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 58,000 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 ParBrush Mountain Park - click map to enlargek totals 634 acres with nearly 16 miles of multi-use trails across 3 properties. In addition to the trails and recreation opportunities, the forested park provides habitat for wildlife and will preserve views of Brush Mountain while forever protecting the land.

2026 Funding Priority - New Trail Construction and Maintenance

Our fundraising focus this year is on building a new trail on Property 2, Stonecutter's Hollow, and 3 new trails on Property 3, Millstone Ridge. Your donations will also support work on maintenance-intensive trails like Blunderbuss and Wavelength in Brush Mountain Park. 

The property will eventually be turned over to the Town of Blacksburg to manage, and the land placed in a conservation easement that protects the forested property into the future.

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 on Millstone Ridge are being built by contractor Eastern Trail Co. Conservation easements on the properties will be held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.