Explore the best rated trails in South Charleston, WV. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Lewis McManus Memorial Honor Trail and Narrow Gauge Trail (WV). With more than 10 trails covering 54 miles you’re bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
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This walking and biking path runs through the heart of West Virginia's state capital, Charleston. The trail sits right on the north bank of the Kanawha River, offering panoramic river views right from...
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The White Oak Rail Trail runs for nearly 8 miles through the central West Virginia city of Oak Hill, connecting the communities of Summerlee and Carlisle at either end. Most of the trail is paved with...
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Closure Notice: Starting in September 2014, portions of the Rend Trail are closed due to a bridge repair. The trail is closed 1.27 miles in from the Minden trailhead or 1.96 miles in from the Thurmond...
The Lewis McManus Memorial Honor Trail, also known as the Beckley Rail Trail, travels from Mabscott, through the heart of Beckley, north to the Beckley Crossing Shopping Mall. It follows the route of...
The Gallia County Hike & Bike Trail follows an old railroad right-of-way between Bidwell and Gallipolis, at the Ohio River. Though are plans to develop a total of 28 miles (to include Vinton County...
Located in the gorgeous New River Gorge in rural West Virginia, the Keeney's Creek Trail is a gravel trail that doubles as a road for park service vehicles. Although built on top of an abandoned...
Located in the gorgeous New River Gorge in rural West Virginia, the Keeney's Creek Trail is a gravel trail that doubles as a road for park service vehicles. Although built on top of an abandoned...
As it weaves past long-abandoned mining towns such as Red Ash and Rush Run, the Brooklyn to Southside Junction Trail tells the unique story of "King Coal" and Appalachia. Once an important...
This walking and biking path runs through the heart of West Virginia's state capital, Charleston. The trail sits right on the north bank of the Kanawha River, offering panoramic river views right from...
Closure Notice: Starting in September 2014, portions of the Rend Trail are closed due to a bridge repair. The trail is closed 1.27 miles in from the Minden trailhead or 1.96 miles in from the Thurmond...
The Lewis McManus Memorial Honor Trail, also known as the Beckley Rail Trail, travels from Mabscott, through the heart of Beckley, north to the Beckley Crossing Shopping Mall. It follows the route of...
The White Oak Rail Trail runs for nearly 8 miles through the central West Virginia city of Oak Hill, connecting the communities of Summerlee and Carlisle at either end. Most of the trail is paved with...
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The Narrow Gauge Trail in Babcock State Park follows the gentle grade of what was the Manns Creek Railway, which connected Clifftop to Sewell, until it closed in 1956. The trail is breathtaking, but...
The Gallia County Hike & Bike Trail follows an old railroad right-of-way between Bidwell and Gallipolis, at the Ohio River. Though are plans to develop a total of 28 miles (to include Vinton County...
The Kaymoor Trail runs parallel to the New River between Fayetteville and Cunard in the National Park Service’s New River Gorge National River. Much of the stunning trail follows old roads and dormant...
Kanawha County’s Elk River Trail provides access to Coonskin Park, a large park originally built by local residents in the 1950s and now managed by the Kanawha County Parks and Recreation Commission....
The Hawks Nest Rail Trail is located primarily within Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted. The trail is nearly 2 miles long and runs on the south side of Mill Creek, beginning near the nature center....
The White Oak Rail Trail runs for nearly 8 miles through the central West Virginia city of Oak Hill, connecting the communities of Summerlee and Carlisle at either end. Most of the trail is paved with...
The Gallia County Hike & Bike Trail follows an old railroad right-of-way between Bidwell and Gallipolis, at the Ohio River. Though are plans to develop a total of 28 miles (to include Vinton County...
The Narrow Gauge Trail in Babcock State Park follows the gentle grade of what was the Manns Creek Railway, which connected Clifftop to Sewell, until it closed in 1956. The trail is breathtaking, but...
Kanawha County’s Elk River Trail provides access to Coonskin Park, a large park originally built by local residents in the 1950s and now managed by the Kanawha County Parks and Recreation Commission....
The Kaymoor Trail runs parallel to the New River between Fayetteville and Cunard in the National Park Service’s New River Gorge National River. Much of the stunning trail follows old roads and dormant...
Closure Notice: Starting in September 2014, portions of the Rend Trail are closed due to a bridge repair. The trail is closed 1.27 miles in from the Minden trailhead or 1.96 miles in from the Thurmond...
