Find the top rated trails in Roanoke Rapids, whether you're looking an easy walking path or a long bike trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
The Tobacco Heritage Trail currently runs in a continuous, off-road 17-mile stretch between the southern Virginia communities of Lawrenceville, Brodnax and La Crosse. Along the way, trail-goers can...
Victoria Railroad Park is a 21-acre open space located in the central business district of an old railroad town in south-central Virginia. Victoria was the halfway point of a Virginian Railway...
The 2.2-mile, paved Louisburg Bike Trail runs from S. Main Street to Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC). At the Main St. end, you'll find the trail at Depot Street Hill, just south of the Tar...
The Tar River Trail parallels the Tar River, where Tuscarora Indians traveled before colonists settled here. Along the trail you will find evidence of early colonial history, the industrial...
Located in eastern North Carollina, the Sabina Gould Walkway is a short rail-trail that runs through Littleton, NC, on the Roanoke Valley Trail corridor. For more information, contact: Town of...
The Tobacco Heritage Trail currently runs in a continuous, off-road 17-mile stretch between the southern Virginia communities of Lawrenceville, Brodnax and La Crosse. Along the way, trail-goers can...
In 1865, at the end of the Civil War, freed slaves were drawn to an encampment of Union troops along the Tar River in eastern North Carolina. When the troops left, the settlers stayed, calling the...
Located in eastern North Carollina, the Sabina Gould Walkway is a short rail-trail that runs through Littleton, NC, on the Roanoke Valley Trail corridor. For more information, contact: Town of...
The Roanoke Canal Trail is a beautiful recreational biking route from the town of Roanoke Rapids to Weldon. The trail follows one of the country's most impressive and best-preserved early 19-century...
The Tar River Trail parallels the Tar River, where Tuscarora Indians traveled before colonists settled here. Along the trail you will find evidence of early colonial history, the industrial...
The 2.2-mile, paved Louisburg Bike Trail runs from S. Main Street to Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC). At the Main St. end, you'll find the trail at Depot Street Hill, just south of the Tar...
Victoria Railroad Park is a 21-acre open space located in the central business district of an old railroad town in south-central Virginia. Victoria was the halfway point of a Virginian Railway...
Located in eastern North Carollina, the Sabina Gould Walkway is a short rail-trail that runs through Littleton, NC, on the Roanoke Valley Trail corridor. For more information, contact: Town of...
The Roanoke Canal Trail is a beautiful recreational biking route from the town of Roanoke Rapids to Weldon. The trail follows one of the country's most impressive and best-preserved early 19-century...
In 1865, at the end of the Civil War, freed slaves were drawn to an encampment of Union troops along the Tar River in eastern North Carolina. When the troops left, the settlers stayed, calling the...
The 2.2-mile, paved Louisburg Bike Trail runs from S. Main Street to Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC). At the Main St. end, you'll find the trail at Depot Street Hill, just south of the Tar...
The Tar River Trail parallels the Tar River, where Tuscarora Indians traveled before colonists settled here. Along the trail you will find evidence of early colonial history, the industrial...
Victoria Railroad Park is a 21-acre open space located in the central business district of an old railroad town in south-central Virginia. Victoria was the halfway point of a Virginian Railway...
The Tobacco Heritage Trail currently runs in a continuous, off-road 17-mile stretch between the southern Virginia communities of Lawrenceville, Brodnax and La Crosse. Along the way, trail-goers can...
I ride this trail pretty often. It's a awesome trail to ride. If you haven't checked it out you need to. It has some gourgous views of the Roanoke River and the trail is a good workout.
I mountain biked the entire section from Lacrosse to Lawrencville. Great adventure. You have to go west a mile then back to get that little piece out of the way, then go east!
20 miles for the entire section. Great ride, nothing too bad at all. I am new to biking and did it easily with breaks. First 5 or so miles are paved.... almost a blacktop type surface, then it switches to a hard pressed small gravel.
I did see evidence of horses but no damage to trail. Trail was marked well, but there was a time warp near the end when it said I had 5 miles left, then a mile later I was done. Trail ends in Lawrencville with no pomp and circumstance... it just ends.
