The Chessie Nature Trail is an excellent example of what are commonly known as rail trails. This trail was originally a part of the old Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. The trail meanders its way from the City of Lexington to the City of Buena Vista along the Maury River. The footpath is a flat gravel trail that is always in excellent condition. Watch for concrete markers with the notation “BF,” referencing the distance to Balcony Falls near Glasgow. These markers were important to train conductors to know how much farther down the Lexington branch to travel before connecting with the C&O main line.

This description begins at Jordans Point parking lot. Begin by walking toward US 11. At the sidewalk turn left and cross the Maury River on the East Lexington Bridge. At the stop light turn left on Furrs Mill Road. Walk about 100 feet and turn left onto a gravel path. The path drops down to the river and goes under the East Lexington Bridge. Continue an easy walk along the river to a parking lot. The distance to this parking lot is 0.7 miles. There is a port-a-john at this parking area.

Just past the parking lot, the Chessie Nature Trail becomes a gravel path. It is straight and easy to follow. At 0.8 miles it crosses over a small creek. Just past the bridge is a trail crossing. A left leads to another parking area. A right leads to an overlook at the Maury River. The trail crosses over Mill Creek and begins a wide right turn. There is a kiosk with the dos and don’ts of trail etiquette. There are maps available as well and Mile Marker 1. This is the distance from Jordans Point. It is 0.3 miles from the parking area on Old Buena Vista Road.

The trail begins a long right bend followed by a long-left bend. The left side of the trail is bordered by a towering cliff. At the transition from the right bend to the left bend, there is a small wooden bench to sit and rest weary legs. The distance is 1.5 miles. At approximately 2.0 miles is the old Reid’s Lock and the dam originally associated with the lock. Just past the lock is a small trail that leads down to the river. There is a flat rocky area to sit and enjoy the river.

Approximately 0.2 miles beyond the lock is a small bench on the left. At 2.5 miles there is a stand of bamboo on the right. The trail enters a long straight stretch before crossing over Warm Run and passes under the I-81 Bridge.

Near the interstate bridge, the trail passes out of the woods and into a pasture. Mile Marker 3 is on the left. Past the mile marker the trail re-enters the woods and begins a long right bend. It crosses Dry Creek via a large culvert. This is followed by a long-left bend. On the right is another set of towering cliffs. Near Mile Marker 3.5 there is a concrete post. On the post is BF 16. This is an old railroad marker providing the distance to Balcony Falls. There is also a tall cliff on the left. Across the Maury River a small set of shelf waterfalls tumble their way down to the river. This is Gordons Run.

Near the end of this bend, the cliff gives way to a rolling hill. Tall Red, White and Scarlet oak dominate the canopy. The trail passes through a gate and enters a pasture. This area is surrounded by private property. Please stay on the trail. The trail now has a more farm use look. There can be cows on the path and lots of cow dung. It is important to watch your step. At the next fence, there is a spring on the right. The passes through another gate and comes to Mile Marker 4. The South River Lock is on the right.

Just past the lock, The Chessie Nature Trail reaches the South River. There is a parking area, trash cans, and a sign for the Chessie Nature Trail. A new bridge has been built to replace the old train trestle that was washed away by the periodic flooding on South River. There is a concrete post with BF 15 just before the bridge. After the bridge, there is a long right bend. At the end of this bend is Old Sheppard Road. It is a dead end.

After passing through the gate, the trail enters a large pasture. On the right across the river is a large, old brick home. There is another railroad marker on the left. It has a “W” on it. After crossing a small creek, the trail re-enters the woods near Mile Marker 5. Not far beyond this post there is a cable car on the right that is used to cross the river. Additionally, there is a railroad maker in this stretch of woods with BF 14 on it. As the trail bends to the left, there is a tall cliff on the right.

Here it passes through another gate. Near the end of this bend, the locks of the Ben Salem Wayside can be seen across the river. The trail passes through another gate and enters another large pasture. This is near Mile Marker 6. This pasture usually has livestock and cow manure is a potential hazard. In places the trail can be muddy when the weather is wet. The trail continues its long bend to the left. It crosses a short bridge and just beyond the bridge there is a small spring on the right.

