New River Land Trust

This is the New River Land Trust's Give Local NRV page. Please visit us at newriverlandtrust.org if it's not the GiveLocalNRV (June) time of year. Thank you!

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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 

Brush Mountain Park totals 758 acres with a planned total of 20+ 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 - New Trails on Property 3

Our fundraising focus this year is building new trails on Property 3 of Brush Mountain Park. Property 3 is 205 acres of forest land and is unique in that its location near the ridge of the mountain and its width allow for opportunities to build a variety of trails. It connects with the Poverty Creek Trail System via the Horse Nettle trail, and to the other 2 Brush Mountain Park properties on the Forest Service Road.

Next to be built is the orange trail, which will provide easy access back Running Cedar from Chasers. After that, more trails are planned for Property 3. The property has two trails open to the public now - Running Cedar and Chasers. 

The property will eventually be turned over to the Town of Blacksburg to manage, and the land will be placed in a conservation easement that protects the forested property into the future for recreation, wildlife habitat, and climate change mitigation.

Want to check it out and see what the fuss is about? Parking for Property 3 is along Forest Service Rd 188-2, Pandapas Pond, and Heritage Park lots. From those locations you can ride, walk, or run to the open trails! Please stay on the trails as the rest of the property is not yet open to public access.

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. In 2023 we raised money to purchase an additional 20-acre property adjacent to Stonecutter's Hollow. 

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

Trails for Property 3 are being built by contractor Eastern Trail Co. Conservation easements on the properties will be held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

Photo: Michael Carnrike