Many bridges and creeks and you also go over the Meherrin River.
Only bad comment was the litter and trash the last 1 mile or so. They need to get a team in there and clean it up. It ruins the trip to have that be the last thing you see.
Rode the trail today from Lawrenceville to Lacrosse and back. The riding surface was fine for me, riding an old road bike with 25mm tires. Could see where some sections could get churned by horse hooves, but even after yesterdays rain, wasn't an issue. Looking forward to when I can ride all the way to Clarksville!
The first 9 miles were awesome. Trail was well maintained an very clean. after mile post 9.5 a few spots on the trail had become overgrown. Between mile post 12 to around 14 the hoof prints were so bad it was like riding on railroad tracks. Great scenery. Parked at Evans creek trail head, very clean & well maintained.
This review applies to the section from LaCrosse eastward. The unpaved section that starts approximately 5 miles east of LaCrosse appears to be heavily used by horses. The hoof prints make this very bumpy and is NOT recommended for biking. I ride on some trails that have not so great conditions but after a mile on the unpaved section I turned around. It was too bone jarring.
I hiked from the trailhead in Lawrenceville to my pickup location in South Hill (~18 miles). The trail technically ends in Lacrosse, but its a short walk down the road to a main commercial hub in South Hill. Like others who have reviewed this hike, I didnt park at the trailhead in Lawrenceville because it was pretty secluded. I felt better parking at the Sunoco gas station around the corner. The trail is well marked and well-maintained. I only ran into 3 other people on the entire trip (I hiked on a Wednesday). There are a few restrooms along the way, but NO WATER STOPS. Remember to bring plenty of water with you. The trail goes behind a gas station in Brodnax where you can refill. I hiked in late June and there were a few areas of the trail that went through low, wet and cool areas that were pretty "buggy". Remember to bring your bug spray as the mosquitoes and Mayflies were pretty bad. The trail is paved from Brodnax to LaCrosse (great for bikes, but hard on your feet if wearing hiking boots). There are signs along the way with historical information that I found to be very interesting. There isn't much in the way of scenic views, but the trail does offer peace and quiet.
Short trail, but came from the Centennial Sportsplex so that added some mileage. I road a hybrid without a cyclometer. Great trail if your kids are tied up at the park. You can loop around to beef it out if you'd like. Trail connects up a lot of neighbor parks. I recommend. Kiosks all over that show trail map. Could still have been better marked.
We started in Lawrenceville & went to La Crose and back. Total of 39 miles. There is parking at the trail head but nothing there so we felt better leaving the car around the corner in the lot next to Hardee's and across from the convince store so people were around. Make sure you take everything you will need because there isn't anything for a long 17 miles. The trail was soft and sandy like which took a lot out of us by the time we got back. Our fault for not preparing for it. The paved section at the was great for a break and there is a store there to stock up for the return trip. Great views along the way and nice restrooms. This is one of the tougher trails we have done but well worth it. Just be prepared and you should really enjoy this trail.
The pin for the Tobacco Heritage trail needs to be moved to the intersection of Rt 46 and Rt 58. The name Lawrenceville isn't even on your big map! I used to live there and have been away for 12 years. Am an avid bicyclist and am looking forward to riding these trails! When I first moved to Roanoke in 1975, biking was very dangerous, there was nowhere to ride. Now that seems to be changing and I'm looking forward to riding the trails. We stay in Williamsburg and go to Richmond often. So I hope to see these map changes soon, so others won't be confused. I lived in Southside VA for 20 years, and am glad the space is being put to good use. Thanks.
It's on high ground, so the recent rains did not cause any problems. The trail itself is about Jeep width, but it's in a very wide clear path, so it feels very open. There are views of the river, swamps, forest, and train tracks on the ~2 mile trail. (Yes, that's right, it's not really 3 miles. From the museum to the trail, to one end then the other, and back to the museum was 4.53 miles.)
With the unseasonably warm weather recently, the trail could have used a mow. I was almost wishing to be in jeans instead of shorts, but it didn't quite cross the threshold where I wanted to abandon the walk.
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