Few Virginians probably realize how rich the state has become in its rail trail offerings. Joe Tennis, who has been writing about trails since 1992 for such publications as “Blue Ridge Country” and “Kingsport Times-News,” has gathered histories, personal stories, and trail access information into the first comprehensive guide for rail trail users in Virginia.
Thanks to the small publishers like History Press, these regional books by our local authors are made possible and greatly contribute to our knowledge and appreciation of the treasures around us.
Communities across the commonwealth have been steadily converting abandoned rails to trails in the last two decades until now we have an awesome collection to enjoy anywhere in the state.
Tennis highlights 45 of these hidden places, some of which are still under construction. You do not need to be a railroad buff to enjoy the railway histories he weaves in his narrative, along with some personal tales, local humor, background details, photographs, maps, and trail access information – including how to get on and off segments of trails that have not yet been connected. A middle section of the book is loaded with color photos.
The author was inspired seven years ago to take-on this writing project when he discovered there really was no complete resource for trail users to refer to when they wanted to hike or bike rail trails unknown to them. And as Tennis’ seven other books reveal, he has a lifelong interest in geography, names of places, the outdoors, maps, and trains.
Tennis points out, “The rail trails follow old railroads, which became off limits to the public once passenger traffic ended some 50 years ago. Now we get to re-discover these obscure places with such hidden gems as tunnels, trestles, rock cuts, antique train stations, and waterfalls.”
Railroad buffs will appreciate the historic photographs and postcards he includes, some of which have never been published and some of which are from Norfolk Southern’s archives housed at Virginia Tech.
The author visited all 45 trails, with multiple trips down one of the state’s most popular path, the Virginia Creeper, including one run with Mark Warner when he was governor in 2004. Most people may not know that the planning efforts of Roanoker Charlie Blankenship back in the 1980s and 90s are what ensured the development of this special Jefferson National Forest project. Now long retired from the Forest Service, Blankenship had been brought to the Jefferson Forest headquarters in Roanoke to get the trail done, and today thousands each year enjoy this jewel of a trail because it is a downhill fun bike ride and courses through some of the most beautiful and diverse landscape in the commonwealth.
All the trails in the 272-page book are on the easy side because they are railroad grades, except for the difficult Devils Fork in Scott County. The trails vary in length, but the author spells out those details so you can plan your treks or bike rides.
The best trails for riding horses spread across the state from the Evans Creek area of the Tobacco Heritage Trail east of Lawrenceville to High Bridge near Farmville, the familiar New River and the Virginia Creeper trails, and the bridle part of the Washington and Old Dominion Trail in Northern Virginia.
Tennis says that many of the trails are tied to stories of war, from train runs being shut down during World War I and II to battles in the Civil War. High Bridge and Staunton River trails have especially intriguing stories connected to the Civil War’s end.
Some of the author’s most humorous anecdotes relate to the Huckleberry Trail and the Virginia Creeper in Southwest Virginia, “where we have a wealth of great trails,” Tennis claims. “This part of the state had several branch lines from the main line of the Norfolk and Western Railway that have been converted to such trails as the Huckleberry, once the Blacksburg branch; the New River, once the North Carolina branch; the Salt Trail, once the Salt branch; and the Virginia Creeper, once the Abingdon branch.”
While many of Virginia’s rail trails are complete, a few continue to evolve and expand. “And we still have some abandoned railroad corridors that have not yet been converted to trails, such as old rail beds in Suffolk, Chesapeake, and Portsmouth,” Tennis points out.
He says most all of the trails are open for bike riding. Lake Anna’s Railroad Ford Trail is one that does not accommodate bicycles. For bike riders who like an urban corridor coursing along a river, Tennis recommends the Elizabeth River Trail, which partially follows an old railroad grade in Norfolk.
One of his favorite trails is the Southern Tip Trail on the Eastern Shore, a short trail that is scenic and pretty with glimpses of the Chesapeake Bay.
Tennis, who is known especially for his earlier “Beach to Bluegrass” and “Southwest Crossroads” books, acknowledges the help many local folks such as Kurt Rheinheimer, Cara Ellen Modisett, Catherine Fox, Richard Flora, Lon Williams, and Wayne Strickland provided as he worked on his trail book.
The best part of these rail trails is that anyone can enjoy an outing on them. You do not have to be a super athlete and you do not need tons of time. As you travel around the commonwealth, you can refer to Tennis’ guide and always find a rail trail to hop on for what time you do have.
Author Joe Tennis has book signings coming up in Christiansburg and Roanoke on Saturday, December 6: Barnes and Noble, Roanoke, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Barnes and Noble, Christiansburg, 3 – 6 p.m.
– Lynn Davis
