New River Trail State Park
A 57-mile linear park follows former Norfolk & Western track beside the New River and Chestnut Creek through tunnels, bridges, towns, and forest.
Artwork inspired by P. Buckley Moss
New River Trail follows railway geometry, yet its fifty-seven miles unfold as a sequence of markedly different environments. Riverside cliffs, farmland, forest, road crossings, high trestles, and dark tunnels reveal the engineering choices that carried the former Norfolk & Western line beside the New River and Chestnut Creek.
Foster Falls is a practical base for combining history, river scenery, and a shorter outing, while longer rides require planning around named segments rather than mileage alone. Carry illumination for damp tunnels and anticipate uneven services, weak cell coverage, shared use by horses and other visitors, and possible flooding or washouts.
- Length
- 57 miles
- Landmarks
- Two tunnels and major trestles
- Allow
- 2 hours to multi-day
Quick guide
- Choose
- A named segment, not just mileage
- Carry
- Light for tunnels
Make the visit count
- Bring illumination
- Tunnels remain dark and damp.
- Yield deliberately
- Cyclists, walkers, horses, and wildlife share the corridor.
- Read the rail bed
- Cuts and bridges explain the chosen route.
- Plan water
- Services are uneven across long segments.
Good to know
This is a linear park with many access points and weak cell coverage. Flooding, washouts, horses, tunnels, and long gaps between services affect planning.
Notice these
- Shot Tower
- Hiawassee trestle
- Cliffview tunnel