Hiking at New River Trail State Park

Allisonia to Hiwassee

From Allisonia to Hiwassee is a 2.4 mile, easy, slight uphill gradient with no designated parking areas available at either trailhead. Parking may be found on nearby streets near Allisonia and at several points along the route as it approaches Draper. This section of the trail features the one thousand foot long Hiwassee River Bridge over the New River. This bridge is the second longest bridge on the trail that crosses over the New River.

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Austinville to Shot Tower

From Austinville to Shot Tower Historical Park is a 3.6 mile, easy, slight downhill gradient with parking available at the park. The trail runs close to the river along this section which is characterized by the limestone outcroppings along the water's edge. This section of trail features one of only two tunnels along the route from Pulaski to Galax. Be sure to explore Shot Tower Historical Park while in the area.

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Buck Dam to Ivanhoe

From Buck Dam to Ivanhoe is a 3.1 mile, easy, slight downhill gradient with parking available at both trailheads. As you travel this section of the trail you will cross the Wythe County line and begin to notice changes in the area surrounding the trail. A highlight of this section is the two hundred and seventy foot long trestle near Ivanhoe Depot. Throughout this area you will see remains of several industrial sites including several mines, gigantic rock crushers and furnaces for the smelting of iron.

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Byllesby Dam to Buck Dam

From Byllesby Dam to Buck Dam is a 2.6 mile, easy, slight downhill gradient with parking available at both trailheads. The trail follows the New River between the dams. This section of the trail features views of Stoot's Mountain. Like much of the surrounding hills, Sttot's Mountain was once nearly cleared of all of its timber. Today, the vast forests you see are actually new growth that has occurred in just the past few decades. One can only imagine the old growth forests that once greeted settlers to this region.

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Chestnut Yard to Gambetta

From Chestnut Yard to Gambetta is a 3.2 mile, easy, slight downhill gradient with parking available at both trailheads. At Chestnut yard the remains of the railroad's operations are still visible. As the trail follows Chestnut Creek the valley becomes much narrower. This section features a spectacular two-hundred foot long, curved bridge with beautiful views of the creek and surrounding hills. At Gambetta, take a little time to explore and discover some of the rich heritage of the area.

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Cliffview to Chestnut Yard

From Cliffview to Chestnut Yard is a 4 mile, easy, slight downhill gradient with parking available at both trailheads. The trail follows Chestnut Creek with the highlight of this section being Chestnut Falls. There are several smaller bridges along the way as the trail criss-crosses the creek.

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Draper to Dora Junction

From Draper to Dora Junction near Pulaski, is a 4.2 mile, easy, slight downhill gradient with parking available at both trailheads. This section of trail features the three hundred and fifty foot long McAdam Trestle, the four hundred and seventy foot long Peak Creek Trestle, and the unique Ghost Train sculpture by artist Harry McDaniel.

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Foster Falls to Lone Ash

From Foster Falls to Lone Ash is a 5 mile, easy, slight downhill gradient with parking available only at Foster Falls. A brief detour away from the trail offers views of the falls after which the town was named. From the falls to Bertha the trail is somewhat isolated as it winds along the bank of the river. Closer to Lone Ash you will discover several of the highlights of this section of the trail. Near milepost twenty is the grave site of Revolutionary War veteran John Calfee, while just a little ways away is Bertha Cave, a natural wonder that is truly unique and where, at twilight one can often see bats flying from the cave on their nightly forays for food.

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Fries Junction to Byllesby Dam

From Fries Junction to Byllesby Dam is a 2.5 mile, easy, slight downhill gradient with parking available at Byllesby Dam. The trail follows the New River as it flows downstream, to the north. The river's northerly flow is one of its most unique attributes. From here the river flows all the way to the mighty Ohio River and then on to the Mississippi, once the principle means of both moving goods in this region and providing power to the many industries along its banks. A highlight of this section is the one hundred foot long bridge at Brush Creek.

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Fries Junction to Fries

From Fries Junction to Fries is a 5.5 mile, easy, slight uphill gradient with trail access near State Route 721 on the Fries Branch or from parking areas at Byllesby Dam or Gambetta. The Fries branch was an extension of the line from Pulaski, built to service the textile mills erected in Fries at the beginning of the 20th century. The trail follows the New River and features six smaller bridges over small creeks and tributaries.

