Rail Trails
More than 375 miles of WV train tracks have been converted into trails for walking, hiking, biking and horseback riding.
The rail trails, with their gentle or level grades and wide rights of way, are easily accessible and among the most beautiful and scenic in the country. With almost 30 rail trails throughout the state, enjoying the outdoors becomes easy and fun for all ages!
Click to Download PDF Map
Legend:
- Trail Uses:
- H=Hike
- B=Bike
- E=Equestrian
- S=Skate
- X=Cross-Country Ski
- A=Handicapped Accessible
1. Panhandle Rail-Trail
Length: 29 total (4 mi. WV, 25 mi. PA)
Surface: Packed sand
Allowed Uses: H, B, X, E
Counties: Brooke in WV; Washington and Allegheny in PA
Endpoints: Weirton to Pittsburgh area
Road Access: US Rt. 22
Contact: Weirton Parks & Rec.
304-797-8520
[email protected]
www.panhandletrail.org
2. Wellsburg Yankee Rail-Trail
Length: 1.1 mi. (16 blocks)
Surface: Asphalt
Allowed Uses: H, B, S, A
County: Brooke
Endpoints: Rt. 67, 16th Street
Road Access: Any street in Wellsburg
Note: Links to Brooke Pioneer Trail.
Contact: Richard Ferguson
304-737-3750
3. Brooke Pioneer Trail System
Length: 9.7 mi., with 3 mi. gap
Surface: Asphalt
Allowed Uses: H, B, S, A
Counties: Brooke, Ohio
Endpoints: Wellsburg south to Pike Island Dam
Road Access: Trailheads on WV Rt. 2
Note: Follows Ohio River, links with Wellsburg and Wheeling Rail-Trails
Contact: Ruby Greathouse
304-737-0506
4. Wheeling Heritage Rail-Trail
Length: 13 mi.
Surface: Asphalt
Allowed Uses: H, B, S, A
County: Ohio
Endpoints: Pike Island Dam to S. Wheeling 48th St, Downtown Wheeling to Elm Grove
Road Access: US Rt. 2, US Rt. 40
Note: Follows Ohio River N-S, Wheeling Creek E-W (interesting trestle/tunnel combination). Downtown section is routed onto bike lanes on streets.
Contact: City of Wheeling
304-234-3701
www.wheelingwv.gov
5. Glen Dale to Moundsville
Trail Length: 3.4 mi.
Surface: Asphalt
Allowed Uses: H, B
County: Marshall
Endpoints: Glen Dale City Park (7th & S. Park Ave.), Moundsville Riverview Park (13th St.)
Road Access: WV Rt. 2
Note: Follows Ohio River
Contact: Jay Wallace 304-843-4086
6. East Wetzel Rail-Trail
Length: 1.5 mi.
Surface: Asphalt and packed sand
Allowed Uses: H, B, A
County: Wetzel
Endpoints: Hundred
Road Access: WV Rt. 7 & US Rt. 250
Contact: Barbara Brasher
304-775-5680
7. Joel McCann Memorial Trail
Length: 1.5 mi.
County: Marion
Surface: Packed limestone
Endpoints: City Hall, 206 Main Street and North Marion Senior Center
Road Access: US Rt. 250
Contact: City of Mannington
304-986-2700
8. Mon River Rail-Trail System
Length: 48 mi. (3 connecting trails)
Counties: Marion, Monongalia, Preston
Endpoints: Prickett’s Fort State Park to the WV / PA state line along Monongahela River; Morgantown to Reedsville along Deckers Creek
Road Access: Trailheads off US Rt. 119 and WV Rt. 7
Note: Urban trail in Morgantown turning to forests and farmland outside city limits.
Contact: [email protected]
www.montrails.org
9. Cheat Lake Rail-Trail
Length: 4.5 mi.
Surface: Packed sand
Allowed Uses: H, B, A
County: Monongalia
Endpoints: Cheat Lake Dam upstream to the point
Road Access: Near 1-68 Exit 10
Note: Playground, small boat access, fish facility
Contact: Monongalia County Sheriff, Trail Headquarters, 304-594-2817
10. Marion County Trail (MCTraII)
Length: 2.5 mi.
Surface: Packed gravel
Allowed Uses: H, B
County: Marion
Endpoints: Pricketts Fort State Fork to East Fairmont
Road Access: Rt. 73, Morgantown Ave.
Note; Links to Mon River Trail.
