 A hidden climb with views, history, and a breather at the top.

Start at the Oregon Hill overlook and look toward downtown — tucked beneath the bridge are the old concrete-and-wooden steps that drop toward the river. They’re easy to miss unless you know where to look.

 snap a “before” shot of the skyline and river from the overlook!

Head down carefully and take in the layers of graffiti, greenery, and crumbling stone — a mix of city grit and natural beauty. As you reach the bottom, you’ll cross a small bridge leading into a parking area.

 this route is a back-door way to the concerts and festivals at Browns Island and the Belle Isle trails.

When you reach the bottom there’s a multitude of options for what to do next.

 → cross the pedestrian bridge onto Belle Isle.

 → Brown’s Island and its many amenities, like concert venues, the Civil War Museum, a second pedestrian bridge that leads to the Floodwall Trail and Manchester, and/or the famous Manchester Climbing Wall and its gorgeous city viewpoint.

wide shot of the James River from one of the pedestrian bridges.

A super quick guide to the back-door Browns Island entrance (from Oregon Hill).

"Secret" Staircase: Oregon Hill

need another plot?

Byrd Park Chill

Rainy RVA Day

Daily Grind: Tuesday