6 Reasons to Hit the Trail for the Loop de'Ville Festival

The Rivanna Trail is one of Charlottesville and Albemarle County’s most unique outdoor resources. The 20+ mile trail forms a loop that circles the city, providing a quick get-away from the buzz of the town to the peace and quiet of nature. The trail runs along sections of the scenic Rivanna River and can be hiked, biked, or walked.

If you’ve been meaning to experience the Rivanna Trail, don't miss the Loop de’Ville Festival now taking place on Sunday, October 6 due to flooding rains at the end of September! This annual event is entirely free and includes everything from group bikes and hikes to a free After Party concert.

Here are 6 reasons you'll want to register for this year's Loop de’Ville!

#1. Get 20 Miles of Car-Free Trails

Minutes from Downtown Charlottesville

It’s rare to find a car-free stretch of trails so close to city life! The Rivanna Trail can be easily accessed all across the city, offering you plenty of chances to make a whole day out of your trail experience by grabbing a tasty meal or beverage along the route. There are several craft breweries located near the trail like Hogwaller Brewing, Decipher Brewing, and Selvedge Brewing, as well as cafe and sandwich stops like Bodo's Bagels and The Workshop at The Wool Factory. You can explore more "Points of Interest" on the map below.

The Rivanna Trail wraps around the heart of Charlottesville, providing a wide range of hotels and accommodations you can stay in, from a boutique hotel to a B&B.

#2. Experience the Entire 20-Mile Loop

Join a guided run, hike, or ride!

Many visitors have experienced smaller sections of the Rivanna Trail from popular hop-on points like Riverview Park or Woolen Mills. The Loop deVille festival provides the opportunity to complete a guided and supported hike, run, or bike of the entire 20+ mile loop! Each group will hit the trail at different start times.

20-Mile Full Loop Run

Start Time: 8 AM at Rivanna River Company

Difficulty Level: This is a strenuous run — 20 miles over occasionally uneven terrain. There will be a number of volunteers in the group, and over the course of the run, participants may spread out into faster and slower groups. But assess your endurance honestly. . . and break in your shoes before the day!

20-Mile Full Loop Hike

Start Time: 8:30 AM at Rivanna River Company

The festival’s signature event since 2002!

Difficulty Level: This is a strenuous hike – not technically difficult, but it’s a long day. There will be a number of volunteers in our group and over the course of the day that may fall into faster and slower groups, but please assess your endurance and break in your boots before the hike day.

20-Mile Full Loop Bike

Start Time: 11 AM, 1 PM, or 2:30 PM (depending on your speed) at Rivanna River Company

Join a group ride around the entire 20-mile Rivanna Trail loop. There will be three group rides available, depending on speed and experience.

#3. Explore a Smaller Section of the Trail

Only want to do a mile or two of the trail? No problem! The festival offers shorter events that only cover small sections of the loop.

Join for what you want and nothing more. Some folks are even doing team relays!

Pick a section of the Loop and run, hike or bike an out-and-back. Bring two cars and drop one at your desired destination, or plan to hop on with the guided group at any Cheer Zone!

You can choose your section using the routes from Rivanna Trail Monthly Walks but be sure to check in at any Cheer Zone when you arrive for your trail experience! There’s plenty of parking at each Cheer Zone location with fluids and snacks that you’re welcome to take with you and/or enjoy when you’re done.

#4. Choose Your Speed

No matter the speed you recreate at, there’s a group event for you. Cyclists can choose from three different levels of the group ride on Saturday.

Slow Ride | 11:00 AM

Duration: 6-7 Hours

Brisk Ride | 1:00 PM

Duration: 4-5 Hours

Fast Ride | 2:30 PM

Duration: 2.5-3 Hours

#5. Join the Free After Party

You don't have to complete the Loop to join the celebrations

Saturday night is when the fun really takes off! Join the After Party at Rivanna River Company for a free concert from Ebony Groove with DJ Double U, local beers, and food truck fare, plus a raffle with some seriously sick prizes, and loads of fun celebrating the accomplishments on the trail (whether you Looped that day or not)!

The group hike will end at the Rivanna River Company about 5 PM in time for the concert. Beer and food can be purchased at Hogwaller Brewing all afternoon. Local beer, wine, and food trucks will be on-site at Rivanna River Company starting at 12 PM, with the concert beginning at 4:30 PM.

This family-friendly event is free and open to the public – everyone is invited! Participation in the weekend’s trail events is not required to attend the concert and After Party.

#6. Preserve and Expand the Reach of the Rivanna Trail

The Loop de’Ville Festival exists to introduce the beauty of the trail system to the wider community and ensure it continues to exist for generations to come! Proceeds raised throughout the Festival weekend will benefit the Rivanna Trails Foundation which is dedicated to maintaining the trail, expanding its offerings, and reaching a wider and more diverse set of trail users.

By taking part in an event or attending the After Party, you’ll contribute to the Rivanna Trails Foundation’s new trail maintenance program which will hire local youth from underserved communities in Charlottesville to help maintain and experience the Rivanna Trail.

Don’t miss the chance to take part in this special outdoor event! Registration is now open on the Rivanna Trails website where you can find more information on all the rides and regular trail programming.

See you on the trail!