Contact: Dan Talbott, 304-363-7037
[email protected]
www.mcparc.com
11. West Fork River Rail-Trail
Length: 17 mi.
Surface: Packed sand; 10 mi. asphalt Fairmont–Harrison County line
Allowed Uses: H, B, E, X, A
Counties: Harrison, Marion
Endpoints: Shinnston to Fairmont
Road Access: US Rt. 19
Contact: Dan Talbott
800-903-2994
[email protected]
www.mcparc.com
Contact: Gillium House
304-592-0177
[email protected]
www.shinnstonwv.com
12. Harrison County Hike and Bike Rail-Trail
Length: 7 mi.
Surface: Cinders / rough surface
Allowed Uses: H, B, E
County: Harrison
Endpoints: Clarksburg to Spelter
Road Access: Near US Rt. 50
Note: Follows West Fork River.
Contact: Harrison County Parks & Recreation Dept., 304-624-8619
[email protected]
13. North Bend Rail-Trail
Length: 72 mi.
Surface: Packed gravel, packed sand/varied roughness
Allowed Uses: H, B, E
Counties: Wood, Ritchie, Doddridge, Harrison
Endpoints: Parkersburg to Wolf Summit
Road Access: Near US Rt. 50
Note: 13 tunnels. Part of the American Discovery Trail.
Contact: North Bend State Park
304-643-2931
www.northbendrailtrailstatepark.com
14. Harrison County Southern Rail-Trail
Length: 8 mi.
Surface: Packed sand
Allowed Uses: H, B, E
County: Harrison
Endpoints: Lost Creek to Mount Clare
Road Access: 1-79 exit #110
Contact: Harrison County Parks & Recreation Dept., 304-624-8619
[email protected]
15. Barnum Rail-Trail
Length: 4.2 mi.
Surface: Packed stone/varied roughness
Allowed Uses: H, Mt.B, E
County: Mineral
Endpoints: Barnum, below Jennings Randolph Dam, along N. Branch Potomac River
Road Access: Near WV Rt. 46
Note: First mile is used by cars for river access to Barnum Whitewater Area. Trout fishing. Trailhead cabins.
Contact: Rex Riffle, 304-788-5732
www.mineralcountywv.com
16. Blackwater Canyon Rail-Trail (TR 115)
Length: 10.2 mi.
Surface: Packed rock and soil/varied roughness
Allowed Uses: H, B, E
County: Tucker
Endpoints: Hendricks and Thomas
Road Access: SW Rt. 72, or WV Rt. 32
Note: Follows N. Fork Blackwater River, waterfalls, historic coke ovens. Minimum maintenance.
Contact: USFS 304-478-3251
17. Allegheny Highlands Trail
Length: 23.6 mi., with 1 mile gap
Surface: 13 mi. packed sand, 10.6 mi. asphalt
Allowed Uses: H, B, E, S, X, A
Counties: Randolph, Tucker
Endpoints: Elkins to Hendricks
Road Access: Trailheads on US Rt. 219
Note: Links to Blackwater Canyon Rail-Trail.
Contact: Highlands Trail Foundation
[email protected]
www.highlandstrail.org
18. West Fork Rail-Trail (TR 312)
Length: 24.1 mi.
Surface: Packed stone
Allowed Uses: H, B, E, X
Counties: Pocahontas, Randolph
Endpoints: Durbin to Glady
Road Access: US Rt. 250 & Forest Rd. 44; CR 22 & CR 27
Note: Follows W Fork of the Greenbrier River & W Fork of Glady Fork
Contact: 304-478-3251
Pocahontas County CVB
1 -800-336-7009
19. Greenbrier River Trail
Length: 77 miles
Surface: Packed gravel, 5 mi. asphalt Marlinton-Buckeye
Allowed Uses: H, B
County: Pocahontas, Greenbrier
Endpoints: Cass to Caldwell
Road Access: Near US Rt. 219
Note: 2 tunnels. Accessible by people with Disabilities in Marlinton.
Contact: Pocahontas County CVB
304-799-7416
www.greenbrierrailtrailstatepark.com
20. Gauley Mountain Trail (TR438)
Length: 5.4 mi.
Surface: Packed dirt and grass / rough single-track
Allowed Uses: H, Mt.B, E
County: Pocahontas
Road Access & Endpoints: WV Rt. 150 (Highland Scenic Hwy) to Mine Rd
Contact: Tim Henry, USFS
304-799-4334
www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/
21. Williams River Trail (TR 487)
Length: 3 mi.
