By harvecon on August 19, 2010
We rode the entire length of this trail. It is hard to believe that it is a National Trail because it is so unkempt. Lots of long grass and rough spots. The trail is very remote and the many tunnels are quite long. The only part of the trail that I feel is suitable for families is a few miles around North Bend State Park.
By mednat2 on August 17, 2009
My wife and I (60 and 63yrs.old) just completed the trail out and back in four 35+ mile days. Riding our mountain bike tandem, we began each day at a different access point. Parkersburg (Happy Valley) , Pennsboro, Smithburg, and Wolf Summit. Route 50 which parallels the rail is a four lane, 65 mph
route to each access point. The trail itself was fun and challenging at the same time. Some areas between Pennsboro and Happy Valley have large all gravel paths, but most of the trail consists of two gravel paths about a foot wide with a grassy middle. Still other sections of the trail have little or no gravel and are all grass, which makes for very hard pedaling. Take a flashlight for safety in the tunnels. We walked all tunnels because of wet slippery conditions in some areas of many of the tunnels. This trail needs more gravel and some work on the tunnels to give it a broader appeal to more riders. If you come expecting a smooth groomed trail you will be disappointed, but if you are the least bit adventurous and willing to accept changing riding surfaces then give this trail a try. We did. You might even get to play in some mud and feel like a kid again! P.S. The family restaurant in Pennsboro, adjacent to the train depot, has breakfast available all day in addition to a regular menu. Roger and Marilyn
By Investmentbike on August 07, 2009
We just rode this trail. We stayed at North Bend State Park.
The trail is a beautiful place with lots of wildlife present. We stayed about the middle of the trail and rode west one day and east the next. All told we rode from Happy Valley to West Union.
My reservation on this trail is that there is no place to get water or help if you are riding alone. The repairs on the western section were done in places with fairly large (for bike tires) rip-rap rock. These rocks are completely unacceptable for bike trails but they could be avoided by riding into softer grass areas generally. We experienced 1 flat that I attribute to the surface. Don't expect to buy food along the western section of the trail there is no place from Cairo to Happy Valley. There also is no water going from west union to happy valley. And finally there was only 2 unpleasant pit toilets in fifty miles.
The section from Pennsboro to West Union was unfinished and VERY difficult to ride. When we rode the trail it was damp and the the tires would get sucked into the mud. I ride 700x35 and it was enough for the conditions but was really tough. When damp, plan on going half the distance with the same effort in this section. It is a good thing we had our car in West Union because we were exhausted in riding 21 miles from the state park. The longest tunnel near West Union was under construction when we were there. The west end had new rough rip rap and the east end was a giant mud puddle but passable while walking through the mud.