Portions of New River Trail State Park reopen after Hurricane Helene
MAX MEADOWS, Va. – Roughly 25 miles of New River Trail State Park have reopened to the public after Hurricane Helene caused significant damage to the trail.
Visitors can now enjoy hiking, biking and horseback riding along the following sections:
- Roughly 9 miles from the Galax park entrance to the Gambetta park entrance. This portion of the trail includes Chestnut Creek Falls.
- Roughly 3 miles from mile marker 33 through mile marker 29. This portion of the trail includes the Ivanhoe park entrance, Ivanhoe River Bridge and Austinville park entrance.
- Roughly 12 miles from the Shot Tower park entrance to mile marker 13. This portion of the trail includes Foster Falls.
- Roughly 8 miles from mile marker 10 to the Dora Junction park entrance. This portion of the trail includes the Dalton Bridge, Sloan Creek Trestle, Draper park entrance, McAdams Trestle and Peak Creek Trestle.
To access these sections of the trail, guests can park at the following entrances: Galax, Cliffview, Chestnut Yard, Gambetta, Austinville, Shot Tower, Foster Falls, Draper and Dora Junction.
Before navigating the trail, guests are encouraged to download the geo-referenced park map from Avenza Maps. This free app is available on both iOS and Android. Learn more at virginiastateparks.gov/park-trail-maps.
Although significant progress has been made, roughly 17 miles of the trail remain closed for ongoing repair, including:
- From the Fries park entrance to the Trestle Rd. boat ramp (mile marker 33). This closure includes Fries Junction, Byllesby Dam and Buck Dam.
- From the Gambetta park entrance to Fries Junction (mile marker 40). This closure includes Gambetta Tunnel.
- From the Austinville park entrance through Indian Branch Bridge (mile marker 28.5). This closure includes the Austinville Tunnel and Indian Branch Bridge.
- From mile marker 13 to mile marker 10. This closure includes the Allisonia park entrance, Hoover Mountain Bike Area, the Hiwassee park entrance and Hiwassee River Bridge.
These areas are expected to reopen once they are deemed safe for public use. For guest safety and the safety of park rangers and emergency response workers, visitors should not attempt to access portions of the trail that are closed.
In addition to trail closures, the Hoover Mountain Biking Area is closed until further notice, and all park campgrounds are closed through Feb. 28, 2025.
For updates on trail closures, please go to virginiastateparks.gov/new-river-trail.
October 12, 2024 @ 12:12 pm
I very much appreciate the update. I commend all the personnel for their efforts in restoring the New River Trail along with the recent improvements. The remaining parts yet to reopen are among my favorite sections, but I don’t mind being patient until everything is complete. I’ve been a road cyclist since 1989 and riding here regularly since 1993. While road riding is my mainstay, this beautiful gravel path is forever therapeutic. Thank you folks!!
October 12, 2024 @ 6:04 pm
I would like to post a second viewpoint. The New River Trail is more than a fabulous state park; this is a window to God’s work. Just think, our Lord created this place. To our good fortune, a rail line was constructed to provide commercial transport of minerals. Once the rail line became obsolete, it was donated to the state of Virginia which had the wisdom to deem it a state park. Now, folks like you and me can enjoy this exquisite scenery that God intended.
I feel so blessed as to be born in my era and have cycling as my lifelong passion. What a wonderful opportunity to have cycled this trail beginning just a few years after it started. Every journey I make here I thank God for this gift and look forward to many more rides. Amen.
Thank you state of Virginia and all your staff that make this possible!!