The trail will be closed at River Road on the Cumberland end and at Aspen Hill Road on the Prince Edward end for work on High Bridge. The project should be completed and the bridge opened early April.
GENERAL INFO: High Bridge Trail State Park is a multi-use trail ideally suited for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. The trail, once a rail bed, is wide, level and generally flat. Its surface is finely crushed limestone. The trail's surface and dimensions make it easy for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy it. Its centerpiece is the majestic High Bridge, which is more than 2,400 feet long and 160 feet above the Appomattox River. The original bridge was built in 1853 as part of the South Side Railroad. The current steel-tower bridge was built in 1914.
Twenty-eight miles of trail are open. Work on other park facilities continues.
Be sure to bring plenty of drinking water because it's not available on the trail.
Park size: 1,103 acres.
Current weather: Click here to visit the Weather Channel's site for this zip code.
AT-A-GLANCE: The pictographs directly below show park offerings. Click on those of interest or read below for more detail. Mouse-over the image for a short text description or click here to view a legend in which each pictograph's meaning is expressed.
LOCATION: High Bridge Trail is about 31 miles long and runs through Cumberland, Nottoway and Prince Edward counties and the towns of Burkeville, Farmville, Pamplin City, Prospect and Rice.
Entrances - Parking availability:
- Rice's Depot Road, 1/4-mile off U.S. 460 at Rice, near trail milepost 142
- River Road, three miles off N. Main St. in Farmville, near trail milepost 146
- Osborne Road, 1/4-mile off N. Main St. in Farmville, near trail milepost 149
- Municipal lots in Farmville where the trail intersects with Main St. near trail milepost 150
- Tuggle Road, off U.S. 460 and near U.S. 15 North, near trail milepost 156
- Prospect Road, off U.S. 460 at Prospect, near trail milepost 161
- Elam, off U.S. 460 at Sulpher Spring Rd., near trail milepost 164
- Heights School Rd., of U.S. Business 460 near Pamplin, near trail milepost 168
Latitude, 37.304488. Longitude, -78.390938.
View all High Bridge Trail photos.
PARK MAP: Click here (PDF). Click here (PDF) for a table that shows mileage at certain points along the trail.
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES: None. For information on availability of other parks' overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK. Click here for park fees.
TRAILS: Hiking, bicycle and bridle trail.
Visit the Explore Virginia Outdoors website for enhanced maps and video tours of High Bridge Trail's trails.
Click here (PDF) for information about trail etiquette.
WILDLIFE: Virginia State Parks are great places to discover and reconnect with the wild world. Bring a camera and share your captures with the world. But please don't disturb or get too close to the animals. The park is, after all, their home. Here are a few recent natural encounters others have had at High Bridge Trail.
View all wildlife encounter photos from High Bridge Trail.
FISHING, BOATING: High Bridge Trail parallels and crosses over sections of the Appomattox River. In addition to largemouth and smallmouth bass, the Appomattox is home to the Kentucky spotted bass along and numerous other freshwater species. Access to the river is limited. Nearby Twin Lakes and Holliday Lake state parks offer other fishing and overnight accommodations.
HORSES: Bridle trail. State law requires that visitors carry a copy of a negative Coggins report with each horse brought to the park.
PARKS CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP: None
NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS: Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER: None
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Twin Lakes State Park, Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park, Bear Creek Lake State Park, Holliday Lake State Park, Sandy River Reservoir, Briery Creek Wildlife Management Area, Prince Edward-Gallion State Forest, Lee’s Retreat Driving Tour, Longwood University Visual Arts Center, Robert Russa Moton Museum, Old Town Farmville
ACCESSIBILITY: The trail is accessible. Parking areas at Prospect and Rice are accessible. All restrooms are accessible.
HISTORY: In December 2006, Norfolk Southern Railway Co. donated a 31-mile tract of abandoned railroad to the state for the establishment of a new state park. The rail line was part of the Petersburg to Lynchburg line. On Aug. 22, 2008, four miles of the linear park were opened to the public. On June 6, 2009, another 10 miles were opened to the public. Six more miles were opened on Nov. 14, 2009, and another four miles were opened on July 3, 2010. On Sept. 4, 2010, the trail's final six miles were opened.
FRIENDS GROUP: Feel like lending nature a hand? This friends group of hands-on volunteers is dedicated to preserving the park and supporting its mission. Call (434) 315-0457 or email fofhbt@gmail.com for more information.
CONTACT INFO: High Bridge Trail State Park,
6888 Green Bay Road
Green Bay, VA 23942 (Note: The park's office and actual location are separate. Do not use the above address to determine directions); phone,
(434) 315-0457; email, highbridgetrail.
This park was supported by the Land and Water Conservation Fund: Helping states and communities provide outdoor recreation and open space for all Americans.
Visit Explore Virginia Outdoors for virtual tours of state parks' trails and more.