Blacksburg and the New River Valley

Despite its name, derived from being "new" to explorers when it was first discovered, the New River is actually one of the oldest rivers in the world: legend says only the Nile is older. The only river that flows from south to north completely through the Appalachian Mountains, the New River cuts a bluff-graced valley through its Virginia section for 60 mi from Galax near the North Carolina line to Pearisburg, just over the West Virginia line. Visitors will find cozy downtown areas in towns like Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Radford, and Pulaski, and many opportunities for outdoor recreation just outside the towns' limits.