The trail passes another set of locks before passing through the last gate. On the other side of the fence, the river is very close to the trail. There is a cliff face on the left. After the pasture, the wooded over story is a welcome relief. The Nature Trail reaches Stuartsburg Road. Cross the gate on the right. Turn right and walk between the guardrail and the river. There is a path along the Maury River. This path is narrow at first but begins to widen as it approaches the parking lot. The parking lot is also a river access point that is operated jointly by VMI and the Virginia Department of Wildlife. The distance from the Stuartsburg Road of the Chessie Trail to this parking area is 0.3 miles.

Jordans Point Parking: From the Lexington Visitor Center, drive west on Washington Street to a right onto Main Street (US-11 Business). Proceed 0.8 miles on North Main Street and bear to the left BEFORE crossing Veterans Memorial Bridge. Proceed. 0.1 mile and bear to the left onto Moses Mill Rd. Park at the pavilion on the right.
Note: There will be oncoming traffic when bearing left.
Coordinates: 37.79205996401522, -79.4292204564924
Driving Distance/Time: 1.1 miles/5 minutes

Old Buena Vista Road Parking: From the Lexington Visitor Center, drive west on Washington Street to a right onto Main Street (US-11 Business). Continue driving north on US-11 and cross Veterans Memorial Bridge. Turn right onto VA-631 / Old Buena Vista Road. In one-half mile, just before the intersection with Lincoln Road, is a parking area on the right.
Note: This is the most used parking area for the Chessie Nature Trail.
Coordinates: 37.79165300188173, -79.42256857815002
Driving Distance/Time: 1.7 miles/6 minutes

Stuartsburg Road Parking: From the Lexington Visitor Center, drive west on Washington Street to a right onto Main Street (US-11 Business). Continue driving north on US-11 and cross Veterans Memorial Bridge. Turn right onto VA-631 / Old Buena Vista Road. Proceed 2.2 miles to Stuartsburg Road (CR 703) and turn right. Continue 1.3 miles. T
Note: This parking area is located at the South River.
Coordinates: 37.77091953000978, -79.38164659429611
Driving Distance/Time: 4.8 miles/12 minutes

Buena Vista Parking: From the Lexington Visitors Center, turn left onto East Washington Street and proceed 0.25 miles to the stop light on US 60 (East Nelson Street). Turn left and travel 5.3 miles. Just after crossing the Maury River, turn left on Stuartsburg Road (CR 703). Travel 0.1 miles to a parking area on left.
Coordinates: 37.745997463522734, -79.3704469701969
Driving Distance/Time: 5.5 miles/10 minutes

Virginia Military Institute manages the Chessie Trail. Click here for additional information about the trail and to download the Trail Map & Giude.

• The trail traverses private land. Be respectful of gates and cattle. Dogs must be leashed at all times and should not be allowed near farm animals.

• At least 43 migrant and resident mammal species have been counted along the trail, including squirrels, white-tailed deer, groundhogs, and cows. Waterfowl enjoy the river, as do minks and beavers.

• The Buena Vista trailhead is a great place to fish. Common catches include bass and wild trout.
• Enjoy a different perspective of the trail when you float, canoe, or kayak the Maury River. Call Paddle and Pedal Rockbridge at 540-460-2681 to inquire.

Run one of the most awesome rail-trails in the lower fourty-eight states! The seven-mile Chessie Trail, situated at the southern end of the Shenandoah Valley, parallels the scenic Maury River and connects historic Lexington, Virginia, with the boom-town community of Buena Vista. The smooth gravel and grass trail runs along the former Chesapeake and Ohio rail line and parts of the earlier James and Kanawha Canal towpath. You’ll run through an ever-changing landscape along the wild Maury River, through farmland and spring wildflowers, past ruins of massive stone locks and dams. View wildlife from fish and ducks to rabbits, wild turkeys, and even bald eagles (if you are lucky), feel the cool moist air as you pass small caves, and enjoy the serenity of a breeze rustling through a bamboo forest. Check the Events link for the next half-marathon date.

