Hopewell City Highpoint Trip Report

seven areas (90+ ft)

Date: October 7, 2004
Author: Don Desrosiers

This one reminds me of A Tale of Two Cities: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

There are no longer seven areas over 90 feet. Two of the areas now sit under I-295. I have still numbered these areas 1-7 going roughly southeast to northwest.

Take I-295 to exit 9A (VA 36). There is a tourist information center on the right. They are nice folks and have good maps.

Area 1 (due west of Woodlawn School) - At the first light on 36, follow signs to Courthouse Road. Turn right onto Glendale. I thought the HP was on the side yard of 3214 Belmont. One could argue for the 3300 Belmont but I didn't think so.

Area 2 (southeast of Woodlawn School) - Go back on Courthouse and turn left onto Dinwiddie. Look near the corner of Gilbert and Dinwiddie at the lot with the two trailers and the junked cars.

Area 3 (very large area) - This one is not called Cedar Levels for nothing. I spent a bunch of time on this one and walked for a long way. I do not know exactly where the highest point is without expensive surveying equipment but I will offer the following possibilities in no particular order.

Open area next to house at the corner of Old Iron and Gilbert. (close to area 2 HP)
Smithfield near Cedar Level Road. There is a small ridge that runs perpendicular to the road and extends northeast to the next street (North Street).
Side yard of 3420 Surry Avenue.
Behind small parking lot on Sycamore near Westlawn next to the white shed.
Sycamore at the end just before the railroad tracks at the Liberty Baptist offices.

Area 4 (south-southwest of Smithfield/Jackson Farms intersection) - Take Cedar Level Road north and turn right onto Franklin. HP is at #404 Smithfield (on the corner).

Area 5 (northwest of trailer park) - You cannot make a left turn from Cedar Level onto Jefferson Farms. Take Smithfield north to Jefferson Farms and turn left. Stay on Jefferson Farms when Cedar Level goes left. Drive to the end and note the noise wall for I-295. I believe this point is somewhere under the northbound lanes of I-295.

Area 6 (small area at city line near powerline) - OK, I admit it. I had more fun with this point that I have had with any other cohp. I-295 now runs pretty much right over the "80" on the map, so there is no easy way to get to this point. I will offer two suggestions. I did them both:

From I-295 going south, cross the Appomattox River Bridge at mile marker 12.5 and see the power line ahead on your right. Suddenly develop a need to go to the bathroom, pull over, scramble up the fairly steep embankment, and get this point. At the same time, note that the small area due south on the city line is either under the southbound lanes of I-295 or definitely lower that the current point.
From points 4 and 5, continue north on Jefferson Farms. It will become S Mesa. At the light after the railroad tracks, turn left onto River Road. Just after you cross I-295, take the first right into the Riverside Regional Jail. I parked in the visitors parking area and walked into the jail to see if I could get permission to go to the cell phone tower which sits between the power line tower and the city line. They looked at me kind of strangely as to why I wanted to go there but finally one of the maintenance guys said he would escort me out there. We drove to the tower and I did a touch and go just to the south of the tower. Somehow I seemed to "know" just where the HP was.