Explore the best rated trails in Timberlake, VA. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail and Murray Run Greenway. With more than 19 trails covering 117 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
Oct 21 2022. Great colors leaves everywhere. Cool weather. once we hit the gravel -> trail all to myself. Start in the town La Crosse . Where the beginning has pavement and great parking area
Trail is not marked. Had to ride on the road to get to trailhead parking. I would suggest parking a little past trailhead. You do have to stop and open several gates and ride past a few nice cows. Enjoyed the ride and then visited downtown Lexington for beer and pizza at Salernos! Also visited Heliotrope Brewery! Fun outing!
I rode over the bridge part And about half the other part of the trail. Trying to get up for a Whole weekend to ride the rest
I hesitate to describe how perfect this trail is out of fear that more people will be using it next time! But I must celebrate the people who maintain it and keep it so nice. Thanks to all who contribute! The trail is well marked, scenic, and euphonious.
What a neat & different trail. To ride in a few cow pastures is pretty cool. Nice 14 mile round trip, mostly wooded, near the river. Surfaces vary but can be handled with even 32mm all terrain tires. Some bumpy areas and of course cow poop. Fun times!!!
I rode this trail on 5/11 and 5/12, 2022. I'd divide it into roughly three sections - west, from almost-Pamplin to Tuggle, central, from Tuggle to the eastern cutoff to the Spur Line Trail a bit east of the bridge, and eastern, from that point to the eastern terminus.
The Central section (4.5/5) is by far the most interesting. Tuggle to Farmville is relatively scenic. Farmville to the High Bridge is decently scenic. The High Bridge is impressive; yes, it's "just trees", but you are above them, can see 20 miles, watch the crows and other birds flying above the tree or landing on the bridge, relax with a great view, and see the Appomattox from a great height. In my opinion, the Bridge itself delivered on what was promised online, and at nearly half a mile long, it's probably the longest bridge I've biked across, and quite possibly the longest as well.
Then, you can then lock your bike to one of the racks east of the trail, and take the Camp Paradise and/or Spur Line Trails. If you only have time for one, take the Camp Paradise. Not so much for Camp Paradise itself - a Confederate camp meant to guard the bridge; you can still see the earthworks, but it's not particularly impressive. Instead, take that trail because it takes you below the High Bridge. This gives you another perspective on just how impressive the bridge is, particularly for being originally built in the mid-1850s, lets you see more of its construction, and shows why it was strategically important. Hike back up the southern side of Camp Paradise to get a hint of what it may have been like to move an entire army, carrying packs with supplies as well as rifles, up from crossing the Appomattox without the bridge. It was much easier for the Union to catch the Army of Northern Virginia with the bridge still relatively intact!
The base of the bridge by Camp Paradise also happens to be a butterfly hangout.
The Spur Line Trail is a nice hike through the woods, though the promised overlook is fairly obscured. Still, it's a nice break from the relative visual sameness of most of the trail.
The Rochelle Area mountain bike trails are also in the eastern section; I didn't have enough time to try them out.
The Eastern part of the High Bridge Trail (4/5) is, as another reviewer mentioned, a "zen trail". If you've had a stressful week and just want to get away from it for a while and pedal, without having to think too much about the scenery, this would be a great option. It doesn't change direction much, sometimes the rail bed is above the surroundings, sometimes below, giving a cozy feeling, but it's always visually pleasing but not in an attention-demanding (or especially memorable) sort of way.
The Western part (3/5) has similar scenery to the eastern part, but parallels Route 460 (the Prince Edward Highway) pretty closely. Route 460 gets a fair amount of traffic, including truck traffic, which spoils the zen aspect of the eastern part. I'd rather ride most of the trails near where I live in Ohio, not just my favorite local ones, above re-riding the western section.
I'd put all the other Virginia trails I've ridden ahead of this one in terms of scenery - Jackson River Scenic, New River, and Virginia Creeper. Those are also all farther west, and if you are in the area, it's worth at least riding the Central section. There's also a bike shop in Farmville, right near the trail, where you can rent bikes, so you don't even have to plan very far ahead to make a trip out to the Bridge.
Originally intended to end in Burkeville. Why was it not completed?
Can anyone explain why high bridge trail was not completed to Burkeville as originally intended?
Can anyone explain why the trail was,not completed to Burkeville ad originally intended?
Biked from Lexington trailhead to Buena Vista trailhead. Follows the River so don’t follow Google Maps because it will take you off the trail¿ Loved seeing the Cows, deer, birds, squirrels, river, bridges, rock, old railway tower and markers. Quiet ¿¿
The trail is what we call a “Zen ride,” which means there’s not a lot of visual variety so it’s great if you just like being in your head while you pedal. We parked right in the center of town on Main Street which bisects the crushed limestone trail almost exactly in the middle. Conveniently at this intersection, there are clean, air-conditioned restrooms, while more rustic ones with “vault toilets” are located along the trail. There are no other amenities along the trail except the trailer that we encountered on our first trip that sold water out of an ice-filled cooler, along with various tourism chotchkes made by local artisans. We don’t think you can count on it being there, though, so fill up your water bottles before you set out.
First we headed west 4.5 miles to see the famous High Bridge, which oddly, was more interesting to read about than to ride over. It looks out on a wide expanse of trees…just trees. For as far as the eye can see. We continued to bike approximately 10.5 miles past the bridge and, having passed only a handful of walkers and bikers, a few deserted intersections and some vault toilets, the trail ended abruptly at a lonely picnic table surrounded by woods. The other half of the trail runs east briefly then due south. While hauntingly familiar (it’s almost identical to the western portion of the trail), brief glimpses of water, overhead bridges and slightly more varied scenery made it more interesting.
A very good brewery abuts the trail close to the midway point.
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
