900-acre county-owned park on the Rivanna River to host mountain biking state championship on Oct 5 & 6
Matt Stancil’s love of mountain biking hit a new gear when he came to Fluvanna County. After years spent riding in other parks, a visit to the secluded 20+ miles of trails at Pleasant Grove Park had the new resident hooked.
“For anybody who enjoys old-school single-track– this is the place to go,” he said.
The extensive trail network (and the 900-acre park itself) is nestled along the Rivanna River. The descent to the river creates major elevation changes on many of the trails, making them fast, challenging, and perfect for mountain biking.
“I constantly hear people that are from out of the area say that they had no idea this was here, and that it’s a hidden gem,” he said. “When I started riding out here 15 years ago, I felt the same way.”
In fact, Pleasant Grove is such a prime spot for mountain biking that it will serve yet again as the home of the marathon mountain biking state championship on October 5 and October 6. The family-friendly event brings bikers and families who camp overnight and race on Sunday. Race Day features food trucks, a beer garden, exhibitors, and a fun, festival environment.
The race itself only utilizes 10 miles of the trail system, leaving a large section of the park open to explore. Attendees can also take to the river to fish, float, or kayak. (Kayaks can be rented from Fluvanna County Parks and Rec.)
“This event brings people who haven’t been here to a huge park with great seclusion,” he said. “It also brings riders from out of area to put eyes on our trail system and see how nice it is.”
In addition to some of the best mountain biking in central Virginia, the county-owned park offers much more. The trails are also excellent for hiking and horseback riding. Other Pleasant Grove features include:
– 18-hole disc golf course
– Quality dog park
– Riverfront beach
– Birding
– Pleasant Grove House Museum
– Farm Heritage Museum
– Picnic shelters
– Pollinator and Community Garden
“When people see it for the first time, they say, ‘I’m going to have to come back because there is so much more to see than I can do in a day,’” Stancil said.
Stancil himself comes back almost every day. He picked up a part-time seasonal job with Fluvanna County Parks and Rec to maintain trails, and the position grew to full time. Now, in addition to trail maintenance and supporting park events, Stancil has become a mountain biking ambassador in Pleasant Grove. He has also turned his passion for it into a Facebook page, Fluvanna Trail Guy.
“Initially, I just wanted to use it as a way for people to see more information about the trails,” he said. “With more than 20 miles of trails, it can be overwhelming to a first-time visitor.”
Stancil hosts group rides for the Charlottesville-Area Mountain Biking Club and other groups, as well as serving as a trail guide resource for those riders new to Pleasant Grove.
He’s also developed a skills clinic for beginners new to mountain biking. The one-day clinics will be open every Saturday in November. Those who are new to the sport and do not yet have a bike can even borrow one that he refurbished with Parks and Rec or contact him for other options.
With such a secluded, challenging, and extensive trail network, Pleasant Grove Park may just be the best mountain biking in Virginia that no one is talking about. And a perfect place to learn and grow a new sport.
“It offers all that elevation change,” he said. “Tight, flowy single track as well as areas that are flat and easy to ride… There’s a wide range of difficulty levels.”
For more information, visit FindFluvanna.org.
Top Photo by Laura Carson
