The New River Trail Races offer runners a beautiful route in Southwest Virginia. Here's the report from one of our most enjoyable runs to date!
The New River Trail Race series begins in the state park of the same name near Fries, Virginia.
I was intrigued by these races, in part because I grew up visiting the other, much more well-known New River Gorge (in West Virginia). Same river, different state.
We signed up for the race in 2026. I opted for the 25K, and my husband chose the 50K. Here’s how it went!
Where Are the New River Trail Races Held?
New River Trail State Park is called a "linear" park because it follows an old railroad route alongside the river through parts of four counties.
There are multiple access points to the park, but the town of Fries is generally considered the entryway, and is the beginning and end of the trail race.
Fries is extremely small, and the closest larger (but still small) community is Galax, about 15 minutes away.
Galax is home to Creek Bottom Brewing Company and Galax Smokehouse, both of which we enjoyed!
The state park does charge a parking fee, which you can pay online (day-of only) or pay in person with cash.
The race distances are out-and-back, with 10K, 25K, 50K and 100K distance options, all of which run on a dirt and gravel path.
We found the trail to be very clearly marked and didn’t hear of anyone getting lost.
This trail race follows the path of the New River (as well as the smaller Chestnut Creek), crosses a long wooden bridge, and goes through a tunnel. It’s a very fun and scenic route!
What Are the Trail Conditions?
This trail is great for running. Up to the 25K turnaround point, the trail consisted of dirt and small gravel. Past the 25K turnaround point, there were some larger gravel rocks along the path.
It’s very well-maintained and had no tree roots or other challenging surfaces. You shouldn’t need trekking poles.
Should I Wear Road or Trail Running Shoes?
If you’re doing the 25K distance or shorter, road shoes would likely be fine. Because the trail gets somewhat rockier after that point, trail shoes might be a good choice (although either would likely work fine).
Personally, I find running on gravel makes my feet feel tired more quickly than most other surfaces, so I’d opt for a fairly cushioned shoe if possible.
How Hard Are the New River Trail Races?
The trail itself was fairly flat and easy running. The challenge came from the distance, as well as whatever the weather decides to throw your way.
The day we ran, it started cool but quickly got warm (mid-70s and sunny), but the aid station volunteers said that the previous year the high had been in the mid-30s.
Time Cut-Offs
This race has extremely generous time limits. The 50k official start time was 8 a.m. and the 25K was 9 a.m., but we both took advantage of the 7:30 a.m. early start option.
The cut-off time for both distances was 5 p.m., making it perfect for anyone who wants to do run/walk intervals (like me) or even for anyone who wants to walk the entire course.
On the flip side, fast runners doing the 50k distance could try for a Boston Qualifying time, since there was a timing mat at the marathon distance.
Aid Stations Along the Trail
This race had incredible aid stations throughout. There were small unmanned aid stations (some with water only, others with water and snacks).
This race does not supply disposable cups, so be sure to have your own bottle.
There were also fully staffed aid stations with a wide array of drinks, snacks and even real food.
At the start/finish aid station, there were also lots of drink and snack options, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. There was even someone making slushies!
What Gear We Used
We each carried a running vest with two water bottles. He used this vest and I used this vest.
I wore shorts from Constantly Varied Gear, a Kuhl sun hoodie and Hollow alpaca socks. For shoes, I opted for the cushiony Altra Timps. I was glad I’d worn my sparkly gaiters since I heard other runners complaining about getting rocks in their shoes.
He wore Altra Wilds for the first 25k, then switched to Altra Lone Peaks for the second half of the race.
Not sure which shoe to wear? Check out our comparison of our favorite Altra trail runners.
Can I Have a Drop Bag?
50k and 100k runners were allowed a drop bag to be delivered in the morning.
If you opt to use a drop bag, don’t forget to wait around to pick it back up after running! (The year we ran, drop bags were available for pickup around 3 p.m.)
Can I Track Runners in the New River Trail Races?
No, there was no way to track runners on the course. In some races we’ve done, you can get a text when the runner crosses a timing mat, but that wasn’t an option here.
Since there was little to no cell service at the start/finish line (as well as along much of the course), tracking a runner's phone or AirTag location doesn’t work well either.
If you’re waiting on a runner at the finish line, this is a good time to just practice the art of waiting patiently! Personally, I really enjoyed the time I spent waiting around the start/finish aid station. The race crew was so sweet, and it was fun cheering for other runners as they crossed the finish line.
Race Swag
The finisher medals were so pretty! All runners who completed the course got a medal, and 100k runners also got a belt buckle.
Runners also got a shirt. The year we ran it was a long-sleeve tech shirt in a really pretty green. There were sweatshirts available for purchase.
New River Trail Races: Overall Impressions
We really enjoyed this race. The race director Melissa Londry was incredibly kind and very good at communicating. Everything was well organized and ran smoothly.
I especially enjoyed the little motivational signs the race crew had placed throughout the length of the course.
As a slower, normally back-of-the-pack runner, I was really encouraged and motivated to see so many other runners doing run/walk intervals or walking the entire course.
In short, we both thoroughly enjoyed this race and are happy we had a chance to participate.
Another nice Virginia state park to visit is Grayson Highlands, about an hour's drive from here!
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