Rend Trail

Rend Trail is a mostly level rail trail between Thurmond and Minden, with five trestles, creekside stretches and overlooks into the New River gorge. Walking to Minden and back makes a 6.4-mile out-and-back; plan about 3.5 hours on the broad, smooth old grade. The mapped corridor is about 3.25 miles one way, while published one-way figures range from 3.2 to 3.4 miles. If the full return is more than you want, the main overlook makes a supported 2.5-mile round trip from Thurmond.

From Thurmond, the route runs beside Dunloup Creek and passes a few foundations of South Boyd, a former settlement. Five old railroad trestles break up the easy rail grade. Around the middle, the main overlook opens toward the New River, historic Thurmond and the active rail line across the gorge. Farther north, Arbuckle Creek accompanies the trail toward Minden. The full walk retraces the same corridor; it is not a loop. Hikers share the trail with mountain bikers, and the easy grade is a good introduction to riding.

The railroad was built in 1906 to carry coal from Minden’s mines to the main line at Thurmond. It was abandoned in 1972, leaving a gradual corridor through the gorge that now carries hikers and riders. The South Boyd foundations are modest traces beside the Thurmond end, while the trestles make the old railroad alignment tangible.

At the main overlook, look for a view that layers the New River with Thurmond and the railroad across the gorge. The old trestles are another distinctive subject along the way; a leaf-covered deck framed by forest gives a sense of how the trail follows the former rail line.