As I was running down the small hill under Lexington Bridge by Furrs Mill Rd., all I could see was darkness. My eyes had not adjusted to the dark, still, I pressed forward passing through the tunnel along the Maury River. Until sunrise, I felt as if I was being engulfed by a big animal. I could feel my senses heighten because of the eerie dimness, and yet, I also felt a sense of calmness. I could hear the distinct sounds of the crickets and my feet pounding the ground as I continued to run. I saw the silhouettes of deer passing by and the sporadic movements of some smaller animals. I had blurry vision of the trail, but as I kept glancing around, I began to notice a contrast in shapes. During the day, all the trees looked the same, but in the dark, I could see the differences of the leaves, the thickness and height of the trees, and the shadows of the bushes. As I ran further down the trail, I could hear the sounds of running water by my side and felt as if nature was encompassing me with sounds. From the wind, to the bugs, to the water flowing through the stream, I felt surrounded by the blessings of nature.

Exploring the Chessie Trail that morning was an invigorating moment. The thought of going out before sunrise came to me on a whim as I read Aldo Leopold’s 4 AM reflections in A Sand County Almanac. However, roaming the trail and meditating at such an unexpected hour was surprisingly a refreshing experience. At that time, I was dealing with some personal issues and felt extremely overwhelmed. The meditation ended up being therapeutic, reminding me of the good things in life. Later that day, I read this verse, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” in the Bible and thought that the trail run did exactly that; renew my mind. And ever since that September sunrise on the Chessie trail, I have developed an immense appreciation for nature and have started to look at the world differently.

In October, a month following my meditation on the Chessie, I experienced another eye/mind-opening experience. For three days and two nights, I was at McKethan Park for VMI’s Army FTX (Field Training Exercise), learning and applying basic skills that we had accumulated during the semester. The main training that weekend focused on land navigation: practicing how to plot and find points on a map. And because we practiced navigation twice in one day, both during daylight and night, it enabled us to explore McKethan and see its natural beauty at different times of the day. Nature confronted me in every turn, and the navigation sessions became experiences I will never forget. Particularly the night session because I felt as if I was inside a movie scene!

That night at 10 pm, I partnered with two other friends. Instead of a training mission, I honestly felt as if I was on an adventure. We started at the bottom of a hill by the 3 mile marker and made our way up, struggling somewhat, because of our fatigue from earlier trips. We turned on our red light and started walking towards the far end of McKethan. We found ourselves walking across a huge field of tall grass. And being 5’1 and all, I truly felt as if I was Jane from Tarzan walking through the jungle. Avoiding pot holes, my friends and I made our way to a section full of trees. But somehow we put ourselves in a tricky situation when we circled the area and then trapped ourselves in fencing: unfortunately, we had no visual vantage point of where we were. We eventually found our way, but came up empty handed because we could not find the intended point in the area.

Not too long after, our night greatly improved. We were walking out of the forest towards a gravel sidewalk close to the trees, and found ourselves dazzled by the stars. Without a single cloud in the sky, we saw hundreds of stars glittering like diamonds. My friends and I reminisced about the struggles we had faced during our weekend, and laughed at all the funny mistakes and moments we’d had together. After struggling with training and spending a hard weekend together, this beautiful moment was so special.

When we are able to look at nature in fresh ways, we are able to appreciate the benefits of nature. If you want to gain a new perspective like I did on the Chessie Trail, try visiting a familiar trail at a new time of day or season! Staying overnight at McKethan Park and enjoying the beautiful grounds during FTX is unfortunately only a privilege free to VMI cadets. A highly-recommended alternative for those who enjoy night adventures, or star gazing as much as I do, would be the Night Time Star Light Paddle, a paddling adventure in the stars!

It is truly a unique date night option or outing for adventurous groups of friends, because it opens your senses to the sights and sounds the nighttime has to offer. This paddle event launches at dusk from the Springwood boat landing and floats down an easy section of the James as the sun sets. Halfway through the trip, the sun will go down and the group will be able to complete the last portion of the trip in the dark and gaze at the stars. Hopefully, you will be able to clearly see the stars and appreciate what nature has to offer.

The Chessie Trail and McKethan Park are two unique attractions in Lexington, VA. What’s out your backdoor?