The New River Trail State Park is a 57 mile linear park that was formerly a branch of the Norfolk & Western Railway. We leisurely bicycled the entire trail over a three-day period in September 2014. To keep from biking the entire trail twice, we took two vehicles on our trip. After paying the daily parking fee for both vehicles, we dropped one vehicle off at our destination before we drove to our starting point. As this was our first multiple-day ride and we weren't confident in our abilities, we decided to enhance our odds of completing the trail by riding the trail in a generally downstream direction. This meant that our starting point was Galax and our ending point was Pulaski. The 5.5 mile Fries spur didn't offer parking at both ends, so I rode that section both directions. While there are numerous lodging choices in the area including camping, motels and bed & breakfasts, we chose a motel in centrally located Fort Chiswell as our base during the trip.
The smooth, packed trail surface is a combination of cinders and finely crushed limestone. The surface material requires a bit more pedaling than a paved surface, so there isn't much opportunity for coasting. In addition, we found the bicycle chains pick up enough grit that they need to be cleaned and lubricated every evening. Neither of these points should deter anyone from biking this easy and well-maintained trail through the beautiful valley of the New River. This is an excellent bike trail that I highly recommend.
Starting at Galax, the trail follows Chestnut Creek downstream to the New River at Fries Junction. From Fries Junction, the trail follows the New River to Ivanhoe.
Trail Segment
| Segment Mileage | Total Mileage |
---|---|---|
Galax to Cliffview | 2.2 | 2.2 |
Cliffview to Cliffview Campground | 1.2 | 3.4 |
Cliffview Campground to Chestnut Yard | 2.8 | 6.2 |
Chestnut Yard to Gambetta | 3.2 | 9.4 |
Gambetta to Fries Junction | 2.5 | 11.9 |
Fries Junction to Byllesby Dam | 2.5 | 14.4 |
Byllesby Dam to Buck Dam | 2.6 | 17.0 |
Buck Dam to Ivanhoe | 3.1 | 20.1 |
Galax is an independent city of about 7,000 people and has proclaimed itself as the "World Capital of Old Time Mountain Music". The annual Old Fiddler's Convention has been held here since 1935.
A Norfolk & Western caboose at the Galax trail head |
Gravel parking area and gazebo at Galax |
Restrooms with running water are available at Galax |
First bridge over Chestnut Creek in Galax |
Chestnut Creek |
Second bridge over Chestnut Creek in Galax |
Picnic shelter and parking area at Cliffview just outside Galax |
Cliffview Station houses a trail gift shop and information center |
Vault toilets at Cliffview campground |
Amphitheater at Cliffview campground |
Campground access bridge from parking area |
Cliffview campsites in the woods near Chestnut Creek |
Chestnut Creek |
Chestnut Creek Falls |
Bridge over Chestnut Creek just below falls |
Chestnut Creek Falls from trail bridge |
Chestnut Yard turntable |
Looking upstream from a bridge 8.3 miles from the Galax trailhead |
Small rapids on Chestnut Creek from the trail |
Looking back up Chestnut Creek |
Gravel trail |
Tunnel 11.2 miles from Galax trailhead |
The tunnel is short enough that a headlight may not be required |
Looking back at the tunnel |
New River bridge with a Pulaski 40 mile marker |
The New River bridge crossing to Fries Junction is 1,089 feet long |
Crossing the New River |
An island in the New River |
Continuing across the bridge |
Looking back at the bridge from just upstream of Fries Junction |
Picnic shelter at Fries Junction |
New River at Brush Creek |
Brush Creek |
Mushrooms along the trail |
Bench and fire ring beside New River above Byllesby Dam |
Wildlife along the lake |
Diversion channel for Byllesby Dam |
Upstream side of Buck Dam |
Downstream view of Buck Dam |
Floodgates on Buck Dam |
The route from the trail to the Ivanhoe parking area is fairly steep |
Ivanhoe picnic shelter |
Some of the remains of the Ivanhoe blast furnace |
Ivanhoe parking area and trestle |
A daily fee of $4 per vehicle ($5 on weekends and holidays) is collected via self-registration at parking areas along the trail. Other payment options include the $40 Naturally Yours Passport which covers parking and admission to one Virginia state park for one year or the $66 Naturally Yours Passport Plus pass which covers parking and admission to all Virginia state parks for one year.
The park website is http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/new-river-trail.shtml.
Thank you for these images - great post. I was looking for some interesting easy hiking and your pictures helped me catch an idea of what these would be to walk. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteHi John - I am an Image Specialist for Trails.com. I found your gorgeous photos from your hike at New River Trail. I would like to ask your permission to upload your photo of the waterfall for that trail on our website. I would not be able to include your url, but I can put your name and the name of your blog in the description area which will be seen when our members click on the photo. I appreciate your time.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.trails.com/us/va/fries/chestnut-creek-falls
Thank you!
Beth Wiggins
Image Specialist Trails.com, LoveToKnow Corp.