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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 trailheads with parking scattered along the paved trail. Bisset Trail is a 50-acre park sitting on the edge of The New River, the city's main natural attraction. From the eastern edge of Bisset Park, you have two options: you continue east along the river, sandwiched between New River Drive and a line of riparian bushes. This branch of the trail ends at the Radford University's athletic facilities.
Your other choice is to head south from Bisset Park, under a railroad bridge and across Main Street into Wildwood Park, a thickly wooded park which hosts Connelly Run, a tributary of The New River. This branch passes close to the public library and the local high school. There is parking on Park Road, south of which the trail travels beside Sundell Drive up to the stopping point on Wadswoth Street.
The Riverway Trail puts the river ecosystem on display. Birds and other wildlife living in or close to the water can be spotted year-round. Spots like Dudley Landing provide not just access to the river for boats, kayaks and inner tubes, but also viewpoints over the river for trail users.
Parking has been provided all along the trail: From the west endpoint on Wadsworth Street heading north and then east, here are places you can park:
A beautiful 3+ mile paved trail along the New River for walkers and bikers. This trail is in the City or Radford but it feels like you are in the countryside. Don't miss the section that turns away from the river towards "Connellys run" - a small stream that runs to the New. This section runs through a small valley with wild flowers, forest trees and plants all around and includes an arched railroad underpass, a tunnel under Lee Highway and 3 small cool wooden bridges that cross the stream. There are unpaved side trails off the paved trial that are available to explore the mountainside. Nice restaurants for food & drink and hotels nearby.
Runs along the New River, and is very peaceful. I parked in Bissett Park.
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