers, hikers, and beachgoers alike. Parking for the entrance/exit is located off of Texas Avenue in Richmond City.
Hiking shoes are recommended to traverse down the steep stairs and root-covered hill that reaches a bridge crossing train tracks. If you’re lucky, you may see the train cross directly underneath you as you walk toward the stair tower, covered in murals, that leads to Texas Beach’s path.
As you walk down a narrow sand path strewn with roots and rocks, you will pass several hidden alcoves where you can rest in the sun or shade. You may need to wade through a narrow stream or bound from boulder to boulder in order to reach some secluded spots, but the adventure is well worth it.
Along the narrow sand and dirt pathway, wilderness literally reaches out from around you. Hibiscus flowers, Bearsfoot, and other wild flowers are frequently in bloom and splash bright colors across the greenery. In the fall, mushrooms sprout up from fallen logs.
There are a few points of destination along the trail. One is Charlie’s Crossing, a series of wooden bridges put in by James River Park staff, James River Hikers, and Ellie Minasian, whose dog this trail addition is named after. Now no one needs to risk their lives, or the lives of their pets, crossing the train tracks on the Texas Beach trail.
A second point of destination after Charlie’s Crossing is the Foushee Mill, built in 1819 by Dr. William Foushee. It was abandoned as a mill in the 1830s, and while there is nothing overly special about the mostly granite mill, or its history, the structure, at almost 200 years old, has survived flooding, vandalism and Mother Nature!
The journey is as gratifying as the end destination. Once you find your space, you can spread out your towel, break out your book, and relax as if you’re in a remote tropical paradise. The hardest part is the walk back after a long day in the sun.
Visit Texas Beach:
Parking: 1941 Texas Ave. (south end of Texas Ave., near Maymont), parking for 30 cars
Bathroom: Port-a-Potty
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Elle Christine Travels 