New River Trail State Park

New River Trail State Park is a rail trail that runs roughly 57 miles through southwestern Virginia on a former railroad corridor. The path passes through forests and fields while following alongside the ancient New River, crossing numerous bridges and tunnels.

A railroad was built along the river valley in the 1800s and later abandoned. Virginia took over the corridor in 1986 and opened it as a state park the following year for public use.

The park serves local and visiting paddlers and anglers who use the New River for kayaking and fly-fishing. These activities shape how people experience the waterway throughout the seasons.

The trail is open to walkers, cyclists, and horse riders, with several access points along its length such as Foster Falls where bikes can be rented and boats launched. The path is relatively flat but quite long, so planning your route and bringing plenty of water is wise.

A standout feature is a roughly 950-foot-long railroad trestle at Hiwassee that spans high above the New River and offers dramatic views into the gorge below. This structure, built originally for train traffic, remains one of the most striking engineering remnants from the railroad era.