By J Rosen in October, 2011
We had a lot of fun playing around with our mountain bikes on this trail this past weekend, and it was wonderfully picturesque forest. I recommend using a mountain bike on this trail, or at least fat tires, because it was no longer cinder track in most places but more grown over and bumpy with tree roots, dead branches, and an occasional rock or mud. You need to like such things; if you think you might like these things and want to find out, this trail is a good learning trail for new mountain bikers because the gentle slope lets you ride over obstructions more easily without losing your balance. The weeds weren't tall at this point of the season, late September. The second half of the trail was a mildly steep single track rather than a railroad bed.
The downhill direction is eastward, with the top of the hill being the parking area near the WV/VA border off 635. If you're not too hardcore, you may want to take 2 cars and just do the downhill part; we did a loop by coming back on the road.
By charlesdove in August, 2011
Trail is in a remote forested area. Easy to find; coming from Pembroke, Virginia and after turning on route 635, the southern trailhead is on right just after entering West Virginia. At first I thought I had to park along road, but there is a small parking area an 1/8 mile in from the road. Gorgeous, rugged area along trail because the railroad needed to cross eastern continental divide along this stretch. Great scenery and a very peaceful trail.
However, it is not surfaced nor has it been “graded”. Very undulating along with “mud holes” and grass (August) 8 inches tall obstructing your view of the too numerous stones and tree branches that you have to avoid taking your attention away from admiring the area. I am not wanting rolled crushed stone, although that would be great, but at the very least provide a trail more maintained then now.
Granted this is a newly opened trail and perhaps more bikes can “beat” a path of single-track along R-O-W. As stewards the Forest Service knows how to maintain a successful rail trail in the Jefferson National Forest (Virginia Creeper). I only hope this trail will benefit from their experience.