Greenbrier River Trail - NRT database (2023)

Big ones: 78.00 miles
Bluntly?no
Write: Schienenweg
Agency: federal state
entrance fee?no
The trail is free to the public.

Parking Fee?nopermitted uses:

cycling (on sidewalks)
Cycling (off the sidewalk)
Camping
Dogs - on a leash
Riding
fishing
heritage and history
Pedestrian - walk/walk/run
Snow - cross-country skiing
Snow - snow games, general
Nadar
wildlife watching

See more details.

To get to the southern trailhead in Caldwell, WV, take I-64 East to exit 175 onto US 60 West. Drive 2.7 miles and turn right onto SR 38/Stone House Road. Straight Caldwell Trailhead.

Coming from I-64 West, take exit 169 onto US 219 North. Go 1/2 mile to SR 30/Brush Road. From here, continue 1/2 mile to SR38/Stone House Road. Follow to the end at Caldwell Trailhead.

To go north from Cass Trailhead, take US 219 to SR 66 East; or take SR 28 to SR 66 West and locate the trailhead at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park along SR 66 (Black Mountain Road).

One of America's premier railroad trails, West Virginia's beautiful Greenbrier River Trail is popular with cyclists, hikers, hikers and cross-country skiers. Most of the trail follows the beautiful Greenbrier River and through scenic countryside as it meanders along the river.
Flusstal.

Today the trail is operated and maintained by West Virginia State Parks, but was originally built for one of West Virginia's many railroads that served the once-thriving local logging industry. The trail is now recreational, with overnight campsites and many water and restroom facilities scattered along its route. The trail is home to the popular annual Great Greenbrier River Race: Canoeing, Cycling and Running.

Although the mile posts begin at the southern end of the Greenbrier River Trail, many choose to begin the journey on a gentle slope at the north end of Cass Scenic Railroad State Park and follow the river downstream.

Spanning 78 miles, the Rail Trail contains many of the elements that make the Mountain State one of America's most beloved getaways: peaks and valleys, lush forests, pioneer history, genuine small-town hospitality and, of course, the river. Calm and lazy at times, hectic and ambitious at other times of the year, the Greenbrier River is an almost constant companion along the way, flavoring the journey at every turn.

The trail takes visitors through the beautiful West Virginia wilderness. The towns along its route were helped but not harmed by the trail. This balance is evident in the rugged sections of the trail and in the communities that follow it.

Trains ran here in the early 20th century. In 1899, construction began on the Greenbrier Division of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O), and for the next 77 years, riverside trains carried lumber and passengers through the valley and into eastern Virginia.

When the route became unprofitable in the 1970s, the last remaining depots closed their doors. But when C&O donated the corridor to the state, a new opportunity arose. Realizing the tremendous resource that lay ahead of them, local communities mobilized a force of supporters and volunteers behind the effort, and three decades later, the Greenbrier River Trail is one of the most famous and beloved railroad trails in the United States and owned by great interest. Proud among the communities that built it.

Heading south on the Greenbrier River Trail is Clover Lick, a charming Appalachian town with rustic ruins of the old railroad depot that once served the burgeoning logging industry.

Past the Clover Lick Trailhead, the trail continues south, winding 20 miles downriver through some of West Virginia's most scenic and remote wilderness. Just south of Clover Lick is the 511-foot Sharps Tunnel, built in 1899, which opens onto a 230-foot curved bridge known by some as the Greenbrier River Bridge, which is one of the trail's most memorable features.

Then Marlinton, the only major town you'll encounter along the way, is home to great restaurants and inns. At the old Marlinton train station near mile 55 there is an information center along the way to Marlinton, cross the river twice before reaching the halfway point at Beard.

One of the best things about the Greenbrier River Trail is the opportunity to see the remains of the old railroad, including many stop whistles and historic mile markers. Beyond Beard (landmark 31) is the second of two spectacular tunnels on the trail: the 402-foot Droop Mountain Tunnel, built in 1900.

Continuing south past Anthony (at mile 15), the trail crosses two old railroad bridges and finally reaches its southern terminus at North Caldwell (mile 3). This starting point is located just outside the charming town of Lewisburg.

The river and path are bordered by forests and occasional clearings; hemlock, fir, oak, pine, honeysuckle and azalea, even the occasional balsam fir which is rarely seen this far south.

One of the best features of the Greenbrier River Trail is that it is accessible without sacrificing its remoteness. A series of small shelters and fire rings along the trail offer hospitality to trail users, but these amenities feel more like real relics than real ones.
Pioneering times than the intrusion of modern conveniences. Outdated water pumps and restored warehouses along the way add to the atmosphere.

Most trails open into small communities of colonial-style homes nestled amidst beautiful valleys and far from any noise except the river. Although the northern sections of the trail are a little wilder and more isolated than the southern ones, the difference isn't huge and each section of this wonderful trail has a wilderness feel.

Anker:120 inches
primary surface:important
Secondary Surface:Concrete
shattered rock

Average grade:1%
Low lifting point:1.696
Climax of research:2.688
Altitude gain (cumulative):Not available

Reported year:2021