A Day of Trails, Community, and Celebration at Seven Bends

By Penny Shelton, Summer Intern

On National Trails Day, I had the opportunity to take part in the ribbon-cutting celebration for the newly built trails at Seven Bends State Park. This event truly exemplified collaboration, bringing together representatives from Virginia State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, local partners, the Woodstock community, and outdoor enthusiasts.

The morning began with a group of volunteers hitting the trails for the first time and adding the finishing touches. As the route wound up the mountainside, we observed changes in plant life, offering a glimpse into the diverse habitats visitors will encounter along the trails. Volunteers spent time improving and enhancing sections of the trail, serving as a reminder that these trails are a reflection of the community that helped create them. On our way down, we stopped at beautiful overlooks that provided sweeping views of different areas of the park. The hike offered a chance to learn about the vision behind the project, the artistry of trail building, and the partnerships that helped make it possible.

After the hike and trail work, the celebration came to a head with words of appreciation from speakers Nathan Younger of Virginia State Parks, Mary Yonce of the U.S. Forest Service, and Kyle Lawrence of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition. Nathan Younger highlighted the collaborative effort behind the trail’s completion, saying, “This really demonstrates the power of partnerships between nonprofits, government organizations, private contractors, staff, and volunteers.” The new trail reflects the dedication and collaboration of a community coming together around a shared commitment to stewardship. We also heard from Kyle about plans for a second phase of the project that would connect Seven Bends to even more of the national forest.

The celebration concluded with hikers, runners, and mountain bikers eager to head out on the trails and experience all they have to offer. As an intern for the Coalition, I feel honored to have documented such a momentous day at Seven Bends State Park. The event demonstrated the power of trails to serve as a bridge between communities.