Belle Isle (Richmond, Virginia)

Belle Isle
People on the rocks of Belle Isle
LocationJames R. at US 1/301, Richmond, Virginia
Coordinates37°31′45″N 77°27′09″W / 37.52916°N 77.45254°W / 37.52916; -77.45254
Area54 acres (22 ha)
Architectural styleIndustrial Archeology
NRHP reference No.95000246
Added to NRHPMarch 17, 1995

Belle Isle is a 54 acre island in the city of Richmond, Virginia on the James River, and is part of the James River Park System. It is accessible to pedestrian and bicycle traffic via a suspension footbridge that runs under the Robert E. Lee Memorial Bridge from the northern shore or via a wooden bridge from the southern shore. Except when the water level of the James is high, it is also reachable by foot from the southern shore via easy boulder-hopping. From Belle Isle, one can see Hollywood Cemetery, the old Tredegar Iron Works, and Richmond City's skyline. There are many bike trails around the island as well as a small cliff used for rock climbing instruction.