Residents and visitors to Botetourt County have several new opportunities to enjoy the outdoors as the Botetourt County Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department (PR&T) announces the opening of several free recreational amenities.
As part of the County?s development of the Upper James River Water Trail, the new Gala Public Boating Access, located just off Route 220 between Eagle Rock and Iron Gate, is now open for boaters and anglers. The County recently completed the construction of a hand-carry boat ramp and a parking area for over 20 vehicles and trailers with direct access to the James River via Sinking Creek for rafts, canoes, kayaks and john boats.
?The site is ideal and one that the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries had identified many years ago as a prime location for a boat launch,? stated Pete Peters, Director of Parks, Recreation and Tourism for Botetourt County. ?By utilizing Sinking Creek and the existing railroad trestle, we are able to provide a safe passage to the James River and make another section of the river more accessible to recreational paddlers and fishermen.?
The Gala site became possible after the County signed separate lease agreements with Bonnie Anderson and Richard Thompson for 4 acres along Sinking Creek and with Jerry Fraley to utilize a gravel road off of Route 220 to access the property. Funding for the site was realized through contributions from local stakeholders and grants from the NiSource Charitable Foundation and the Alleghany Foundation.
The Gala site becomes Botetourt?s second new public boating access on the James in the last twelve months, as the County opened the Alpine Public Boating Access, located off of Rocky Point Road and Gilmer?s Mill Road just north of Buchanan, in April of 2012. In total, the Upper James River Water Trail now offers eight public boating access points along the 45-miles of river located in Botetourt County. To learn more, including suggested itineraries and maps, information on canoe and kayak outfitters, visit www.upperjamesriverwatertrail.com.
The Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department has also recently opened the new Blue Ridge Springs Trail Loop located within Boxley Park in the Blue Ridge community of Botetourt County. The natural surface trail is approximately 0.6 miles in length as it loops through woodlands, with multiple overlooks of the Blue Ridge Mountains and several great vantage points of the N&W Railroad. The trail also contains a small trail spur that leads to an outdoor classroom complete with wooden benches and a lectern.
The trail gets its name from the former Blue Ridge Springs Hotel, which operated in the valley just below the trail in the late 1800s as a popular vacation spot similar to the Homestead, until it burned down around the turn of the 20th century.
?This new trail was constructed over the winter by the ?Mid-Week Crew?, a volunteer group compromised of retirees who are associated with the Roanoke Valley Greenways, led by Bill Gordge?, stated Peters. ?Bill and his group have constructed hundreds of miles of trails throughout the Roanoke Valley and we are fortunate to have had their talents in Botetourt to create a great addition to our walking trail inventory.?
In addition to the new Blue Ridge Springs Trail Loop, PR&T also maintains many other trails throughout the County for walkers to enjoy. The Greenfield Trail System provides over seven miles of various walking options including two natural surface trails, a wheelchair accessible compacted stone surface trail, a regulation cross country trail opened to foot traffic, mountain bikes and horseback and a ? mile paved walking track circling the Botetourt Sports Complex. Blue Ridge Park offers a 0.65 mile walking trail that encompasses the Park and runs along the Blue Ridge Parkway and also provides a view of a private farm vineyard. Each of the County?s eleven schools also offers paved walking tracks that vary in length from ? to ? miles.
The County?s trails and walking tracks are open to the public year round from dawn to dusk. The walking tracks located at the County Schools are also open year round from dawn to dusk, although they are not open to the public when school is in session. For directions or more information regarding these walking options, please contact the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Office at 540-473-8326 or visit www.botetourt.org/recreation.
There are also numerous other trail options open to the public throughout the vast National Forrest, federal and privately owned property in Botetourt County, including the Appalachian Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding Carvin?s Cove. For more information regarding these trail options, please visit www.visitbotetourt.com under ?Recreation? or www.roanokeoutside.com.
- Submitted by Wendy Farkas
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