High Bridge Trail State Park

General Information

High Bridge Trail is 31 miles long and ideally suited for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. Once a rail bed, the trail is wide, level and generally flat. Its finely crushed limestone surface and dimensions make it easy to enjoy. The park’s centerpiece is the majestic High Bridge, which is more than 2,400 feet long and 125 feet above the Appomattox River. It is the longest recreational bridge in Virginia and among the longest in the United States. High Bridge, a Virginia Historic Landmark, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The trail is a National Recreation Trail recognizing exemplary trails of local and regional significance, connecting people to nature, to each other, and to our shared history and culture. Bring drinking water because none is available on the trail.

High Bridge access

There are two parking lots near High Bridge.

East of the bridge: Camp Paradise Rd.; Rice, Virginia (Prince Edward County)

• Use 1681 Aspen Hill Rd., Rice, Virginia 23966, to get to the entrance of Camp Paradise Rd. then travel 1.5 miles to the parking area.
• High Bridge is .3 miles from the Camp Paradise parking lot. Trailers are allowed in this lot, and equestrians may access the trail from it.

West of the bridge: River Rd., Farmville (Cumberland County)

• Use 553 River Rd., Farmville, VA 23901, to get here. High Bridge is nearly a mile from the lot. Trailers are not allowed at this lot.

Trip suggestions

• Bikers might prefer parking at the Rice parking lot, which is 3.1 miles from the bridge and 8 miles from Farmville. Bikers might also wish to park at the Main Street plaza parking lot in Farmville; the bridge is 4.5 miles from that lot.
• For equestrians, the designated horse trailer parking lots are at Camp Paradise Rd. (3.2 miles from the bridge), Osborne Road (2.9 miles from the bridge) and  Prospect (12.4 miles from the bridge).

Hours

Dawn - dusk.

Location

High Bridge Trail traverses Cumberland, Nottoway and Prince Edward counties and the towns of Burkeville, Farmville, Pamplin City, Prospect and Rice. The address listed above is for mail.

Entrances - Parking availability:

• Rice's Depot Road, 1/4-mile off U.S. 460 at Rice, near trail milepost 142*
• Camp Paradise Rd., 3.2 miles off 460/Aspen Hill Rd. in Rice, near trail milepost 144*
• 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., off U.S. Business 460 near Pamplin and trail milepost 168

* Pay lots.

There are restrooms and picnic tables at various points along the trail. See the park's trail guide for more information.

Park Size

1,206 acres.

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Cabins, camping

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.

Cabins

None in the park, but nearby Bear Creek Lake and Twin Lakes state parks have cabins.

Camping

None in the park, but nearby Bear Creek Lake, Holliday Lake and Twin Lakes state parks have camping.

Recreation

TRAILS

Hiking, bicycle and bridle trails. Visit the Explore Virginia Outdoors website for enhanced maps and video tours of High Bridge Trail's trails.

Click here for information about trail etiquette.

SWIMMING

None at this park.

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 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. Horses must be dismounted and led across bridges.

Park Trail Guide

Click here for the park's trail guide.

Nearby Attractions

Bear Creek Lake State Park, Holliday Lake State Park, Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park, Twin Lakes State Park, Sandy River Reservoir, the Adventure Park at Sandy River Retreat (zip lines, canopy rope courses), the Outdoor Adventure Store, Briery Creek Wildlife Management Area, Prince Edward-Gallion State Forest, Lee’s Retreat Driving Tour, The Museum of the Confederacy in Appomattox, Va., Longwood University Visual Arts Center, Robert Russa Moton Museum, Old Town Farmville, Farmville, Prince Edward County, Cumberland County, Nottoway County

Picnic Shelters

None.

Meeting Space and Facilities

MEETING FACILITIES

None at this park.

VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP

The park's Gift Shop on the Go by the River Road parking lot is open Friday to Sunday. The shop sells water, T-shirts, hiking medallions and other memorabilia. There's also an exhibit about High Bridge at the Heartland Regional Visitor Center and Transportation Heritage Museum in Farmville.

RESTAURANT

None at this park.

LAUNDRY

None at this park.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

None at this park.

Other Info

ACCESSIBILITY

The trail and parking lots are accessible. Parking areas at Prospect and Rice have handicapped parking spots. All restrooms are accessible.

NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS

Click here to view all parks' events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.

CONCESSIONS

Gift Shops on the Go, across from the River Road parking lot, is open Friday to Sunday and sells bottled water, T-shirts, hiking medallions and other memorabilia.

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. After 13 months of rehabilitation work, High Bridge was opened to the public on April 6, 2012. Its completion provides the final link in the 31-mile trail.

FRIENDS GROUP

Feel like lending nature a hand? The Friends of High Bridge Trail State Park is a group of hands-on volunteers dedicated to preserving the park and supporting its mission. Call 434-315-0457 or email fofhbt@gmail.com for more information.

MASTER PLAN

Master plans must be written for parks before they're built. The plans are updated at least once every 10 years thereafter. The plans cover the size, types, infrastructure and locations of facilities as well as the site's special features and resources. Three public meetings are held during the initial development of each plan. Click here for this park's master plan.

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 State Park.

View all wildlife encounter photos from High Bridge Trail State Park.