Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2023 - 34

This falls is
one of the
sights along
the North Fork
of Blackwater
River, along
the Blackwater
Canyon Trail.
MORE TO EXPLORE!
ED REHBEIN
WEST VIRGINIA
Allegheny Highlands Trail
Distance: 26 miles + an additional fivemile
spur | Surface: asphalt/crushed
stone/gravel | Attributes: through
numerous small towns; views of West
Virginia's countryside in Randolph and
Tucker counties
West Fork River Trail
Distance: 14 miles | Surface: asphalt/
crushed stone | Attributes: fairly flat;
great for a leisurely, scenic jaunt alongside
the West Fork River from Fairmont
to Shinnston
Blackwater Canyon Trail
Distance: 10.7 miles | Surface: dirt/
gravel | Attributes: steep grade gives a
challenge through the canyon between
Blackwater River and its North Fork in
Tucker County; sightings of waterfalls
and surrounding mountains
VIRGINIA
Jackson River Scenic Trail
Distance: 14.4 miles | Surface: finely
crushed gravel | Attributes: located in
the Alleghany Highlands; flat terrain
with waterfall, cliff and river views
beautiful in all four seasons
New River Trail State Park
Distance: 57 miles | Surface: crushed
stone | Attributes: follows the New River
for 39 miles and traverses through
Pulaski, Carroll, Wythe and Grayson
counties; multitude of tunnels, bridges
and trestles
34 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
SOUTH CAROLINA
Mary Black Foundation Trail
Distance: 1.9 miles | Surface: asphalt |
Attributes: connects neighborhoods to
downtown Spartanburg along a former
Norfolk Southern passageway; revered
for its bright signs and benches
Chessie Nature Trail
Distance: 7 miles | Surface: boardwalk/
dirt/gravel | Attributes: open and forested
areas from Lexington to Buena
Vista with opportunities for spotting
wildlife; maintained and managed by
Virginia Military Institute
James River Heritage Trail
Distance: 10.1 miles | Surface: asphalt/
dirt/woodchips | Attributes: braided
rail network running from the Allegheny
Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay;
mix of wooded areas and the urban
landscape of downtown Lynchburg
NORTH CAROLINA
Thermal Belt Rail Trail
Distance: 13.5 miles | Surface: asphalt
| Attributes: pays homage to history
with rail-themed kiosks and more; runs
through the charming towns of Ruth,
Rutherfordton and Spindale
Elkin & Alleghany Rail Trail
Distance: 1.5 miles | Surface: crushed
stone | Attributes: completed piece of
a larger in-process trail to connect Elkin
to Stone Mountain State Park; built on
the path of the short-lived Elkin & Alleghany
Railroad
Wolftever Creek Greenway
Distance: 2.9 miles + over one mile of
additional off-rail greenway | Surface:
concrete | Attributes: places to explore
along the way, like Imagination Station
Playground and Veterans Memorial
Park in Hamilton County; shaded and
family-friendly
Learn more about these rail trails and
others at traillink.com, created by the
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. -SR
KENTUCKY
Prestonsburg Passage
Distance: 8.6 miles | Surface: asphalt |
Attributes: nicely shaded by trees and
limited elevation changes; crosses six
bridges from Prestonsburg to David,
one that's framed by the top and sides
of a school bus
TENNESSEE
Guild-Hardy Trail
Distance: 5 miles | Surface: gravel |
Attributes: flat and beginner-friendly;
glimpses of the Tennessee River and
downtown Chattanooga through the
trees
Doodle Rail Trail
Distance: 8.5 miles | Surface: asphalt |
Attributes: line was nicknamed " Pickens
Doodle " by locals after the backwardtraveling
doodlebug insects, as the
freight train had to travel in reverse
from Easely to Pickens; multi-use and
open from dawn to dusk
http://www.traillink.com http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country Sept/Oct 2023