This walking and biking path runs through the heart of West Virginia's state capital, Charleston. The trail sits right on the north bank of the Kanawha River, offering panoramic river views right from...
As it weaves past long-abandoned mining towns such as Red Ash and Rush Run, the Brooklyn to Southside Junction Trail tells the unique story of "King Coal" and Appalachia. Once an important...
Located in the gorgeous New River Gorge in rural West Virginia, the Keeney's Creek Trail is a gravel trail that doubles as a road for park service vehicles. Although built on top of an abandoned...
The Hawks Nest Rail Trail is located primarily within Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted. The trail is nearly 2 miles long and runs on the south side of Mill Creek, beginning near the nature center....
The Lewis McManus Memorial Honor Trail, also known as the Beckley Rail Trail, travels from Mabscott, through the heart of Beckley, north to the Beckley Crossing Shopping Mall. It follows the route of...
Great trail for a walk, but too short to be much fun for bikes. The trail is in great condition and there’s a gorgeous water fall about half way with picnic benches would be a great place to have a little lunch. You can park at the lower entrance maintained by the city or take the tram down from hawks nest state park
Trail is in great shape even after all the rain. Was pretty busy but not a problem at all. Gravel bikes to the bottom then took Hawks Nest Connector to Fayette Station road and back. Great ride, a lot of downed trees on Connector and a couple small slips, but passible if you don’t mind a little hike n bike. I thought Connector would be more rail trail but a lot of it is narrow and rocky single track. My gravel bike handled it OK but a mountain bike would’ve been better for that section.
We've been coming to a campground near Hico for decades, meeting up with 2 - 4 dozen friends, staying for 4 - 8 days, and adventuring by day, visiting with old friends by evening. Rafting with a profesional company or another one day. We have had white knuckle heart-in-throat drives down to the canoe/kayak put-ins plenty of times, and we always say "NEVER AGAIN" but we did it again today. Thought we would take the bikes down to the river endpoint and see if we could ride uphill 4.7% for 1.8 miles. We got to the bottom and went around the loop and went right back up, rejoicing as we emerged from under the Midland Trail on Hawk's Nest Rd that we had not met even one oncoming vehicle as we went down nor as we came up. (There is 90% of the time not room for two cars to pass each other, and it's steep and very sharp turns here and there, and there is a lot of sheer rock or dirt wall on one side and sheer drop on the other.)
After we calmed down over a split order of biscuits & gravy at the Ansted Tudor's Biscuit World, we drove back to upper trailhead, on Hawk's nest Rd just south of where it passes under Midland Trail, and there *is* parking. We parked and walked a bit. It's lovely, and I hope we can return when there is less foliage and better views of the creek.
We are mid-sixties, more fit than many (which is not saying a lot) and not mountain bikers, just commuters. We might have made a quarter mile going up on our bikes.
Walked this trail today, which still had a bit of snow and ice. It’s a bit of a grade, so make sure you’re fit for it. Start at the end where the sky lift for Hawks Nest park is. The trail will be uphill, but it’s better walking downhill on the way back. The rushing water with the snow and blue green pools were beautiful.
It was a nice trail but if you need to be in shape to get back out.
Beautiful hike with gorgeous scenery . Easy flat hike perfect for all ages with awesome access to incredible waterfalls .
Went there with a friend on a perfect fall day & enjoyed it. A bicyclist came upon us fast from behind & nearly ran us over. So be careful.
Very pleasant but the map isnt quite accurate. It shows the three trail heads which are the ends of the paved sections. The gravel continues further to the west. The 8 miles listed as the distance includes the gravel section. The paved portion from Summerlee to Carslisle is about 4.5 miles with a 1 mile side spur. There is a bit of a grade from Oak Hill to Carlisle but not bad. At that end of the paved trail you see the New River Company Oakwood Store long abandoned. The New River Company was a big coal company operating in the New River Gorge.
Goes through Oak Hill residential and partly country. Nice to see the town and you can take side roads into town. Also some nice local parks including Collins Park that has a disc golf course and playing fields.
Easy down hill trail for bicycles. The best part is that on hot days you can go swimming and sliding in the creek next to the trail. There is a safe 15 foot water jump at the falls half way down, but make sure you check the water depth yourself. It was 10 feet deep when we went in June. Farther down, you can go into a coal mine - we went 30 feet before turning back.
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