Just months after we cut the ribbon on the River to Ridgetop Trail, we have more good news from the North Fork. The Coalition has been awarded a $296,411 federal Recreational Trails Program grant to build Phase 2 of the trail system at Seven Bends State Park in Woodstock.
We’re proud to share that the Coalition was the only nonprofit funded this year. Virginia selected 7 of 24 applications statewide, and the other six awards went to towns, counties, cities and Virginia State Parks. It’s our sixth Recreational Trails Program grant since 2010, bringing our total awards to more than $1.5 million.
Trails more of our neighbors can use
More than 90,000 people visit Seven Bends each year, but the routes up Massanutten Mountain are steep, have no loops and are mostly old roads rather than purpose-built trail. Phase 2, the North Fork Trails Connectivity project, adds up to 4 miles of sustainable trail to change that.
“Seven Bends sits right next to Woodstock, and it should be a place anyone can go for a walk or ride in the woods. We want to connect more people to this amazing park and the Valley’s public lands.”Kyle Lawrence, Executive Director, Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition
Building on River to Ridgetop
Phase 1 opened in June and made the front page. It added 3.3 miles of singletrack and 0.65 miles of gravel trail, built by Appalachian Dirt and Black Diamond Design with stone donated in part by Frazier Quarry. With Phase 2, the two projects bring more than $530,000 in federal trail funding to Seven Bends and up to 8 miles of new trail, linked to the roughly 100-mile Massanutten trail network.
Made possible by partners
None of this happens without our partners. Seven Bends State Park and the George Washington National Forest’s Lee Ranger District are back for Phase 2. The Lee Ranger District approved the trail corridor in 2023, so the national forest side can move quickly. Thanks also to Shenandoah County’s tourism office for backing our application.
What’s next
How you can help
The grant reimburses 80% of costs, and the Coalition has to raise the other 20%. We’ll meet most of that through volunteer trail days and community donations, so every hour and every gift helps bring in the federal funding.
Get the full story, trail map and directions on our Seven Bends Trails page →
