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Virginia Trailfinder
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Trailhead view · Pulaski to Galax

New River Trail

Distance
57mi
Climb
1,143ft
Hiking time
Not on file
Difficulty
Easy

Start: 36.66851, -80.92540 open in a map app

1,143 ft up, 1,549 ft down · 1,846–2,345 ft

1,8001,9002,0002,1002,2002,3002,4000 mi10203040+115 ft · 2.8%+97 ft · 0.9%Start
49.68 miles measured, 1,143 ft of climbing and 1,549 ft of descent, between 1,846 and 2,345 ft. The hardest part is a 0.8-mile climb of 115 ft starting at mile 43.98, averaging 2.8%. A second climb of 97 ft begins at mile 45.08. The climbing continues after mile 45.08.49.68 miles measured, 1,143 ft of climbing and 1,549 ft of descent, between 1,846 and 2,345 ft. The hardest part is a 0.8-mile climb of 115 ft starting at mile 43.98, averaging 2.8%. A second climb of 97 ft begins at mile 45.08. The climbing continues after mile 45.08.Trailfinder reading Measured from an OpenStreetMap line and the USGS 10 m elevation model, fetched 2026-09-05. Sampled terrain, not a GPS track.

49.68 miles measured, 1,143 ft of climbing and 1,549 ft of descent, between 1,846 and 2,345 ft. The hardest part is a 0.8-mile climb of 115 ft starting at mile 43.98, averaging 2.8%. A second climb of 97 ft begins at mile 45.08. The climbing continues after mile 45.08.

Official notes

Parking
Park only in designated areas. A parking fee is charged year-round at all Virginia State Parks; at New River Trail it is $7 per standard vehicle, payable at the contact station when staffed, otherwise by self-pay envelope (cash or check) placed in the honor safe, or by credit card at the park office or via the QR-code self-pay app. Horse trailers may park only in the designated horse-trailer parking sites, which are provided at Allisonia, Austinville, Cliffview, Dora Junction, Draper, Fries, Ivanhoe and the Mark E. Hufeisen Day Use Area. The corridor has many numbered access points with parking, labelled P# for the mileage from the Pulaski access — including P1 Pulaski, P2 Dora Junction, P6 Draper, P10 Hiwassee, P12 Allisonia, P13 Big Reed Trestle, P17 Barren Springs/Route 100, P19 Lone Ash/Route 622, P20 Bertha, P24 Foster Falls, P25 Shot Tower, P28 Austinville, P31 Ivanhoe, P34 Buck Dam, P40 Fries Junction, P42 Gambetta, P45 Fries, P48 Cliffview Campground and P49 Cliffview. Campsites permit only two motor vehicles without an additional fee. No parking-lot capacity or space counts are stated by the agency.
Water
Potable water is available only at Galax, Cliffview Campground (Dannelly Park) and Foster Falls, plus the horse trailer lots at Ivanhoe, Draper and Dora Junction. Running water at Cliffview Campground is shut off November through March; carry water during those months. Double Shoals Campground has no water supply — campers must bring their own. There is no potable water at other trail access points along the 57-mile trail.
Dogs
Dogs allowed on leash
Cell
Not on file
Emergency
Not on file
  • Dark tunnels — bring a light
  • Shared use with horses and bikes
  • Flooding after heavy rain
Check current alerts and closures

This view is a reference, not navigation. The line is sampled from OpenStreetMap and USGS data; carry an offline map and treat cell coverage as unreliable.