Mendota Trail

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Highlight	A Rails-to-Trail between Bristol and Mendota, VA
Located	Bristol, Tennessee
Trail Marking	{{{Trail Marking}}}
Trail UseThings allowed to do on or near the trail
FeaturesThings to see on or near the trail
Difficulty Rating	Medium
Hiking TimeTime from car and back. Includes any time hiking to access this trail.	{{{Hike Time}}}"{{{Hike Time}}}" is not a number. round trip
Distance:	12.5 mi20.117 km <br /> trailStrict non-repeating trail length / round tripTypical or shortest length from the car, hike the trail, and return to car
Trail Type	In-and-Out
High Point	2,130 ft710 Yards <br />649.224 Meters <br />
Elev. Gain/LossSee link for details of calculation. Gain/Loss is direction dependent.	{{{Elevation Gain}}}"{{{Elevation Gain}}}" is not a number. / ({{{Elevation Loss}}}"{{{Elevation Loss}}}" is not a number.) – {{{Elevation Change Direction}}}
Trip ReportsFrom user "hiked it" submissions<br />Recent is within last 90 days	No hikes logged yet
NearbyWithin 5 mi<br />Click link to view list	No other Trails within 5 mi
Parking	36° 37' 14.34" N, 82° 11' 22.99" W Map
Trailhead	36° 37' 14.34" N, 82° 11' 22.99" W Map
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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

Mendota Trail Access Points: Bristol Trailhead, Benhams, Little Wolf Run Road, and Mendota Trailhead

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

To the Bristol, VA trailhead (beside 1788 Island Road, Bristol, VA 24202)

1. Get on I-81 N.
2. Travel 17 miles to Bristol, VA Exit 1.
3. Merge onto US-421 S/Gate City Hwy.
4. Quickly (0.2 mile) turn left onto Island Road.
5. 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)

1. Get on I-81 N.
2. Travel 17 miles to Bristol, VA Exit 1.
3. At end of exit ramp, keep left at the fork to turn west onto US-58/421 towards Gate City.
4. After 1.6 miles, turn right onto onto VA-633/Reedy Creek Road.
5. After 2.5 miles, take sharp left onto VA-641/Campground Road.
6. After 1.9 miles, turn right onto VA-700/Rich Valley Road.
7. Reach Benhams parking after 1.1 miles.

To Little Wolf Run Road parking lot (roughly 4014 Little Wolf Run Road, Virginia - No Google Map pin)

1. Get on I-81 N.
2. Travel 17 miles to Bristol, VA Exit 1.
3. At end of exit ramp, keep left at the fork to turn west onto US-58/421 towards Gate City
4. After 4.1 miles, turn right onto VA-700/Rich Valley Road.
5. After 1.4 mile, turn left onto VA-617/Livingston Creek Road.
6. After 0.8 miles, take right split onto VA-629/Phillips Road.
7. After 3.8 miles, reach split with Hollis Lane to left, VA-616/Little Wolf Run Road to right, and marked trail parking lot.

To Mendota, VA trailhead (across from 2421 Mendota Road, Mendota, VA 24270)

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

Route Description

The rails-to-trail conversion is not fully complete. The following table summarizes the current state.

Elevation profile

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.

Miscellaneous Information

Trail Website

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

Gallery

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