Nature & Parks in Charlottesville

THE 10 BEST Charlottesville Parks & Nature Attractions

Nature & Parks in Charlottesville

Nature & Parks
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20 places sorted by traveller favourites
  • Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.
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What travellers are saying

  • Amy P
    Saint Charles, ID6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Breathtaking mountaintop views surround you in the peace of Monticello! We enjoyed our tours learning more about the history of Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of our nation, the Father of the Declaration of Independence and founder of the University of VA! We also
    enjoyed learning about his family and about the enslaved people and the significant impact and contributions they each made.
    Free shuttle service is offered with your ticket, from the main gate area to Monticello. Delicious and healthy food options are available on site as well as at the 18th century pub/tavern with exceptional service. We enjoyed visiting the museum and shopping at the gift shop! They have the best homemade bottled root beer and ginger ale. We appreciate the hospitality and professional service we received from each staff members from start to finish. I highly recommend visiting this beautifully preserved historical site!
    Written 14 March 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • AcademicCompanion
    Arlington, VA84 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We walked from the lower end of the trail near Virginia State Route 53 to the upper end leading to the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center. The trail is well-groomed and wide but it is also a good workout since it goes up and down a mountain. Quite a few of the plants are labeled and the ten extended boardwalks are elevated enough to provide good views. There are also plenty of benches along the trail. The Rubinstein Visitor Center is very convenient. Even if you don’t buy tickets for Monticello, you may use the restrooms, eat at the café, and visit the gift shop, and enjoy the surrounding grounds.
    Written 26 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • AcademicCompanion
    Arlington, VA84 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    I live in a block of Charlottesville that is surrounded by two main roads and is not good for walking. Therefore, it was a treat to walk as much as I liked in an area with natural beauty and no traffic.

    I took the red trail, which leads to a creek and a reservoir and then walked back. It was a good workout for me. Since parts of the trail are steep with rocks and roots, I needed a walking stick, which park staff were able to lend. I also walked on part of the field (F) trail to the observation area and the butterfly pollinator garden. The butterfly pollinator garden was a particular highlight for me because there are so many beautiful flowering plants right now.
    The park staff were very helpful with advising me about the trails and I enjoyed interacting with the other park visitors. I look forward to coming back to further explore the trails and learn more about the nature in the area.
    Written 19 August 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Garnermom
    Garner, NC107 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very peaceful place to take a walk along the river. It would have been a nice place to bike, as well. Oh well, maybe next time!
    Written 12 October 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Sev1579
    Stanardsville, VA35 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Took my 3 year old son during a weekday when I was off. This is a great place for kids around his age and maybe a few years older. He had a blast and has already asked to go back several times. He really liked the two slides they have. I probably would not go there during times in which there would be higher traffic such as weekends, just because the place is not huge. We got there shortly after it opened on a Thursday and stayed for about 90 minutes and by the end of our stay there were probably 15 or so other kids there. You get too many kids of that age climbing up things, I could see the injury likelihood ramping up a bit, plus it seemed like there were a handful things in there that seemed to draw the most kids. Staff was pretty nice. I had never been there before so the guy on duty went over everything.
    Written 23 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • craig M
    6 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    enjoyable hike, very clean, not a lot of steep hills, Not much parking. warn path easy to follow, watch for hidden stumps on the trail, they will trip you up.
    Written 13 September 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Stephanie W
    Charlottesville, VA1,541 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Chris Green is down the road from the airport, about 20 minutes north of Cville. There is a man-made beach on one side of the lake and protected swimming areas open between Memorial and Labor Day. There is playground equipment near the beach for younger ones and they offer swimming lessons during the summer. The boat is a nice option for kayaking and there is plenty of space for biking, running, etc.

    There is an entrance fee. You can pay the daily fee or get an annual pass through the county if you go more than a couple times each year.
    Written 9 November 2017
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Dave I
    Westover, MD947 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Took our dog to this park while visiting Charlottesville VA. Definitely a hidden Gem. Walking trails, playground and right next to a very scenic river. Dog friendly (must be on a leash). Port-a-potties on site with adequate parking. Little off the beaten path.
    Written 14 November 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • efg
    Berlin, Germany24 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    This is no longer Emancipation Park. This is now called Market Street Park. The location is historical for two reasons. First, it was the site where in the 1920s, some six decades after the end of the Civil War, a white supremacist erected a statue of Robert E Lee in order to instill fear in the local Black community; indeed, days before its unveiling, the Klan marched in Charlottesville.

    Second, the park was part of the scene for the infamous Unite the Right rally, where rally organizers conspired to commit racial violence (affirmed by a court of law to have done so), and partook in a massive riot and act of terrorism against Charlottesville.

    In this setting, the park has been renamed, and the statue of Lee has been removed. This is now a simple park, a host to many events, and a nice spot to read a book, free from the watchful gaze of a monument to a traitor.
    Written 7 January 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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