Roanoke, VA Running Trails and Maps

393 Reviews

Looking for the best Running trails around Roanoke?

Find the top rated running trails in Roanoke, whether you're looking for an easy short running trail or a long running trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a running trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.

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Activities
Length
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Type
24 Results
Activities
Length
Surfaces
Type

Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail

6.9 mi
State: VA
Asphalt

Greenbrier River Trail

77 mi
State: WV
Asphalt, Boardwalk, Crushed Stone

Jackson River Scenic Trail

14.3 mi
State: VA
Gravel

James River Heritage Trail

10.1 mi
State: VA
Asphalt, Dirt, Woodchips

Mill Mountain Greenway

3.2 mi
State: VA
Asphalt, Concrete

New River Trail State Park

57.5 mi
State: VA
Crushed Stone

Riverway Trail (Radford)

3.2 mi
State: VA
Asphalt

Roanoke River Greenway

13.6 mi
State: VA
Asphalt

Tinker Creek Greenway

1.3 mi
State: VA
Asphalt

Wolf Creek Greenway

2.2 mi
State: VA
Asphalt, Cinder, Gravel

Chessie Nature Trail

7.13 mi
State: VA
Boardwalk, Dirt, Gravel

Craig County Greenway Trail

0.95 mi
State: VA
Crushed Stone

Garden City Greenway

2.03 mi
State: VA
Asphalt, Concrete

Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail

1.7 mi
State: VA
Gravel

Huckleberry Trail

15.2 mi
State: VA
Asphalt, Boardwalk

Lick Run Greenway

4.2 mi
State: VA
Asphalt

Potts Valley Rail Trail

4.5 mi
State: WV
Dirt, Grass

Uptown Spur Trail

0.7 mi
State: VA
Asphalt

James River Foot Bridge

0.12 mi
State: VA
Boardwalk
Accordion

Mason Creek Greenway

1.2 mi
State: VA
Asphalt

Mayo River Rail Trail

1.8 mi
State: VA
Asphalt

Mud Lick Creek Greenway

0.5 mi
State: VA
Asphalt

Murray Run Greenway

1.9 mi
State: VA
Cinder, Concrete, Dirt, Woodchips
Trail Image Trail Name States Length Surface Rating
Overview The Dick & Willie Passage Rail Trail runs for 6.9 miles on a former Danville & Western Railroad corridor, which was acquired by Southern Railway in 1920 and ultimately abandoned by its...
VA 6.9 mi Asphalt
Overview    The Greenbrier River Trail weaves a path of 77 miles through lush forest and rural small towns of West Virginia’s Allegheny Highlands, along the longest undammed river in the eastern...
WV 77 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk, Crushed Stone
Overview Waterfalls, river views, rugged rock formations, vibrant fall foliage, and delicate flowers in the spring: These are the sights that put the scenery in Jackson River Scenic Trail. This...
VA 14.3 mi Gravel
The James River Heritage Trail is one of the premier urban trails in the state, passing through lush forest and the heart of historical, industrial downtown Lynchburg. The well-marked 10-mile trail is...
VA 10.1 mi Asphalt, Dirt, Woodchips
The Mill Mountain Greenway provides residents and visitors to Roanoke with a nice connection from the city's downtown to Mill Mountain Park. Within the park, you can explore numerous hiking trails,...
VA 3.2 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Closure notice: As a result of damage from Hurricane Helene, parts of the trail remain closed. The trail is currently OPEN from Galax access (Mile Marker 51) to Fries Junction (Mile Marker 40), Fries...
VA 57.5 mi Crushed Stone
The 3.5-mile Riverway Trail provides a non-motorized pathway to the best of what Radford has to offer. A good place to begin is Bisset Park, though you can really start anywhere thanks to the multiple...
VA 3.2 mi Asphalt
The Roanoke River Greenway will one day span 25 miles between Roanoke and Salem along its namesake waterway. Currently, much of the paved pathway is already in place and runs through a wide variety of...
VA 13.6 mi Asphalt
The Tinker Creek Greenway winds through Roanoke's east end from Fallon Park to just over a mile southeast. Along your journey, you'll be closely paralleling the pleasantly wooded Tinker...
VA 1.3 mi Asphalt
The Wolf Creek Greenway follows its namesake waterway for two miles through Vinton on the outskirts of Roanoke in western Virginia. Its surface is mostly cinder and gravel with a few short asphalt...
VA 2.2 mi Asphalt, Cinder, Gravel
Overview The Chessie Nature Trail travels for just over 7 miles through breathtaking rural Virginia countryside, following mile markers left behind by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad that ran this...
VA 7.13 mi Boardwalk, Dirt, Gravel
The Greenway Trail is a one-mile path of finely crushed limestone that is located just outside of New Castle. The trail runs mostly on Craigs Creek Road (VA-615), but starts at a kiosk mimicing a...
VA 0.95 mi Crushed Stone
Garden City Greenway is a 2 mile, asphalt trail that follows Garnand Branch Creek and follows near Garden City Boulevard from the Roanoke River Greenway near Mount Pleasant Road to Yellow Mountain...
VA 2.03 mi Asphalt, Concrete
Opened in 1999, the Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail in Salem (just outside of Roanoke) is associated with Southern Virginia's impressive Civil War history. The northern trailhead at Hanging Rock was...
VA 1.7 mi Gravel
Overview The Huckleberry Trail winds through a mix of urban, agricultural, forested, and wetland landscapes. In addition to the 8.2-mile main trail spine, between Blacksburg and Christiansburg was...
VA 15.2 mi Asphalt, Boardwalk
Lick Run Greenway begins in downtown Roanoke and heads north just over 4 miles to end between Huff Lane Park and Valley View Mall. Along the way, the paved pathway traverses two parks: Washington Park...
VA 4.2 mi Asphalt
Nestled in a remote mountain valley deep in the Appalachians, the Potts Valley Rail Trail skirts a wilderness area and farmland as it rolls through forests for 4.5 miles in the southern part of the...
WV 4.5 mi Dirt, Grass
Martinsville's Uptown Spur Trail, as its name implies, runs along an abandoned railroad spur line. Like the trains before its conversion, the paved trail branches off from the former main line—now the...
VA 0.7 mi Asphalt
The Lewisburg and Ronceverte Trail (commonly known as the L&R Trail) will one day connect these two historic towns set amid the Allegheny Mountains of southern West Virginia. The beautiful natural...
WV 0.4 mi Asphalt
The James River Foot Bridge carries the Appalachian Trail over the James River in Snowden, Virginia, approximately 20 miles northwest of Lynchburg. The bridge was built on the piers of a demolished...
VA 0.12 mi Boardwalk
Accordion
The Mason Creek Greenway Trail follows its namesake creek closely, stretching for over a mile. The trail starts on Roanoke Boulevard and heads north, sliding between an office complex and a mobile...
VA 1.2 mi Asphalt
Following a former corridor of the Danville and Western Railway through downtown Stuart, the Mayo River Rail Trail is a paved multi-use path that runs along the Mayo River. Nicknamed "Dick and Willie"...
VA 1.8 mi Asphalt
The trail is known as the Mud Lick Creek Greenway trail since it follows the route of the nearby waterway. Alternatively, some folks refer to it as the Garst Mill Park Greenway, after the park whose...
VA 0.5 mi Asphalt
The Murray Run Greenway winds through a section of the City of Roanoke. The greenway trail is multipurpose, with a varying surface of cinder, woodchips and concrete sidewalk. The width of the trail...
VA 1.9 mi Cinder, Concrete, Dirt, Woodchips

