NEW RIVER TRAIL- Draper to Foster Falls

On the first weekend of fall, we set out to ride the northern portion of the New River Trail. I have previously blogged my experiences on a middle portion of the trail. This part did not disappoint!

For the 5th year in a row, the Fat Bald White Guy and his Faithful Hiking Companion have participated in the Great Cycle Challenge to raise awareness of Childhood Cancer. We ride in memory of our great nephew, Beau Stanley who died before age three from neuroblastoma. September is the month that our team, Beau's Buddies dust off our bikes and ride!

Beau's Buddies

This year our goal was to ride 750 miles and raise $7500...we are going to ride 1000 miles and raise over $10,000! Last year we rode the New River Trail from Ivanhoe to Foster Falls. This year the route was from Draper to Foster Falls, a distance of around 18 miles!

The New River State Park is a linear park, 57 miles long. The trail runs from Pulaski to Galax Virgina and follows a route in the abandoned railroad bed on the banks of the New River. Because it is a railroad grade there are no steep hills to climb. It meanders in the Virginia backwoods through some small hamlets.

Foster Falls is the about midway and is the location of the Park offices. A home for a campground next to the river. A fantastic fishing hole and there bikes can be rented and horse rides secured.

It is also the place you can pick up a shuttle to either Galax or Pulaski. It is one of the most scenic locations in the park.

Having ridden Ivanhoe to Foster Falls last year we chose to ride the northern section from Draper to Foster Falls. For $35 a piece we got a ride to Draper and took off "down" the trail looking for the Hiawassee Bridge.

The trail is wide and very well maintained mostly a crushed black cinder rock that packs well and makes the ride smooth. From Draper to Allisonia the trail is either downhill or level and if you are not careful you will not slow down to catch the scenery...but we did!

The New River has been dammed a time or two and near Draper is a example of that. Claytor Lake provides for some great motor boat access to the New River. Completed in 1939 the river was dammed to provide hyroelectric power to the region and a 225,000 acre lake was formed. The New River Trail north of Draper access rides on the lake shore for the first couple of miles.

From this bridge we got the best view of Claytor Lake. Most bridges have a small lookout perch about midway across. From that perch you can get out of the way of fellow bikers and take your time photographing the scenery.

Not far from Claytor Lake bridge is the architecturally scenic Hiawassee Bridge. On most rails to trails byways, the railroads have removed the old steel trestles but on this section the steel structure that was used by railroad cars remains and it is something to behold.

You must stop and photograph this structure. It is a massive steel girded structure that spans 951 feet over the New River. I once biked across the Golden Gate and when I rode across this bridge my Golden Gate ride is what popped into my mind. Take time to enjoy! We did.

We didn't realize at the time but the Hiawassee Bridge is at the bottom of the hill we were enjoying riding down from Draper. Because you are on a railroad grade, the elevation changes are subtle but the topography changes as you cross the big steel bridge. The New River flows north and we were heading south. After the bridge the rest of the ride to Foster Falls we found the river flowing on our right...which means we are traveling upstream...and water flows downhill....get it? You don't notice the change until you ride out from the hamlet of Allisonia.

Allisonia like many of the hamlets along the New River Trail was built and occupied by miners. This area of the state of Virginia has historically been an area where iron ore has been mined. Foster Falls was a mining hub of the region and a form of pig iron was processed there.

Census figures say 115 folks live in Allisonia. We only saw 3 folks and two dogs. But the old depot is now a hostel and there are many signs of cabins to rent for bikers and fishermen I suppose.

Leaving Allisonia, the trail changes. The river is now on your right and the trail begins to climb in elevation but it is a railroad grade so the climb is both subtle and tolerable.

The trail also begins to weave into the side of the mountain and the topography surrounding the trail is both wooded and rocky. There are occasional glimpses of the river but to get good views you have to do some scampering to get to the riverside.

The trail is very serene and other than your labored breathing and the rythmic clatter of your pedals you are pretty much alone in the woods. Occasionally another rider will pass you but for the most part we had the trail to ourselves for most of the ride.

About the time we thought we had crested a rise and the trail was leveling out, another rise was revealed. My Faithful Biking Companion asked me if I knew that water ran downhill. What we realised is that the railbed pretty much followed the same trajectory as the river bed. I found myself thinking how hard constructing the rail line would have been each time I passed through the narrow rock walls that were scarred by marks of the blasting by railway workers. "Hey if they could build this dang thing, I should be able to ride it on a bicycle!"

Just as we left Pulaski County, there was a very inviting trail bench. Never forsake a trail bench even when you are riding a bike.

Across from the bench was a metal sign and next to the sign was a drive that led to a wide meadow next to the river.

While my Faithful Hiking Companion was resting, I pedaled down to the river and took in the sights of the "New River Retreat".

The large meadow seemed to lead to a few riverside camping spots which on this day were unoccupied.

A few picnic tables provided clues to where the best view might be and I took advantage of them.

I could see why the area was considered a retreat as the river moved along the river banks gently with just enough speed that the sound of the river was an ever present gurgling hum. Grassy banks and shade trees made this a wonderful place to take a break from the ride.

We figured that we were about 4 miles from Foster Falls and expected at anytime to find the trail flattening out...but we were wrong...it's uphill all the way! But we soon began to see evidence that we were getting closer to our destination. More riders appeared and the occasional pod of horse manure was on the trail...then we saw them...horses!

These magnificent creatures gave us hope that our destination was near at hand. These were large horses who did not gallop when they ran...they were Tennessee Walkers so I was told. But as we let them pass we found a new energy and soon the trail did flatten out and we were in the Foster Falls Recreation area.

If you can't bike the New River Trail, you can visit Foster Falls and quickly and easily get a feel for the beauty and majesty of one of the oldest rivers in the world.

At the south end of the park are the falls. The falls are really just rocky shoals where the water is slowed by a rock formation.

There is a wonderful structure at Foster Falls that looks like an old hotel. But in truth is the former headquarters of a mining company that was part office and part bunkhouse.

In later years it was turned into an orphanage. Soon...very soon it will be an hostel of sorts for biking tourists....can't wait to visit there again!

What can be said about the New River Trial...if you can ride a bike....you got to ride it! It is a hard but fair trek for the average biker. If you take your time and enjoy the scenery, the labor of riding will be paid a hundredfold in incredible scenery that you can only see from the saddle of a bike or a horse.

Make it a bucket list. If the Fat Bald White Guy and his Faithful Biking Companion can make it...well most anyone can! Scenery is a 10...Trail is well maintained and marked...10...Location is easy to find right off I-77 North...10....Effort to View ratio...near perfect!