One particularly steep descent down to Beaver Dam Run is fast and loads of fun. ![]() If you’re not planning to stay, it’s still a cool location to stop and fill your water bottles.īack to the starting point, it’s 20ish miles of fast rolling gravel roads. They’re affordable, basic, and they rent out a long way in advance, so definitely plan ahead if you’re interested in staying there. Three cabins rent together as one through the Forest Service. They are the only location on the route with potable well water. If you push on a little further to mile 35, the Middle Mountain Cabins are another great option for overnight accommodations. There are no facilities or potable water, but most locations have easy access to Little River. This is the halfway point of the route and a great place to camp for the night. Durbin also boasts a restaurant, store, motel, ice cream shop, and a full service campground.Īt the site of an old lumber town named Burner, the route turns left, following the Little River through six miles of remote dispersed camping. Pocahontas County is home to two scenic railroads, the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad and Cass Scenic Railroad, with live operating steam locomotives. If you’re examining an old rusted rail spike along the trail, and imagine you hear a train whistle echoing in the distance, you may not be lost in nostalgia. This route keeps it remote and turns left a few miles before Durbin, but could easily be modified to include it for lunch or even an overnight stopping point. The West Fork Rail Trail stretches 23 miles from Glady to Durbin, WV, and is one of the best maintained, most scenic rail trails in West Virginia. As you continue on to the West Fork Rail Trail you can feel civilization fade behind as the mountains welcome you in and close around you. Built by the Glady Fork Lumber Company in 1905 in the Late Gothic Revival style, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Riding through the town of Glady, you’ll pass the Glady Presbyterian Church on the left. ![]() This short paved section is the last hardtop you’ll see for the next 50 miles and serves as a nice preamble to the trail and gravel to come. Glady Fork Rd is a sparsely traveled well maintained secondary road offering spectacular views into the valley. The route begins in Alpena, WV, with nine miles of rolling blacktop. Ideal Bike: Recommend a Gravel or Cross bike with min 35mm tires or a hardtail mountain bike.If it’s your first time camping in the mountains of West Virginia, I don’t recommend being a weight weenie when it comes to warm clothes and a sleep system, especially if your riding in the shoulder seasons (ask me how I know). It will get colder than you think at night and the weather can change fast. There’s no cell service or WiFi and gas stations have a habit of closing when the sun goes down, so make sure you’re fueled up going in. Dangers and Annoyances: This part of West Virginia is remote.The closest bike shop is Joey’s Bike Shop (highly recommended, friendly and fantastic service), 30 minutes from the start of the route, in Elkins, WV. There’s a large parking area just as you turn off Rt. ![]() Logistics: No permits necessary, trails and roads open year-round.June through September is best unless you’re prepared for winter weather. ![]()
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