Hiking • Biking • Scenic SCENIC 23-30 Table of Contents Carnifex Ferry Patterson Trail 23-24 Adventure Activities 3-4 Hanging Rock 25-26 Area Map 5-6 Long Point Trail New River Gorge 27-28 Pinnacle Rock 29-30 FAMILY HIKING 7-14 Grandview Rim Trail 7-8 BACKCOUNTRY HIKING 31-36 Lake Stephens 9-10 Allegheny Trail 31-32 Pipestem’s Lick Hollow Trail 11-12 Camp Creek State Park 33-34 Twin Falls’ Falls Trail 13-14 Greenbrier State Forest’s Trails are rated based on Kate’s Mountain Loop 35-36 steepness of ascent, descent, terrain and technical difficulty. FAMILY BIKING 15-22 SINGLE-TRACK BIKING 37-42 Visit Southern WV has Bluestone Turnpike Trail 15-16 made every effort to provide Arrowhead Trails 37-38 accurate ratings but assumes Glade Creek Trail 17-18 Bluefield City Park 39-40 no responsibility for unknown Greenbrier River Trail 19-20 variables. Please refer to ratings Little Beaver State Park 41-42 before heading out on your Southside Junction 21-22 adventure. Rules of the Trail 43-44 = Easy = Moderate = Difficult Trail Guide Partners 45-46 1 2 Welcome to the inaugural Southern West Virginia Trail Guide. As a response to the rapid growth in popularity and the development of new trails, this guide highlights 18 great trail adventures in Southern West Virginia. We feature leisurely and scenic, family-friendly trails to high adventure routes that will test your endurance. These 18 trails are just a small sample of the trail system throughout our nine coun- ties. Come back again and again to experience them all. In addition to great trails, Southern West Virginia is jam packed with other forms of outdoor adventures! We are home to America’s Best Whitewater and are known internationally for our New and Gauley River rafting trips. Fantastic rock climbing and rappelling, ATV trails, ziplines, 1408 Harper Road hunting, fishing, golf and more! All closer than you think. Beckley, WV 25801 304.252.2244 • 800.VisitWV For more information about visiting our part of Almost VisitWV.com/trails Heaven, go to VisitWV.com and order a free Visitor Guide. 3 4 79 To Morgantown 119 250 77 79 220 15 64 219 19 55 Charleston 16 20 250 119 Summersville 129 FAMILY HIKING SCENIC 39 9 39 39 60 64 55 92 1. Grandview Rim Trail 9. Carnifex Ferry Patterson Trail 3 77 2. Lake Stephens 10. Hanging Rock 19 219 20 64 3. Pipestem’s Lick Hollow Trail 11. Long Point Trail New River Gorge 41 77 Fayetteville 16 3 11 4. Twin Falls’ Falls Trail 12. Pinnacle Rock 119 61 8 92 60 60 612 17 219 20 9 54 FAMILY BIKING BACKCOUNTRY HIKING 3 64 60 81 1 6 169 5. Bluestone Turnpike Trail 13. Allegheny Trail 48 45 7 64 44 Lexington 129 143 Lewisburg Beckley 175 6. Glade Creek Trail 14. Camp Creek State Park 125 139 2 42 18 63 15 10 85 60 124 63 7. Greenbrier River Trail 15. Greenbrier State Forest’s 40 20 54 80 Hinton 3 8. Southside Junction Kate’s Mountain Loop 971 3 52 4 16 3 10 28 97 5 Union 3 Pineville 122 220 SINGLE-TRACK BIKING 14 3 311 501 10 20 16. Arrowhead Trails 219 52 16 VIRGINIA Welch 20 12 10 13 17. Bluefield City Park 80 19 14 52 Princeton 18. Little Beaver State Park 460 460 9 83 12 221 460 112 5 Bluefield 77 81 161 460 18 83 17 37°49'49.7"N 81°03'49.0"W Length: Out & back trail Grandview Rim Trail 1.63 miles one way FAMILY HIKING 3.26 miles total DIRECTIONS DESCRIPTION Surface: Packed trail, Exit 129 from I-64 - At slightly longer than 3 miles round-trip, the Grandview uneven, rocky in areas approximately 5 miles to Rim Trail winds through forest and rhododendron with Grandview. Stay on main road and park in main parking multiple sweeping views of the New River Gorge. For Rating: area near the visitors center. extended hiking, there are opportunities to pick up Trailhead is located along the connector trails along the way. This trail takes you to Amenities: path to the main Grandview some of the most photographed areas in the state of Picnic facilities Overlook. West Virginia, so be sure to take your camera. Grandview Overlooks is easily accessible from the interstate. Restrooms Playground areas Rentable shelters CONTACT New River Gorge National River Points of Interest: PO Box 246, Glen Jean, WV Overlooks of the Gorge 304.465.0508 Abundance of rhododendron nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/grandview-trails.htm (when in bloom) 7 8 37°46'49.2"N 81°18'43.3"W Length: Out & back trail Lake Stephens 1 mile one way FAMILY HIKING 2 miles total DIRECTIONS DESCRIPTION Surface: Varying terrain Take Exit 44 off I-77. Take Rt. This short trail follows the contour of Lake Stephens 3 West for 9 miles. Entrance and leads to an overlook with a beautiful view of the of park will be on right. Rating: