Southside & the Piedmont · Farmville · Running · Point to point
High Bridge Trail
A 31-mile crushed-stone rail-trail crossing the Appomattox River on a bridge 125 feet above the valley.
- Distance
- 32.2mi
- Climb (measured)
- 375ft
- Time (hiking est.)
- Your call
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Terrain
- Crushed stoneShadedRiverside
The route
Map and elevation, linked
375 ft up, 540 ft down · 277–715 ft
What it feels like
What it feels like
Easy going early, then a gradual 10.3-mile climb of 247 ft late in the route when legs are already tired. Crushed-stone tread that stays firm in most weather, mostly under tree cover.
Before you drive
What to know first
Closures and conditions change. Check the agency's alerts page before leaving.
- Parking
- Not on file
- Fees
- No per-person admission — walking or biking onto the trail is free. Parking is charged, not optional: $5 per passenger vehicle at the same rate on weekdays and weekends year-round, $13 for high-occupancy vehicles (9-15 passengers), $30 for buses (16 or more), and $4 per equestrian trailer on top of the daily parking fee. Most access points are DCR self-pay lots (Rice, High Bridge Station, River Road, Tuggle, Prospect, Elam, Pamplin); the Farmville access uses municipal lots. Amounts per DCR's published fee schedule effective 1 April 2022.
- Permits
- Not on file
- Hours
- Not on file
- Restrooms
- Not on file
- Water
- Not on file
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Cell service
- Not on file
- Emergency
- Not on file
How hard it will feel
Difficulty, explained
Easy
Level rail grade on firm crushed stone.
Commitment is up to you: turn around whenever you like on a long, level corridor.
- Distance
- +0
- A 32.2 mi corridor you can join for as little or as much as you like.
- Climb
- +0
- About 12 ft per mile: rail-grade or flatter.
- Footing
- +0
- Firm, even surface the whole way.
- Technicality
- +1
- Stream crossings noted; expect wet feet after rain.
- Exposure
- +0
- Mostly sheltered; shade is listed.
Commitment
How long it takes
This is a corridor you join for as long as you like, so there is no honest total. Plan with a pace instead:
- Hiking:
- ~20 min per mile
- Running:
- ~9 min per mile
- Family pace:
- ~33 min per mile
Terrain
Underfoot
- Surface
- Crushed stone
- Technicality
- Nothing technical recorded
- Crossings
- None recorded
- Exposure
- Not on file
- Grade
- Steepest quarter mile 8.7% · 1% of the route climbing at 5%+ · 98% near level Trailfinder reading
What you'll see
On the record
- High Bridge river crossing
- 31 continuous miles
- Farmville trail town
Setting on file: Forest, River, Park.
When to go
Seasonal character
Southside & the PiedmontComfortable spring and fall. Very limited shade on rail-trail sections in summer. Hunting seasons apply on adjacent public land — wear blaze orange in fall.
General seasonal character, not a live condition report. Check the agency's alerts page for closures.
Who it fits
Is this for you?
- Runners
- Yes, running is supported
- Families
- Good with kids
- Strollers
- Stroller friendly
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Accessibility
- Firm, level crushed stone suitable for many wheelchair users and strollers.
- Experience
- Beginners welcome
The long version
About this route
High Bridge Trail State Park follows a former Norfolk & Western rail corridor through Farmville and out into quiet Southside farmland. The centerpiece is High Bridge itself — more than 2,400 feet long and about 125 feet above the Appomattox River.
The crushed-stone surface is firm, level, and forgiving, making this an excellent choice for long easy efforts, families, and anyone who wants distance without technical footing.
If not this one
Related, and why
Central Virginia & Richmond
Virginia Capital Trail
- Distance
- 51.7mi
- Elevation gain
- 946ft
- Hiking time (estimate)
- Your call
- Paved
- Riverside
Longer version · 51.7 mi when you want more of the same.
Charlottesville & the Blue Ridge
Humpback Rocks
- Distance
- 2mi
- Elevation gain
- Gain not on file
- Time (agency)
- ~1h45
- Rocky
- Shaded
- Ridgeline
More views · Ridgeline or summit on the record; expect open outlooks.
Before you drive
What to know first
Closures and conditions change. Check the agency's alerts page before leaving.
- Parking
- Not on file
- Fees
- No per-person admission — walking or biking onto the trail is free. Parking is charged, not optional: $5 per passenger vehicle at the same rate on weekdays and weekends year-round, $13 for high-occupancy vehicles (9-15 passengers), $30 for buses (16 or more), and $4 per equestrian trailer on top of the daily parking fee. Most access points are DCR self-pay lots (Rice, High Bridge Station, River Road, Tuggle, Prospect, Elam, Pamplin); the Farmville access uses municipal lots. Amounts per DCR's published fee schedule effective 1 April 2022.
- Permits
- Not on file
- Hours
- Not on file
- Restrooms
- Not on file
- Water
- Not on file
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed on leash
- Cell service
- Not on file
- Emergency
- Not on file
Provenance
- Facts:
- verified against the managing agency · last checked August 29, 2026.
- Route line:
- 47 OpenStreetMap ways (ODbL), fetched 2026-09-05; elevation from USGS 3DEP 10 m, 2026-09-05. Assembled as single line.
- Readings:
- anything marked Trailfinder reading is derived by Trailfinder from those sources, not published by the agency.
Before you go: Trail conditions, access rules, weather, water availability, and closures can change. Check the linked official source before leaving and choose a route appropriate for your experience and current conditions.