New River Trail State Park
Virginia State Park And National Recreation Trail; The State'S Only Linear Park, On The Former Norfolk And Western Railbed Along The New River · Foster Falls, Virginia
Fifty-seven miles of former Norfolk and Western railbed running from Pulaski down to Galax and Fries, and Virginia's only linear state park - a ribbon of land about eighty feet wide and nearly sixty miles long. For thirty-nine of those miles it follows the New River, which despite the name is reckoned among the oldest rivers on earth and is one of the few in North America that runs northward. The grade is a railroad grade, which means it is almost flat the entire way; the surface is packed crushed stone; and the interest is in the engineering left behind - nearly thirty trestles, three bridges over the river itself and two tunnels cut through rock. The hub is at Foster Falls, where an 1887 village, a livery for horse riders, a campground and the 1807 Shot Tower all sit within a few hundred yards of each other. It is the quieter and longer sibling of the Virginia Creeper an hour south-west: no famous downhill, no shuttle economy, far fewer people, and a great deal more river.
176 Orphanage Drive, Foster Falls, Foster Falls, Virginia, 24360, United States
Trail open daily, generally dawn to dusk, and free to use; a parking fee applies per vehicle at the developed access points such as Foster Falls. Visitor centre, livery, bike hire, shuttles and river outfitters are SEASONAL, mainly spring to autumn. Camping by reservation. Confirm there are no long-term trestle or bridge closures before planning an end-to-end ride - flooding has damaged sections in the past. Carry a light for the two tunnels.
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