Follow signs to recreation lake below. Plan for a leisurely walk, as the wide trail area where you will find the follows rolling terrain with several tree identification signs Amenities: trailhead on the right as soon along the way. There are other hiking trails, of varying 20 miles of varying degrees as you pull in parking area. lengths and degrees of difficulty, surrounding the lake. of trails Playground facilities, picnic areas and a public beach Lake swimming/fishing make this trail a great add-on to a day of family fun at Camping/RV Lake Stephens. Picnic and playground areas Restrooms CONTACT Points of Interest: Raleigh County Recreation Authority Views of Lake Stephens P.O. Box 5496, Beckley, WV 25802 Office 304.934.5323 • lakestephenswv.com 9 10 Pipestem’s Lick Hollow Trail 37°32'03.2"N 80°59'55.7"W Length: 1.6 mile loop FAMILY HIKING Surface: Packed trail, rocky areas DIRECTIONS DESCRIPTION Upon entering the the park, The Lick Hollow Trail is a short 1.6-mile loop that features Rating: follow main road for 2.2 miles, several creek crossings and opportunities to view wildlife. turn left at intersection. Parking is available at the Canyon Rim It is easily accessible from the Canyon Rim Center, where Amenities: Center. Trailhead located left of you can enjoy an aerial tramway ride into the Bluestone Multiple trails within the park the building and is marked by Canyon. There are many other hiking trails within the Scenic tram trail signage. park for those looking to extend their time on the trail. Lodging, dining & more Points of Interest: Views of the Bluestone Canyon Wildlife viewing CONTACT Pipestem Resort State Park 3405 Pipestem Drive, Pipestem WV, 25979 304.466.1800 •pipestemresort.com 11 12 Twin Falls’ Falls Trail 37°37'19.4"N 81°27'29.6"W Length: 1.25 mile loop familY HIKING Surface: Varying Terrain DIRECTIONS DESCRIPTION Rating: From I-64/77 take Exit 42. Turn The Falls Trail is a short loop which takes you to Marsh right onto WV Rt 16/97, follow Fork and Black Fork Falls, the landmarks for which the 3.5 miles. At intersection of Amenities: WV Rt. 54 turn right, travel 15 park is named. Starting out as a paved trail, it drops Many miles of trails within miles. Turn right onto WV Rt. down along the creek before circling back. Many other State Park 97, go 5.5 miles W, make a left hiking and biking trails are available at the park. Lodging, dining, golf, onto Bear Hole Rd and drive swimming, restrooms, approx. 1 mile then bear right just past park entrance sign. & more Drive 200 yards, turn left at Fall Trail sign, drive another 200 Points of Interest: yards to parking area/trailhead. Marsh Fork Falls Black Fork Falls CONTACT Twin Falls Resort State Park RR 97, Mullens, WV 304.294.4000 • twinfallsresort.com 13 14 37°36'08.3"N 80°56'46.6"W Length: Out & back trail Bluestone Turnpike Trail 7.5 miles one way familY BIKING 15 miles total DIRECTIONS DESCRIPTION Surface: Wooded area, This trailhead is located inside This scenic trail follows the river. You will find yourself packed trail of the Bluestone State Park. right along the river or at times the ridgeline viewing the From park headquarters travel 1.7 miles past the Old Mill scenic Bluestone River. This 15 mile out and back trail Rating: Campground to a parking connects Bluestone and Pipestem State Parks. Make this area. Trailhead is marked with ride as long or as short as you want—it’s a favorite of Amenities: signage. mountain bikers! Bluestone State Park has restrooms, camping, cabins, picnic area, playground & more CONTACT Points of Interest: Bluestone State Park Scenic views HC 78, Box 3, Hinton Wildlife 304.466.2805 • 800.CALL.WVA nps.gov/blue/planyourvisit/hiking.htm 15 16 37°49'36.5"N 81°00'37.1"W Length: Out & back trail Glade Creek Trail 6 miles one way familY BIKING 12 miles total DIRECTIONS DESCRIPTION Surface: Old rail line, From Rt. 41 North toward This scenic hiking trail has recently been open to grated type surface Prince, WV take a right onto mountain biking and quickly becoming a favorite. A Glade Creek Rd., just before the bridge at Prince. Follow moderate grade makes this enjoyable for all ages and Rating: this gravel road 7 miles and abilities. it will end at the Glade Creek Amenities: Trailhead. Parking Picnic facilities Restroom facilities Primitive camping CONTACT Points of Interest: New River Gorge National River Waterfalls, swimming holes, PO Box 246, Glen Jean, WV scenic views and a catch 304.465.0508 and release trout stream nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/glade-creek-trails.htm 17 18 37°47'38.4"N 80°22'48.8"W Length: 78 miles in length.