Ringgold Rail Trail & Depot

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The Ringgold Rail Trail is a 5.5 mile walking and biking trail that follows part of the right-of-way of the old railroad of the same name. Currently, about 2 miles of the trail is open to the public; the rest of the trail was rendered unusable by Tropical Storm Michael in 2018. While work is underway to repair the remainder of the trail, the Shawnee Road Trailhead remains open.

Ringgold Rail Trail

Updated on 08/10/2022 8:31 AM

Photos of the Ringgold Rail Trail in Pittsylvania County.

TRAIL RULES:

Trail hours are from Dawn to Dusk

Per Pittsylvania County Ordinance Sec 9-22

(4) Notices that motor vehicles, ATVs and motorcycles are prohibited, and that the operator and/or passenger shall be guilty of trespassing, punishable up to twelve months in jail and a two thousand-five hundred ($2,500.00) dollars fine shall be posted conspicuously on the property which is the subject of this Ordinance.

Trailheads

Please note that the Shawnee Road Trailhead is the only one that is currently open due to damage to the trail.

There are three trailheads that provide access to the Rail Trail.

Route 655/Shawnee Road Trailhead: Off of Route 360, turn onto Ringgold Depot Road. You will drive about 1.5 miles before turning right onto Shawnee Road. The trailhead will be on your left in about 1.5 miles. Get directions here.
Ringgold Road Trailhead: From Danville, to access the Ringgold Road Trailhead take US 58 east for about 2.5 miles then head north on State Route 734/Ringgold Road for 3 miles.
Kerns Church Road Trailhead: Continue east on US 58 for an additional 3.75 miles then head north on State Route 656/Hackberry Road for 3.25 miles.

Trail History

The Ringgold Rail Trail (also known as the Richmond and Danville Rail-Trail) follows part of the right-of-way of the old railroad of the same name, an important transportation corridor for the Confederacy during the Civil War. The railroad linked 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 Confederate 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 supplies 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, the trail 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.

Damage and Repairs

In October of 2018, Tropical Storm Michael caused significant damage throughout Pittsylvania County and the surrounding area. A large section of the Ringgold Rail Trail was washed out by flooding, and the structural integrity of a stone bridge was compromised.

Funding has been secured - including $3.3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency - to aid in the repairs, which are slated to be completed in 2023.