New river trail State Park

10/10/2018

New river trail State Park

Read Now

The New river trail-virginia

General information

The New River State Park is the longest linear park in Virginia, passing through 57 miles of the Blue Ridge highlands. It travels on an abandoned railroad right-of-way through the counties of Grayson, Carroll, Wythe, and Pulaski as well as the cities of Galax and Pulaski. The trail is designed to accommodate horse riding, bicycling, and hiking. It parallels the New River for 39 miles and is covered by a lush canopy of trees.

The trail is approximately 4 to 6 feet wide made of a low grade crushed stone and cinders. Because it was once used as a railroad to haul iron ore across the state, the total elevation rise or fall is less than a 3% grade. That means the average occasional trail user should have no problem traveling along the trail.

The trail offers primitive camping, potable water, 5 non-flush toilets, rest spots with picnic tables along with location maps, and many roadway access points. There is also a livery for horses and at the Foster Falls Park headquarters one can rent bicycles and canoes and arrange for guided horse back riding trips.

The New River is the oldest river in the state of Virginia, and some of the structures along the river are at least 100 years old. Iron ore furnaces, along with the Shot Tower, are within eyesite of the trail. Shot Tower was used to make aminuition for use in the Civil War. The Draper Mercantile with it's front porch rockers and country style restaurant and inn have served people for as long.

The tail offers bridge/trestle crossings of the New River at Hiwassee 951 feet, Ivahoe 670 feet and Fries 1,089 feet. There are also about 30 smaller trestle crossings. In railroad terms a trestle is a small bridge crossing made up of short deck sections joined together and supported underneath by piers in the water the entire width of the river. A bridge is usually a long river crossing where the entire deck is supported from both banks of the river and has very few support structures in the river.

One travels through two tunnels of 135 and 193 feet. The tunnels are also used by hikers and horse back riders. It is very dark in the tunnels, and to be safe you should have a light on your bike to help you see and to alert anyone else of you presence.

the Guided bicycle Tour

The New River State Park at 116 Orphanage Drive, Max Meadows, VA 24360, publishes a map of the trail. Their website is www.newrivertrail@dcr.virginia.gov.