As of September 15, 2023, the full planned 12.5 miles of Trail from Mendota south to Bristol at I-81 is now open for use, crossing 17 remaining trestles and miles of gorgeous woodland, fields and creeks along the way.

SO, WHERE CAN I ACCESS THE TRAIL?

There are a variety of maps on this site showing where the Right-of-Way is located. There are four established parking areas: the Mendota Trailhead, a small parking area 2 miles south of Mendota at Phillips and Little Wolf Run, the Benhams Parking area near the trail center and the Trailhead at Island Road and I-81.
The Trail ROW is 12.5 miles long and originally crossed over 19 trestles along the way. Seventeen trestles remain, missing #2 at Campground Road and #16 in Phillips.

Beginning in Bristol, where Island Road crosses under Interstate-81, a parking area has been established with picnic facilities at the property to the left off Island Road. The first half mile is paved and ADA acessable. Walking this section includes crossing one short trestle, #1. The next 0.6 mile takes you from the Wagner Road crossing to Campground Road. At this point a huge trestle (#2) use to cross both the creek and Campground Road and gain elevation to high on the far road bank. That trestle was removed by the DOT to straighten out the road, so this currently necesitates following the Campground Road shoulder for the next 0.2 miles until reaching Cowan Road on the right using an established gravel side path connecting these sections along Campground and Cowan Roads. Cyclist comfortable with riding roads may choose to use the road to avoid this gravel section.

Turning up Cowan Road the Trail continues on the left 0.1 miles up the hill. From this point the Trail returns to the railroad bed and parallels Cowan Road for the next 1.2 miles to the intersection of Haskell Station Road. This is where the Walker Mtn. stop use to be.

The next 0.3 miles parallels Haskell Road in an largely open area. At this point the ROW again enters trees for the next 0.15 miles to where it crosses Reedy Creek Road, where limited parking MAY eventually be established, along with crosswalk markings.

Most of the next 1.4 miles north of Reedy Creek Road passes through a forested area. Then the next 0.2 miles crosses open areas, then enters the woods again for the next 0.1 mile before reaching the 30 foot high, 193 foot long Benhams Trestle #3 over Abram's Creek, which opened in November 2020. Please DO NOT use the Private Tyree Lane to access or exit the trail.

Past Trestle #3, the next 0.45 miles parallels Rich Valley Road mostly in the open, to Benhams and where the Benhams Station use to stand. This is just past the 5 mile point, and almost the mid-point of the 12.5 mile trail! This former Benhams railroad yard now serves us as Benhams Trailhead parking and a reproduction station is envisioned in the future. As trail usage picks up, the Benhams Mall store may re-open to serve trail users.

Just north of the Benhams Trailhead is a second smaller 122 foot long Benhams Crossing Trestle #4 (opened in 2021), that crosses over Benhams Road/700.

The trail section section north of Trestle #4 roughly parallels Wolf Run Road (and creek) for over two miles. The next half mile past trestle #4 pass through a pretty, wooded area until it gets deep in a railroad cut. Past "The Cut", the trail crosses Wolf Run road, just before Margay Drive.

Continuing north on the trailbed from Margay Drive, in another 0.35 mile, the 68 foot trestle #5 crosses over Gum Hill Road. Just before #5, part of the trailbed slid down the creek bank in 2020, and required a new retaining wall and fill.

The next trestle #6 (currently being used as a driveway) is at about 0.5 miles from Trestle #5. At 10 feet wide, this trestle is two feet wider than the others.

The Trail crosses 10 Trestles, ranging from 15 to 122 feet, as it passes through the Gorge. This remote section, in many ways, may remind one of the southern VA Creeper Trail. At Trestle #14, a side creek from the south joins Wolf Run Creek. Nearly a hundred years ago, a number of homes use to inhabit this tributary location. It might be interesting to someday explore and see if there is evidence left of this former community.

After another mile the trail crosses a field where the Phillips Switch/ Station was located. The trail now enters more woods and takes us up to Phillips/ Little Wolf Run road crossing and Abrams creek. The Abrams Falls Station was located near here. Here Trestle #16 was removed by VDOT in the early 1990's to ensure road clearance above the creek. Trail Parking is available here. The Trestle abuttments on both ends still remain, and trail users can now come down one access road, cross the Abrams Creek bridge, then follow Hollis lane back up to the Trail bed to continue on the trail.

The trail then travels yet another mile and crosses Trestles #17 & #18 before reaching the Holston River. At mile 11.7 the Trail crosses the north fork of the Holston River on the 277 foot long, 27 foot high steel Trestle #19. That trestle has a public VDOT swinging bridge parallelling it that can be used in addition to the river trestle. After crossing the river, there is one last mile, mostly through woods, terminating at the north Mendota Trailhead.

The Mendota Trailhead at mile 12.6 had a grand opening in October 2017.

The MTC Inc owns another 1.5 miles of RR ROW in Washington County from Mendota to the Scott County line, although there are no plans to develop this. Bristol VA may eventually extend the southern end of the trail into town.

Mendota Trail I-81 line to tall Benhams trestle #3, 5 miles

LIST OF CURRENT & FUTURE TRAIL ACCESS POINTS

When using GPS for driving directions the following addresses may be useful:

BRISTOL ISLAND ROAD TRAILHEAD -OPEN NOW- next to 1788 Island Road, Bristol, Va 24201
Bristol Island Road Trailhead- 10157 Campground Road, Bristol Va 24201



REEDY CREEK Trailhead- Bristol Va  Possible Future August 16,2019 NO Parking at present time
8662 Reedy Creek Road, Bristol Va 24202
(Intersection of 633/656 Haskell Station Roads)

BENHAMS TRAILHEAD- 7729 & 7566 County Road 700 Rich Valley, Bristol Va 24202 - OPEN NOW
 Benhams Mall old Railroad Yard

PHILLIPS PARKING- 4070 LITTLE WOLF RUN RD @ Hollis Lane, Bristol Va 24202 - OPEN NOW (but not easy to drive to)
 
MENDOTA TRAILHEAD- Mendota Va  OPEN NOW
@Mendota Road & Civil Drive/614 
at Route 802 One acre tract between Mendota Baptist Church and Civil Dr.