New River Trail State Park is a premiere rail trail and has been designated an official National Recreation Trail by the U. S. Department of the Interior. The park parallels 39 miles of the New River, which is one of the world's oldest rivers and among a handful of rivers flowing north.
New River Trail State Parks has 39 miles of rail trail
GENERAL INFO
- Two tunnels: 135 feet and 193 feet long
- Three major bridges: Hiwasee - 951 feet; Ivanhoe - 670 feet; Fries Junction - 1,089 feet
- Nearly 30 smaller bridges and trestles
- A shot tower used more than 200 years ago to make ammunition
- Park Size: 1,337 acres. Width averages 80 feet; length from Galax to Pulaski, 51.5 miles; Fries Branch, 5.5 miles; the total length is 57 miles.
HISTORY OF THE NEW RIVER TRAIL STATE PARK
In December 1986, Norfolk Southern Corporation donated a 57-mile tract of abandoned railroad right-of-way to the Commonwealth of Virginia for the establishment of a new state park. Because railroad tracks had previously been on the strip of land, the cinder roadbed needed very little grading. With the help and support of volunteer groups and chambers of commerce in the region, the park was able to open in May 1987 with four miles of trail. Since then approximately 57 miles of the park are open to the public.
Ride the very scenic trail along the New River
The trail is perfect for everyone
Click here for a map of the entire trail system (PDF), here for a map of the northern section or here for a map of the southern section.
New River Trail State Park, 176 Orphanage Dr., Foster Falls, VA 24360; Phone: (276) 699-6778. Click here for a Google Map.