Recent Trail Reviews

Uptown Spur Trail

Connector Trail

November, 2024 by kristin.kaylor

This is a connector trail, connecting uptown to the Dick & Willie. It’s paved and kept clean, there is a nice bathroom at the parking area.

New River Trail State Park

Late Fall Ride

November, 2024 by rcwolf64

Accessed trail at Booker Falls. Great ride with beautiful views of the New River. Saw several deer and interesting to see the damage from the hurricane.

James River Heritage Trail

Great Ride

November, 2024 by haybabiesfarm

Well paved- beautifully kept trail. Had a great morning riding into downtown Lynchburg , where we stopped for a nice lunch. I would definitely ride this trail again.

Accordion

Greenbrier River Trail

No good for trikes

September, 2024 by lprosner

Most of this trail consists of a wide grassy median with two narrow gravel ruts on either side. This is great for bicycles but recumbent trikes, or anything with more than two wheels, will be forced to ride with at least one wheel up on the grass making for a slow rough ride. I rode almost the entire trail over two days on my trike, from mile marker 25 to 77, and it is a beautiful trail -- for bicycles. Short sections that are in full shade in deep forest are pure crushed stone, no grass. This makes it clear that when the trail was originally constructed it did not have a grassy median; the grassy median is due to bad maintenance. Politicians love to attend ribbon cutting ceremonies for new infrastructure, and the press will cover new stuff, but who ever read about politicians attending a ceremony to celebrate routine annual maintenance? Build and neglect.

Jackson River Scenic Trail

Shady, scenic and peaceful

September, 2024 by tarheeltim76

My wife and I rode the Jackson River Scenic Trail over two days in late summer, Intervale to Smith Bridge the first day and Smith Bridge to the end on the second. We thoroughly enjoyed this trail. The trail was shady, scenic and peaceful. It is one of the widest, flattest and smoothest rail-trails I've ever been on, perfect for kids or casual riders who don't like incessant bumps or grinding grades. The trail is well equipped with picnic areas and restrooms. (No interpretive signage however; it would be a nice upgrade to showcase the human and natural history of the area.) Two of the best sights are located just off the trail. A small sign will direct you to a suspension footbridge over the river. It's well worth the detour to bounce over the bridge. (A sign warns you not to bounce, but just walking across the thing sets it into motion!) Just below the Smith Bridge parking area is the decommissioned Smith Bridge, open to foot traffic only. It offers big views of the river. A couple of caveats: 1) While the trail traces the river for most of its length, there are no places to get wet directly on the trail. A public access area just off the trail at Smith Bridge has a shallow area perfect for getting wet. 2) The lower portion of the trail is located a few miles from a huge paper mill. Depending on weather conditions, you may smell it.

