The Mendota Trail is a rails-to-trails project that will eventually span the former Southern Railroad corridor between Bristol, VA, and Mendota, VA, a total of 12.5-miles.

At present, there are two segments. The southern segment runs 6.1 miles from a trailhead on Island Road in Bristol to a turn-around slightly beyond Benhams, which has a large parking area at 5.3 miles. An additional northern two-mile-long segment runs from Mendota to Little Wolf Run Rd. in rural Washington County.

This natural surface trail is designed for walking and biking and spans tranquil countryside and forests on gentle grades. It is open from dawn to dusk. Leashed dogs are welcomed.

Improvements to Mendota Trail and e-bike rentals (available at Mountain Sport Ltd.) were funded by Discover Bristol and Virginia Tourism Corporation’s DRIVE 2.0 grant.

Mendota Trail Access Points:

• Bristol Trailhead – Beside 1788 Island Rd (closed due to construction)
• Benhams – Across from 7741 Rich Valley Rd
• Mendota Trailhead – Across from 2421 Mendota Rd