announced by the U.S. Department of Interior and National Park Service in advance of June 1 National Trails Day.
The national designation is given to established trails recognized for their value in connecting communities and public lands. The state park was nominated by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation with support from Cumberland and Prince Edward counties, Crossroads Community Services and the Riverside Café, both of Farmville.
Visitors enjoy the view from the bridge
High Bridge Trail State Park is a 31-mile linear, multi-use trail that runs through Nottoway, Cumberland, Prince Edward and to Appomattox counties. It runs through the middle of downtown Farmville as well as the communities of Rice and Prospect. There are efforts ongoing to expand the trail a mile on either end to bring into the towns of Burkeville and Pamplin.
A short video about High Bridge Trail
A former railroad bed, it has a flat, level, crushed limestone surface well suited to hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. It was a donation of the Norfolk Southern Corp. The park opened in sections beginning in 2008. The 31 miles were completed in April 2012 by opening the newly redecked High Bridge. Last year more than 188,000 visited the park.
The park is named for the 2,400-foot bridge that rises 125 feet above the Appomattox River. A bridge has been at this location since the mid-1800s. The original bridge was the site of a battle during the final days of the Civil War. The current bridge was built in 1914.
The recently restored High Bridge is spectacular
"Designation as a National Recreational Trail is the result of outstanding collaborative partnerships between the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and local governments in Farmville, Pamplin and Burkeville as well as the counties of Appomattox, Prince Edward, Nottoway and Cumberland," according to Joe Elton, State Parks Director. "When High Bridge Trail State Park was just a dream, the people of Southside Virginia demonstrated tremendous interest in making this state park a community treasure for the entire region. The trail is a source of great pride for the region and state. The High Bridge is Virginia’s longest recreational bridge and one of America’s top ten longest."
