New Kent County High Point Trip Report
Date: August 4, 2000
Author: Fred Lobdell
New Kent County's high point lies in a farm field. The minor roads have been changed since the
topographic map was made, and access is a bit more difficult than it might appear from a first glance at
the map.
From the I-64 exit for VA 249 east of Richmond, go northeast on 249 for about a half mile to county 613.
Turn left (north) on 613 and then almost immediately left (northwest) again, staying on 613 as county 611
goes straight. Follow 613 for about 2.5 miles to a second intersection with 611, and turn right (northeast)
on 611. Go about a half mile and turn left (northwest) on county 616. The county line is about 0.6 miles
up this road. Just before the county line there will be a house on the right, and a driveway going into the
yard. The topographic map shows a dirt track continuing past the house and passing through a field and
through the highest contour. However, the dirt track no longer exists on the ground, and another way
must be found to access this high area.
Continue northwest on county 616, passing into Hanover County. The second right, about another half
mile past the county line, is a dirt road called Longhorn Drive. Turn right (northeast) and follow this
road as it bends around to the east and then southeast. Stay right at the fork, not shown on the map.
Where there is an overgrown track leading southwest along a line of telephone poles is where the now
non-existent dirt road comes out. Continue on around to a trailer and large open barn-type structure.
Here I met Tony, who owns the farm and much of the land around. Tony had no problem with my
bushwhacking through some woods and into the farm field, where I stood on top of two rises that were
candidates for the high point. I was accompanied by Kate, Tony's German shepherd, who was friendly but
skittish. Tony explained that when he was granted the easement to put in the road to his present abode,
he had to, as a quid pro quo, give up the easement for the road shown on the topo, so that road has been
abandoned. If you want to do this high point, I would recommend that you drive back to Tony's place and
get his permission.