New River Land Trust

The New River Land Trust works to conserve farmland, forests, open spaces, and historic places in the New River region of Southwest Virginia. Since 2002, we have helped protect over 57,000 acres of land in the region and 27 miles of New River frontage. 

We work with landowners to conserve or restore their land, and with partners on larger conservation projects such as the Brush Mountain Park Project.

Brush Mountain Park Project

Brush Mountain Park totals 758 acres with a planned 18 miles of trails across 3 properties. The forested park provides multi-use trails for recreation, habitat for wildlife, and will preserve views of Brush Mountain while forever protecting the land. 

Funding Priority - Land Purchase

Help us raise the $25,000 needed to purchase 20 acres between Stone-cutter's Hollow and Jefferson National Forest! The property will provide space for new and better trails, and fill in the last piece of the puzzle of conserved forest in a 500 acre area.

This 20-acre property will:

1. Allow an additional trail to be built that runs from the bottom of the property to the ridge
2. Allow a shift in proposed trail alignments in order to build better trails
3. Fill in the 20 acre gap in a 500+ acre block of contiguous, conserved forest
4. Further secure public access for recreation along the forest service road

Background

In 2018, the New River Land Trust received a $1.2 million grant award from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation’s Forest CORE Fund. The grant allowed us to purchase the first two properties totaling 552 acres.  

In 2021, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation awarded a $210,000 grant to the Town of Blacksburg that helped NRLT purchase and protect a third property of 205 acres of biodiverse forest habitat.  

The Town of Blacksburg will provide long-term stewardship in the form of viewshed protection, preservation of ecological diversity, and recreational opportunities. 

Trails are being built by contractor Eastern Trail Co. and Poverty Creek Trails Coalition volunteers. Conservation easements on the properties will be held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

Photos: Michael Carnrike