Surface: Packed dirt and grass / rough single-track
Allowed Uses: H, Mt.B, E
County: Pocahontas
Endpoints: Tea Creek Campground & Handley Public Hunting & Fishing Area
Road Access: WV Rt. 150 & FS Rd. 86 at Creek Campground
Note: Popular fishing access to Williams River. Hikers & equestrians can continue through Handley Public Fishing & Hunting Area. Bikes permitted only in National Forest section.
Contact: Tim Henry, USFS
304-799-4334
www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf
22. Cranberry/Tri Rivers Rail Trail
Length: 16.5 mi. finished, 27 mi planned
Surface: Packed stone / varied roughness
Allowed Uses: H, Mt.B, E
County: Nicholas, planned to Webster
Endpoints: Richwood to Allingdale
Road Access: WV Rt. 55
Note: Follows Cherry and Gauley Rivers.
Contact: Four Seasons Outfitters
304-846-2862
[email protected]
23. Elk River Rail-Trail
Length: 1 mi.
Surface: Packed gravel
Allowed Uses: H, B
County: Kanawha
Endpoints: Charleston & Coonskin Park
Road Access: Barlow Drive in Charleston, Coonskin Drive in Park
Contact: Coonskin Park
304-341 -8000
www.KCPRC.com
24. Hawks Nest Rail-Trail
Length: 1.8 mi
Surface: pea gravel
Allowed Uses: H, B
County: Fayette
Endpoints: Ansted to Hawks Nest Lake
Road Access: US Rt. 60 to Town Hall in Ansted, then Hawks Nest Rd.
Note: Follows Mill Creek.
Contact: Town of Ansted
304-658-5901
[email protected]
25. White Oak Rail-Trail
Length: 7.5 mi,
Surface: 2 miles paved with additional 3 miles being paved in Summer 2010 – rest is packed gravel surface
County: Fayette
Allowed Uses: H, B, S, A
Road Access: Woodbridge Rd., Jones Ave. / Rt. 61 / Central Ave, Summerleee Ave. and Virginia St.
Contact: City of Oak Hill
26. Narrow Gauge Rail-Trall
Length: 2.5 mi,
Surface: Soil over old ballast and cinders
Allowed Uses: H, Mt.B
County: Fayette
Endpoints: Babcock State Park
Road Access: Near WV Rt. 41
Contact: Babcock State Park
304- 438-3004
[email protected]
www.babcocksp.com
27. New River Gorge Rail-Trail System
Contact: New River Gorge National River
304-465-0508 or
Canyon Rim Visitor Center
304-574-2115
www.nps.gov/neri
Brooklyn to South Side Junction Trail
Length: 6 mi.
Surface: Soil and Packed ballast
Allowed Use: H, B
County: Fayette
Road Access: Brooklyn end of Cunard access road
Note: Follows the New River
Thurmond to Minden Trail
Length: 3.4 mi.
Surface: Packed dirt, small gravel / varied roughness
Allowed Uses: H, B
County: Fayette
Road Access: WV Rt. 25, Minden Road
Note: Trestles, views of New River, 20+ steps over huge rock fall.
28. Glade Creek Trail
Length: 5.6 mi.
Surface: Soil, ballast and cinders / rough single-track
Allowed Uses: H
Endpoints: New River to I-64 overpass
Road Access: WV Rt. 41 to Glade Creek Rd.
Note: Popular trout stream, trailhead campground at New River
Contact: New River Gorge National River
304-465-0508
www.nps.gov/neri
29. Beckley Rail-Trail
Length: 4.2 mi.
Surface: Asphalt
Allowed Uses: H, B, S, A
County: Raleigh
Endpoints: Mabscott to Beckley Crossing Shopping Center
Road Access: WV Rts. 16 & 3, WV Rt. 16 & US Rt. 19
Note: Trail is lighted for night use.
Contact: Southern West Virginia CVB
304-252-2244 or 1-800-VISITWV
www.visitwv.com
30. Potts Valley Rail Trail
Length: 5 mi.
Surface: packed dirt
County: Monroe
Endpoints: Just inside VA/WV state line to Waiteville
Road Access: WV Rt. 17
Note: Trail within Jefferson National Forest
Contact: Monroe County Tourism
304-772-3003
[email protected]
