Attractive Attractions in New River Valley

Here in the New River Valley, you’re always within shouting distance of a forest, a trail, or a good fishing stream. Lift up your eyes in any of our towns, and you’ll see a mountain with a come-hither look. Get out and enjoy our attractions, our meandering trails, our thundering waterfalls, our sparking rivers, and our rolling bike routes.

 

There are 1.8 million acres of Washington and Jefferson National Forest waiting for you, a 59-mile riverside path called New River Trail State Park, hidden Gatewood Reservoir, undulating Claytor Lake, the ancient New River, the Appalachian Trail, and many more of Mother Nature’s enticements to draw you into the Great Outdoors. Highlighted here are some of the adventures you can enjoy in the New River Valley’s special places.

 

WATERFALL MAGIC
The Cascades Recreation Area, located a few miles east of Pembroke, offers native trout fishing (single-hook artificial lures only) and a two-mile hike bound to recharge your spirit with its beauty. At the trail’s end, little Stony Creek crashes over a 66-foot cliff as Cascades waterfall. On sunny days, look for the rainbow.

 

BIRDING ON HIGH
Giles County’s Mountain Lake, the highest natural lake in Virginia, is a privately owned resort and a great place for watching birds any time, especially during the fall migration. In the summer, walk the Bear Cliffs or the lake paths to see warblers, vireos, wood thrush, and redstarts. In the fall, sit atop Bald Knob watching broad-winged hawks and other raptors heading en masse for warmer climes.

 

INLINE ON OLD HUCKLEBERRY LINE
Paved Huckleberry Trail between Blacksburg and Christiansburg provides a sweet, 6-mile roll for inline skaters who can handle hills. Even if you can’t, you may still enjoy the flat mile from Blacksburg library to the Virginia Tech turf farm or two miles of playing leapfrog with Lick Run west of Merrimac Mine Heritage Park. Inline skates can be rented at local sporting goods stores. CAN YOU

CANOE THE NEW?
Towering palisades line the water’s edge as your canoe drifts along the New River in this six-mile stretch from Eggleston to Pembroke in Giles County. You can let the river draw you along at 1-2 miles an hour. You’ll do okay if you can maneuver the gentle Class I and II rapids at the limestone ledges interspersed between flat-water pools. The New River supports remarkable populations of largemouth bass, rock bass, and muskellunge here, so give in to the urge to try some fly-casting if you’re an angler.  

 

RIDING THE NEW RIVER TRAIL
Claytor Lake, forest, and history -- the northern stretch of the New River Trail State Park is Pulaski County at its best. This flat, double-track following the old N&W rail bed stretches 57 miles in a leisurely mountain-biker’s dream. Start at Draper and coast the long trestles toward Claytor Lake. You cross the 951-foot Hiwassee Trestle over the New River and pass the old iron mining town that instigated the railroad line. Two miles after the bridge, you reach the village of Allisonia, all dolled up in gingerbread and Queen Anne architecture. The depot has been restored to serve as lodging for overnight guests. You can continue on to park headquarters at Foster Falls or backtrack for some aerobic exercise. Local outfitters will supply shuttle and bikes.  

 

WILDFLOWERS AT WILDWOOD
Tucked into a narrow ravine off Radford’s main street lies a treasury of diverse wildflowers and songbirds at Wildwood Park. A honeycomb of footpaths, some mountain-goat steep, radiate up the banks of Connelley’s Run. A travertine waterfall drops a new coating of limestone as it splashes down the northern cliff. On the shaley left side, asters, bergamot, and yellow sneezeweed sprout from the hillside. On the shady right bank, a wealth of quivering spring beauties, larkspur, trillium, bloodroot, and wild geranium hide in the damp forest. Butterfly gardens of lobelia, milkweed, and Joe Pye weed lure winged creatures along the creek. This is just a taste of the variety of things to see & do in the New River Valley. The sky is the limit, and sometimes not even then!