Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Location
Pittsylvania County
Endpoints
Ringgold Depot Road to Kerns Church Road
Mileage
5.5
Roughness Index
2
Surface
Crushed stone
The Richmond and Danville Railroad was an important transportation corridor for the
Confederacy during the Civil War, linking the Confederate capital of Richmond with
Southside, the area between the James River and the North Carolina border, where
hospitals, prisons, and supply depots were located. Jefferson Davis and the Confeder-
ate army took the route of this railroad line when they retreated from Richmond near
the end of the war. They also used it to carry war materials and Union prisoners.
Today, 5.5 miles of this historical corridor, which eventually became part of the
Norfolk Southern Railway system, is the scenic Richmond and Danville Rail-Trail.
Also called the Ringgold Trail, this trail was opened in January 2001. It travels past
farmlands and through light woods, providing a flat route for a walk or bike ride in
the rural Virginia countryside on the outskirts of Danville.
Start your trip at the western trailhead, and in only 1 mile you will reach a wet-
land area with prime waterfowl watching. The ride is comfortable for bicyclists or
