Trail Review: Blackwater Creek

One of the reasons Lynchburg, Virginia has been rated a "Running Friendly Community" by the Road Runners Club of America is due to its trails.  One of the nicest and most popular is the Blackwater Creek rail trail.  The trail is nestled between downtown, the Lynchburg General Hospital area, and a bunch of neighborhoods.

I especially like parts of the trail where the rock was blasted away to make the railroad years ago.  Days like today, when there was no one else in sight, I can almost imagine what it was like to ride the rail into Lynchburg on this trail.  There is a short tunnel that goes under Hollins Mill Road.  When my children were little, this was their favorite part of the trail.

There are historical markers along the trail which are quite interesting, and the Kemper Street extension goes all the way to the Lynchburg Rail Station.  It's fun when I can time a run or walk with the arrival of the Amtrak Northeast Regional.  Today was not one of those days, but it's still nice to see the station.  

There are now foot-trails to access local neighborhoods.  If I lived nearby, I would definitely use this lovely trail as a means of travel between parts of Lynchburg.

From the top of the hill that overlooks the station, you can also see the mountains in the distance.  It's an interesting blend of modern technology and nature with a reminder that it's all part of a much larger world.