Huckleberry Trail:
Virginia
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Description:
In the early 1900s, a train line nicknamed 'the Huckleberry"" was built to transport coal and provide mail and passenger service to Blacksburg. The line was also used by the Corps cadets at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (more commonly known as Virginia Tech), who unofficially renamed Blacksburg 'Huckleberry Junction"" due to the abundance of huckleberries that grew along the train line. The huckleberries grew after trees were cleared for railroad construction, and thereafter, the region became famous for delicious pies and jams. Although many of the huckleberries along the trail today have diminished due to increased shade, trail users can find huckleberry bushes planted around trail information kiosks.
The northern trailhead for the Huckleberry Trail is nestled in a residential neighborhood at the Montgomery/Floyd Regional Library in downtown Blacksburg, across from the Virginia Tech campus. You may hear a marching band in the distance or notice a game at the nearby Worsham Field on campus.
As you continue along this meandering trail, you leave the city and enter into rural farmland, passing behind quiet homes and through open fields and pockets of forests. The Coal Miner's Heritage Park at mile 4 displays old mining equipment, just before you reach a railroad bridge over the still-active Norfolk Southern rail line. Unlike most rail-trails, this trail has many gentle curves and slopes-providing diversity in your trail experience. In fact, it is on these steeper sections that the old trains were said to have slowed down enough for the cadets to hop from the cars and gather huckleberries before the train gathered more speed. Continue in a southern direction on the trail to reach the trailhead at New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg.

See map for more details: http://www.huckleberrytrail.org/Huckleberry_map_extensions.pdf
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Parking & Trail Access:
To reach the northern trailhead, take US Hwy. 460 toward Blacksburg and turn onto Main Street (take the US Hwy. 460 Business route), heading north. Turn left on Miller Street, heading southwest, and drive three blocks to Harrell Street, where street parking is available. The trailhead is located in the library parking lot on Miller Street. However, avoid using this lot; towing may be enforced for trail users parked here.
To reach the southern trailhead, take US Hwy. 460 toward Christiansburg, and turn right on VA Route 144 (Peppers Ferry Road). The New River Valley Mall is on the right on New River Road. Follow New River Road, which loops around the mall; trailhead parking is at the back of the mall.
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Reviews: [1 trail ratings]
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Huckleberry extended
By charlesdove in January, 2011
Last year (2010) the town of Christiansburg extended the trail to parallel the remaining active railroad to where it crosses VA 114. It now ends at the NRV mall's movie theaters ands adds around 6/10s to the length. There is also ample parking at the new trailhead at the theaters. In comment to an earlier reviewer stating it is hilly and not a rail-trail; well it is a rail-trail but portions of the original line were severed by the Virginia Tech airport and the 460 bypass after it was abandoned years ago, so the ends had to be connected. The town also wants to cross VA 114 with the trail and make it end further into town.
Great countryside walk!
By Linda Goodrich in February, 2006
"This trail is a delight at all times, but I recommend it most during the month of June. Start at the Blacksburg end (right near the public library) and enjoy the range of wildflowers and the hedgerows of berries and blossoms. Vistas of meadows with the Blue Ridge mountains in the background make this a serene and peaceful experience."
Georeous Trail
By Eric Lengel in August, 2005
"This ranks as one of our favorite trails in VA. It's relatively short, but asphalt can't be beat on a bicycle and the country scenery is an attraction. There is an old anthracite coal Mine that has been blocked off that is of historical note. We met the very friendly police chief of Blacksburg (Chief Brown) and several other folk."
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Trail Facts
Trail End Points: Blacksburg to Christiansburg
Counties: Montgomery
Trail Length: 6.2 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Asphalt
Trail Activities: Bike, Inline Skating, Wheelchair Accessible, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6017655

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