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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: December 27, 2023
Contact: Starr Anderson, Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, 540-460-1540, starr.anderson@dcr.virginia.gov

Sky Meadows State Park completes upgrades to Lost Mountain Trail, continues fundraising efforts for additional trail improvements

(Editors: Follow this link to download an image. Photo caption: Sky Meadows State Park celebrates reaching fundraising milestone)

DELAPLANE, VA – Construction is complete on Sky Meadows State Park’s Lost Mountain Trail, bringing it up to sustainability standards. The 2.2-mile trail, designed for hikers and equestrians, is one of six located in the park’s 248-acre Lost Mountain area, which opened to the public in the early ‘90s.

Due to several factors, including regular traffic and improper drainage, Lost Mountain Trail was suffering from significant erosion, making it difficult to traverse. Sky Meadows hired Ironwood Outdoors to address the issue, the third project at the park for the full-service trail building company since 2018.

Upgrades to Lost Mountain Trail started in early November and included five reroutes to avoid hazard areas, seven de-berm areas to improve the out slope of the trail, 49 rolling grade dips to prevent washout and 18 knicks to prevent pooling water.

"The upgrades to Lost Mountain Trail not only provide a safer and more enjoyable experience for visitors but also create a more sustainable trail that protects Lost Mountain’s ecosystems and conserves its natural resources," said Park Manager Patrick McNamara.

Funding for the Lost Mountain Trail project was provided by the Friends of Sky Meadows Trail Legacy Campaign. It began in earnest in 2019 with the goal of raising $28,000 to enhance and stabilize Lost Mountain Trail.

That goal was met this fall, and Friends of Sky Meadows (FOSK) President Tracy Reitnauer said the success of the Trail Legacy Campaign would not have been possible without donations from the park’s many visitors, from those who have been coming to Sky Meadows since childhood to first-time visitors.

"It gives me great pleasure to be a part of the continuous upgrading of our trails," said Reitnauer. "Although Sky Meadows is part of a successful state park system in Virginia, it has a unique drawing for both the Northern and Shenandoah regions of the state. The solitude that hikers experience makes them feel as if Sky Meadows is a place to rejuvenate their daily lives. Upgrading the park’s trails allows visitors a chance to try new paths that encourage family togetherness or a peacefulness that they desire to return to many times."

With the success of the Trail Legacy Campaign, the park has created an evergreen campaign called the Friends of Sky Meadows Trail Legacy Fund. It will allow the park to continue bringing more trails up to sustainability standards and create new trails.

"The Trail Legacy Fund is a crucial way for visitors to support our trails. This project allows donors to give back and contribute to the lasting impact of our trails," said McNamara. "The Legacy Campaign ensures the trails remain resilient for future generations of equestrians, cyclists and hikers, creating a lasting legacy for decades to come."

To learn more about the FOSK and their fundraising efforts, please go to friendsofskymeadows.org.

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Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information about Virginia State Parks’ activities and amenities or to reserve one of the more than 1,800 campsites or 300 climate-controlled cabins, call the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at 800-933-PARK or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.

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