New River Trail - Day 3 Bonus: Fries to Fries Junction

Please read New River Trail - Day 1 for an overview of our trip to bicycle the 57 mile New River Trail. This is an excellent bike trail that I highly recommend. Day 3 of our September 2014 trip continued with a drive from Pulaski back to Hiwassee to pick up a vehicle and then on to Fries. Since the daily parking fee had already been paid at Hiwassee, it wasn't required again.

Starting at Fries (pronounced "freeze"), the trail follows the New River downstream to Fries Junction. From Fries Junction, I returned upstream to Fries. This was the only segment of the trail with a significant number of pedestrians, but most turn around before reaching the junction.  Please note that they have the right of way to bicyclists.

Just upstream from the trailhead is Fries Mill Dam. Construction of the 40 foot high dam began in 1901 and the mill it powered began operation in 1903. The Town of Fries quickly grew with mill employment.  Although the mill ceased operation in 1989, the town has moved on to outdoor adventure and music as sources of pride and income. Although Fries has a population of less than 500, it hosts a weekly music jam session, an annual spring festival honoring musician Henry Whitter, and a fall harvest festival.  The festivals are held at the Town Park along the riverside.

The trail begins near the park and skirts the edge of a neighborhood before passing the water treatment plant. After passing through another residential area, it parallels East Main Street (Road 606) along the edge of several fields. The trail crosses the highway at 1.6 miles from the Fries parking area. Trail users have very limited visibility of vehicles leaving Fries due to a guard rail, a small hill on the highway and the road curving to cross the trail. Please exercise extreme caution at this crossing. The remainder of the trail to Fries Junction is in the woods near the river.

Fries to Fries Junction Mileage Chart

Trail Segment	Segment Mileage	Total Mileage
Fries to Road 606	1.6	1.6
Road 606 to Fries Junction	3.9	5.5
Fries Junction to Road 606	3.9	9.4
Road 606 to Fries	1.6	11.0

Fries parking area

Fries Mill Dam

View downstream from Fries riverside

View upstream from Fries riverside

Caboose near parking area

Beginning of the trail

Looking back at the Road 606 (Fries Road) bridge

View from the trail

Life is tenacious

The river remains a constant companion along this part of the trail

Another view of the river

Fishermen downstream of a small waterfall

The trail bridge to Galax comes into view

An unnamed island splits the river just upstream of the junction

One of the tent camping sites at Double Shoals campground near the junction

View of the island and northern portion of the Fries Junction bridge

Looking upstream from Double Shoals campground

The Fries Junction picnic shelter

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.