Greenbrier River Trail

A True Getaway

September, 2024 by tarheeltim76

Some friends and I rode the entire Greenbrier River Trail as part of a four-day 180-mile bike tour. (The entire route is part of Adventure Cycling's Short Routes collection at https://ridewithgps.com/routes/46271108)

On the Greenbrier River Trail, you're enfolded by green mountains, flowing water, wildflowers, solitude, and lots of places to get wet. And quiet! The near-total lack of cell coverage meant no dinging intrusions from the "real world". So relaxing to disconnect and reconnect!

There is a remote feel to this trail, but you’re never far from camping or water. The primitive campsites along the trail are free and first-come first-served. The campsite at Mile 28.5 was an especially nice place to swim and gather around a campfire. There is also an adjacent Hipcamp and Watoga State Park for those who want a hot shower.

Cass, a former lumber boomtown, has a steam excursion train a small museum for rail buffs. Marlinton offers a respite to trail food, including a combination bike shop-café. Jack Horner's Corner, just off the trail in Seebert, has good food and ice cream.

Several things set this trail apart: the feel of isolation, the abundant camping options and the trailside displays showcasing the human and natural history of the Greenbrier valley.

Greenbrier River Trail

Out & Backs from River Trail Hollow HipCamp about Milepost 46

August, 2024 by pqrgkhzcbf

Beautiful scenic trail !! I rode it in entirety over two days doing out & backs from near Seebert. I particularly enjoyed the remoteness and the beautiful river views. I’ll definitely revisit this trail on a regular annual basis. My drive to get there was 6 1/2 hours, but getting to drive through the Monongahela National Forest to get there was a bonus. I saw bears, deer, all sorts of birds and other wildlife along the way.

New River Trail State Park

What a great trail!

August, 2024 by mike1309

We biked from Fries to Fries Junction, then down to Galax, and then back to Fries. Beautiful bike ride! We saw several deer, birds and squirrels. The pathways are very level and provide a smooth ride. Hoping we get to explore more of this trail before we leave town. Highly recommend!

New River Trail State Park

virginia’s best rail trail

July, 2024 by gibsontw

NRT is my heart trail, have been on many others in va but this is my favorite and most scenic!!!

Mill Mountain Greenway

e bike

July, 2024 by gibsontw

Mill mt is a great e bike trail due to big climb, I like to come back down the road due to downhill speed and roughness of the old paved road that makes the trail surface, makes a nice loop and can be extended out to the parkway and around the roanoke mt loop that is closed to vehicle traffice which has beautiful overlooks.

Garden City Greenway

Decent Trail

June, 2024 by trikeyeah

While this trail largely follows Garden City Blvd SE, there are some spots on it that are scenic and away from traffic. It mostly consists of a steady climb to the end of the trail, but the first three quarters of a mile is relatively flat with one climb at the quarter mile marker. The trail is plenty wide enough for passing and is paved in its entirety. There is a small park on the trail and park just off of the trail behind the elementary school. Because it is an off shoot from Roanoke River Greenway traffic is lighter than the main greenway. There is shade on about half of the trail. The biggest concern is on Wednesday’s it’s garbage day so there is usually garbage cans and other refuse waiting to be collected.

New River Trail State Park

Rough surface for trike riders but very rewarding

June, 2024 by lprosner

The surface of the New River Trail should not be described as “crushed stone.” This is factually incorrect. I rode the entire trail from end-to-end and back again over three days in mid-June 2024. The first 20 or so miles from Dora Junction (Pulaski) toward Lone Ash consist mostly of a wide grassy median with a narrow dirt track on either side. This is fine for bicycles in dry weather but those of us who ride recumbent tricycles are forced to ride with at least one wheel on the grass, which makes for a tortuous slow and bumpy ride. Some sections are indeed smooth crushed stone, such as the 5.5 mile spur from Fries Junction to the town of Fries which is the best maintained section of the trail, perhaps because Fries attracts tourists and more cyclists than other parts of the trail. The first part of the 12 miles from Fries Junction up to Galax is very rough and rocky but the trail improves toward the end. Nonetheless most of this section would best be described as coarse gravel, not crushed stone, and the gravel is quite soft in places. Parts of the trail from Foster Falls to Ivanhoe and from Ivanhoe to Fries Junction also have a grass median, but other parts are gravel or crushed stone. The surface for the first few miles on either side of Foster Falls is well maintained but deteriorates the further one rides away from the park headquarters. Cyclists would benefit from a more accurate description of trail surface conditions.

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