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Galax to Cliffview

From Galax to Cliffview is a 2.2 mile, easy, slight downhill gradient with parking available at both trailheads. The trail follows Chestnut Creek through the increasingly narrow valley as it approaches Cliffview. Highlights of this section are the Sammy Brown Bridge and the Doctor Edward Dannelly Fitness Center, just across the creek from the Cliffview Campground.

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Gambetta to Fries Junction

From Gambetta to Fries Junction is a 2.5 mile, easy, slight downhill gradient with parking available only at Gambetta. The nearest parking to Fries Junction is near State Route 721 on the Fries Branch or at Byllesby Dam as the trail continues toward Pulaski. This section of trail is worth the effort to explore. Highlights of the section are the two-hundred foot long, curved, Chestnut Tunnel and the more than one thousand foot long bridge over the New River. Directly across the river from Fries Junction is the mouth of Chestnut Creek and the portion of the trail that terminates at Galax.

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Hiwassee to Draper

From Hiwassee to Draper is a 4 mile, easy, slight uphill gradient with no designated parking area available at Hiwassee. The facilities at Draper are quite nice and the town is worth exploring. The rich history of the area is inspiring yet haunting and worthy of note. This section of trail features four bridges or trestles, all over one hundred feet in length. Your climb concludes when you gain the summit near Draper. Whether heading toward Lone Ash or Pulaski, it is down hill from here.

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Ivanhoe to Austinville

From Ivanhoe to Austinville is a 2.8 mile, easy, slight downhill gradient with parking available at Ivanhoe. As the trail follows the New River you will see the evidence of the area's rich industrial history. Milepost 29 marks the location where lead was discovered here in 1756 and mined continuously for the next two hundred years. Perhaps the greatest highlight of this section however, is the seven hundred foot long bridge over the New River at the Ivanhoe River Bridge.

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Lone Ash to Allisonia

From Lone Ash to Allisonia is a 6.4 mile, easy, slight uphill gradient with no designated parking areas available at either trailhead. Parking may be found on nearby streets near both trailheads and at several points along the route. Heading from Lone Ash toward Pulaski you will notice the trail begins to climb. The engineers who laid out the former railroad bed that is now the trail, had to begin planning for the change in elevation at Pulaski. As a result you will notice the trail travels higher above the waters of the New River, and across increasingly longer and higher bridges or trestles. At Island Creek the trail soars across Big Reed Trestle, a seven hundred foot long structure that features spectacular views of the surrounding area.

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New River Trail

The New River Trail is 57 miles in length, and is accessible in Galax, Foster Falls, Shot Tower Historic Park, and at many other points between here and the two other terminus at Pulaski/Xaloy and Fries. Please check specific sections of the trail for detailed access information and locations. The trail is surfaced with fine gravel and earth and is fairly smooth, allowing an easy passage for hikers, bikers, and horseback riders. The trail is handicap accessible although those in wheelchairs may require some assistance at times.

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Shot Tower to Foster Falls

From Shot Tower Historical Park to Foster Falls is a 1.2 mile, easy, slight downhill gradient with parking available at both trailheads. Take a moment to ponder the view from the three hundred and forty foot long bridge over Short's Creek. From the bridge you can see over two hundred and fifty years of transportation history. For centuries people have crossed the river here to transport goods and make their way in everything from canoes to cargo vans. At Foster Falls you can explore the historic area and see evidence of this mining town's rich and storied past.

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Foster Falls Historical Area

Visitors to Foster Falls can see remains of an old railroad and iron furnace historic village; Barns, sheds, mills, general store, furnace and train depot are all that remain. Foster Falls Furnace still stands as a symbol of the iron Industry that used to dominate the area. Foster Falls is also the site of campgrounds, picnic areas, shelters, playground, amphitheater, two boat ramps, as well as horse, canoe and bike livery. Visitors may rent canoes, kayaks, and tubes to float and paddle along the New River. Horse livery operates guided horse rides and pony rides for children under the ages of 11.

• Season/Hours: All Year/Call Park (276) 699-6778
• Fee: Park Fees
• Location:36° 53.0400 -80° 51.5050