Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Virginia has almost 50 trails that were developed on former rail corridors. They range from less than a mile to over 50 miles in length. TrailLink, by Rails to Trails Conservancy, provides an interactive map with a way to filter and display rail trails.
Several other long-distance rail trails are proposed. You can learn more about them at these links:
Recreational trail advocates interested in developing a Rail with Trail or a Pedestrian Crossing project in the Commonwealth of Virginia must first submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) to the DCR. The LOI will precede a formal application or comprehensive trail planning process, and will allow the trail advocate(s) to assess the preliminary feasibility of the project from the railroad operator’s perspective. This process is outlined in Section 2.2.1 in the report called Rails with Trails/Pedestrian Crossing Project Initiation, Coordination and Review (House Bill 2088).
