New River Trail (VA)

Virginia, US

Distance

50 mi

Vertical Gain

260 ft

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/new-river-trail#general_information

New River Trail is a 57-mile linear park that follows an abandoned railroad right-of-way. The park parallels the scenic and historic New River for 39 miles and passes through four counties and the city of Galax. The trail's gentle slope makes it great for visitors of all ages to hike, bike and ride horseback. The park's Foster Falls area offers guided horseback trips; canoe and bike rentals; boat launches; gift shops; and a horse arena. Fishing is popular, and primitive campsites dot the trail. There are access points to the trail at Allisonia, Chestnut Yard, Cliffview, Dannelly Park (near Galax), Draper, Dora Junction (near Pulaski), Foster Falls, Fries, Galax, Gambetta, Hiwassee and Ivanhoe. Horse trailer parking is available at Allisonia, Austinville, Cliffview, Dora Junction, Draper, Fries, Ivanhoe and the Mark E. Hufeisen Horse Complex.

Two tunnels: 135 feet and 193 feet long
Three major bridges: Hiwassee - 951 feet; Ivanhoe - 670 feet; Fries Junction - 1,089 feet
Nearly 30 smaller bridges and trestles
A historic shot tower used more than 200 years ago to make ammunition
Potable water is available only at Galax, Cliffview Campground (Dannelly Park) and Foster Falls as well as at the horse trailer lots at Ivanhoe, Draper and Dora Junction.
Five non-flush toilets are available along the trail

Note that the FKT route is 50 miles from Galax to Pulaski (or reverse) - does not include the 7 mile (one way) spur to Fries.

GPS Track

New_River_Trail_fastest_known_time_with_Greg_and_Matty.gpx1.45 MB

FKTs

Standard route

Male

Unsupported
Joshua Goad	6h 46m 22s	2021-11-07
Kevin Jarvis	8h 10m 53s	2020-09-26
Andrew Peddy	9h 17m 52s	2020-07-26

Supported
Martin Harrison	7h 35m 0s	2021-06-01
Brennan Henning, Ty Stephenson	7h 53m 16s	2021-02-25
Michael Stowe	8h 16m 49s	2020-04-20
Royce Jacomen, Trevor Stewart, Jordan Chang, Chris Larson	10h 25m 23s	2015-07-18

Self-supported
Stephen Robbins, Matty Ponce-de-Leon, Greg Anderson			9h 54m 52s	2019-04-26

Female

Supported
Jennifer Fleming			7h 21m 0s	2021-12-04
Melissa Peddy, Sandy Jones			11h 49m 38s	2020-11-27

Unsupported
Melissa Londry, Ashley Austin			12h 37m 36s	2024-06-07

This route on the old FKT site

http://fastestknowntime.proboards.com/thread/1137/new-river-trail

Comments

Stephen Robbins, Matty Ponce-De-Leon, and Greg Anderson will attempt a self-supported effort on the same course listed by the gentlemen above this coming Thursday (2019-04-25). We intend to run over night, finishing early Friday morning. I will upload all necessary data assuming attempt is successful.

I plan to try a new unsupported FKT tomorrow, 7/26/2020, starting at Galax and heading towards Pulaski.

Did you succeed? If yes, what time?

Tomorrow morning, September 26th, I will be attempting the unsupported fkt from Galax to Pulaski

Sandy Jones and I plan to set the female supported FKT tomorrow, 11/27/2020, in the reverse route starting at Pulaski and heading towards Galax.

Melissa Peddy and I plan to set the female supported FKT tomorrow, 11/27/2020, in the reverse route starting at Pulaski and heading towards Galax.

Ty Stephenson and I plan to attempt a new supported FKT of this route on Thursday, 2/25/2021. We will start from Galax and head North towards Pulaski.

Going for it June 1, 2021. Support team of Chad Randolph and David Altshular. Starting Galax somewhere between 7 and 8 am.

Pending verification from FKT: 7:35:16

Anyone who had gotten this far down the comments and is considering an FKT attempt on this route:

As of this writing I am the holder of the FKT for supported male @ 7 hour 35 minutes. Due to some confusion at the start our team didn't get the exact time and thus we reported as just minutes, rounding up to the nearest known minute. In a 50 mile run, what's a few seconds anyway? I believe the person who posts the new FKT will do it by over 20 minutes and that there's at least an hour to come off the time by a younger, faster runner.

My offer: I assembled a complete plan which includes all the access points, estimated run times, drive times, driving maps and picture book for the support crew to use. I've got a spreadsheet set up any runner and support crew can use to make sure the support crew is at a checkpoint when the runner arrives. I've got at least 40 hours invested. I offer it to any runner who may want to consider using it. I can get it to you via a Google Driver share. At over 40mb it's way too big to email.

Additionally, If the timing works out, I'm open to the idea of helping crew a runner making a serious attempt at an FKT on this course. I realize how important a solid crew is to the success. I'd love to be part of the team that sets the new FKT.

Feel free to reach out to me at: NCAAT1983@gmail.com.

I'll be making an unsupported attempt on 11/7/21. Galax to Pulaski.

Just found the page and thought it worth noting that I ran the New River Trail in 8:28 supported with friends back in March, 2008 (including the 11-mile out-and-back to/from Fries to make it about 100K). This was pre-tracker times, but I've attached the short write-up with link to pics below. Also thought it worth noting that the Fries Spur is identified in park map/brochure as a segment of the New River Trail... So I say: don't short-change the challenge of this great trail! ;)

3.8.08: 61 miles in 8:28 on the New River Trail from Galax, VA to Pulaski, VA. This rail-to-trail route traverses some very scenic countryside. Mom and dad provide transportation and car support while Matthew and Lily offer bike support. Rick, Adam and I are very lucky runners to have such a crew. At the start, the sun pokes through the cool drizzly clouds and the temperature warms. By the time we return on the Fries spur, it’s sleeting and the wind is blowing hard. I come through the 50K mark perhaps a little too fast in 3:55. This relentlessly flat terrain is something new to me and works my hamstrings. The snow is falling hard as I pull into the finish. Adam finishes in under 10 hours. We're grateful for the wonderful support on this training run.

I plan to run an unsupported FKT for females on the NRT standard route on 6/7/2024 with Ashley Austin.

I plan to run an unsupported FKT for females on the NRT standard route with Melissa Londry on 6/7/24

Route: New River Trail (VA)

FKTs

Comments