New River State Park – List of Trails

If you’re planning a visit to New River State Park and looking to map out your hike, you’ve come to the right place. The park’s trails wind across multiple access points along one of the oldest rivers in the world, offering everything from easy ADA-friendly walks to substantial backcountry routes through quiet pine forests and historic homesteads. Click on the trail names below to dive deeper into each one — including what to expect on the path, where to find the trailhead, and our own first-hand notes from the trail.

Trail Name	Blaze	Length	Difficulty	Trail Use	Access Point
Elk Shoals Beach	None	0.3-Mile One Way	Easy	Hiking Only	Elk Shoals Access
Elk Shoals Trail	None	1-Mile One Way	Easy	Hiking Only	Elk Shoals Access
Mission Trail	None	2-Mile One Way	Strenuous	Hiking Only	Elk Shoals Access
Dogwood Trail	Yellow	0.2-Mile One Way	Easy (ADA-Accessible)	Hiking Only	U.S. 221 Access
Hickory Trail	Red	1-Mile Loop	Moderate	Hiking Only	U.S. 221 Access
River Run Trail	Orange	1.4-Mile One Way	Moderate	Hiking Only	U.S. 221 Access
Bluebird Spur	None	0.2-Mile Loop	Easy	Hiking Only	Wagoner Access
Fern Nature Trail	Red	1-Mile Loop	Easy to Moderate	Hiking Only	Wagoner Access
Riverbend Backcountry Trail	Blue	3.5-Mile One Way	Strenuous	Hiking Only	Wagoner Access
Running Cedar Trail	White	1.2-Mile One Way	Easy to Moderate	Hiking Only	Wagoner Access

Planning Your Hike

For an easy, ADA-friendly walk that’s perfect for families, the Dogwood Trail at the US 221 Access is the most accessible option in the park. The Elk Shoals Beach and Bluebird Spur offer similarly relaxed short walks that pair well with a swim, picnic, or paddle. For visitors looking to spend more time on the trail, the Hickory Trail at the US 221 Access — a designated Kids in Parks TRACK Trail — and the Fern Nature Trail at the Wagoner Access (also a self-guided nature trail) make for thoughtful, well-marked introductions to the park’s diverse riparian habitat.

For a more substantial outing, the River Run Trail at the US 221 Access pairs naturally with the Hickory Trail for a roughly 2.4-mile loop that takes hikers past the historic Stump Family Homestead. At the Wagoner Access, the Running Cedar Trail connects with the Fern Nature Trail to create a longer loop through the riverside forest. And for serious hikers, the Riverbend Backcountry Trail is the most ambitious route in the park — a 3.5-mile one-way path leading to primitive backcountry campsites and passing an old barn that you can walk straight through.

A note for visitors heading to the Elk Shoals Access: there are no restrooms or trash facilities, so plan to pack out what you pack in. The Mission Trail at this access also requires a hike up part of the Elk Shoals Trail to reach the paved-road start of the climb.

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