Editing Mendota Trail

{{Trail
|Trail Highlight=A Rails-to-Trail between Bristol and Mendota, VA
|City=Bristol
|Trail Use=Hiking, Biking, Geocaching
|Trail Features=Rivers
|Difficulty Rating=Medium
|Trail Distance=12.5 mi
|Trail Type=In-and-Out
|High Point=2,130 ft
|Parking location=36.62065, -82.18972
|Trailhead location=36.62065, -82.18972
}}
{{Trail Map}}

__TOC__

==Trail Overview==
A Rails-to-Trail conversion between Bristol and Mendota, VA crossing restored wood trestles in deep cutoff and across open pasture. Currently open are six miles north from Bristol and 4.5 miles south from Mendota.  The gap requires repair of two trestles for which funding was obtained in Fall 2022.  The May 2023 trail newsletter shares the restoration and tread work is expected to be completed by late Summer!

==How To Get There==
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Mendota Trail Access Points:  Bristol Trailhead, Benhams, and Mendota Trailhead 

All directions are from Kingsport, TN (Colonial Heights parking)

To the Bristol, VA trailhead (beside 1788 Island Road, Bristol, VA 24202)
#Get on I-81 N. 
#Travel 17 miles to Bristol, VA Exit 1. 
#Merge onto US-421 S/Gate City Hwy.
#Quickly (0.2 mile) turn left onto Island Road.  
#Island Road runs parallel to I-81 North to reach the Bristol trailhead parking area on left in just over two miles.

To Benhams parking lot (across from 7741 Rich Valley Road, Bristol, VA 24202) 
#Get on I-81 N. 
#Travel 17 miles to Bristol, VA Exit 1.
#At end of exit ramp, keep left at the fork to turn west onto US-58/421 towards Gate City.
#After 1.6 miles, turn right onto onto VA-633/Reedy Creek Road.
#After 2.5 miles, take sharp left onto VA-641/Campground Road.
#After 1.9 miles, turn right onto VA-700/Rich Valley Road.
#Reach Benhams parking after 1.1 miles.

To Mendota, VA trailhead (across from 2421 Mendota Road, Mendota, VA 24270)
#Turn right/north onto TN-36/Fort Henry Drive
#After 3.1 miles, merge right/north onto ramp to TN-93/JB Dennis Highway 
#Highway turns from two to one lane just before entering Virginia where it becomes VA-224/Wadlow Gap Road
#After 9.5 miles, reach tee to turn right/east onto US-421/US-58/Bristol Highway.
#After just under 5 miles, turn left/north onto VA-709/VA-614/AP Carter Highway
#After 8.5 miles, continue on VA-614 which is then labeled as Mendota Road.
#Reach the Mendota trailhead parking area on right in another 1.4 miles.

==Route Description==
<!-- Detailed description of the route -->
The rails-to-trail conversion is not fully complete. The following table summarizes the current state.

[[File:Mendota Trail Elevation Profile.jpg|thumb|Elevation profile]]
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!Miles from Bristol
!Miles from Mendota
!Elevation
!Point of Interest
|-
|0.0
|12.5
|1,750
|Bristol Trailhead 
|- 
|0.5
|12.0
|1,825
|Wagner Road crossing
|-
|1.1
|11.4
|2,000
|Campground Road - continue north along shoulder path 
|-
|1.3
|10.2
|1,960
|Cowan Road
|-
|1.4
|10.1
|1,960 
|Return to railroad bed
|-
|2.5
|9.9
|2,110
|Haskell Station Road
|-
|2.95
|9.45
|2,095 
|Reedy Creek Road
|-
|5.0
|7.5
|1,860 
|Benhams access point
|-
|6.2
|6.3
|2,040 
|End of open southern section s of June 2023
|-
|~6
|~6.5
| 
|End of open southern section
|-
|~8.5
|~4.0
|
|End of open northern section
|-
|10.5
|2.0
|
|Little Wolf Run parking 
|-
|11.5
|1.0
|
|277' steel Trestle #19 over Holston River 
|-
|12.5
|0.0
|~1,350
|Mendota Trailhead
|}

==Typical Conditions==
Various sections of different treads including paved, dirt, and gravel from the old railroad bed.  Two more trestles must be repaired to open the entire length.

Portable toilets will be located at the Benhams parking area and at the Mendota Trailhead from March to November.

==Fees, Permits, etc.==
No fees for use or parking at any of the access points.  Dogs on leash are welcomed, but also could be passing by some homes with pets.

No motorized vehicles or horses are allowed on the trail.

==After the Hike==

==Miscellaneous Information==
[https://mendotatrail.org/|Mendota Trail Website]

Note that cell phone service is not available on most of the trail.

==Gallery==
{{Park trail gallery|Trail={{PAGENAME}}}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Parking
|Marker Title=Bristol trailhead
|Marker Description=Parking and southern trailhead
|Marker Location=36.62065, -82.18972
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Parking
|Marker Title=Benhams access
|Marker Description=Parking lot
|Marker Location=36.67835, -82.21906
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Parking
|Marker Title=Little Wolf Run Rd access
|Marker Description=Parking for half dozen vehicles
|Marker Location=36.69058, -82.28417
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Parking
|Marker Title=Mendota trailhead
|Marker Description=Parking and northern trailhead
|Marker Location=36.70484, -82.30922
}}
{{Map Marker
|Icon Type=Trail bridge
|Marker Title=Holston River
|Marker Description=277' steel trestle
|Marker Location=36.69595638075804, -82.29722477588754
}}