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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.
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.
We walked it, but consider it suitable for a good bike. I see now where it could serve as an emergency exit from the residential street at one end, as another review mentioned.
It was a really nice scenic walk on a nice fall day.
Perfect trail for an easy hike. Well maintained with a gentle grade, it parallels Mill Creek, which features several enticing shallow pools for cooling off. The waterfall dries up when there hasn't been rain but is lovely when running.
May 2016 - Wanted to give this trail a try because it is fairly close to home. Was disappointed in the fact it is only 4.1 miles long starting at the Hastings Park. The trail is paved and recently had the edges mowed. You do cross several busy roads so I wouldn't recommend for families with small kids. We rode to the end at Holzer Hospital and turned around and rode back to town, was able to get 13 miles in fairly easy. I would give it a 3.5-4 stars
I did it May 7 after having done the Cliffside Trail at Hawk's Nest, which was more challenging as a path thru the woods with some climbing. Then rather than accessing the trail from Anstead, I went behind the tennis courts at the lodge and took the GSYP trail down the side of the mountain the tram runs, which are very, very steep stairs. The Rail trail is a mellow walk, nearly level, with great views of Mill Creek the whole way up. Kayakers were on the creek to watch, and you saw some locals. After taking in the view from the bridge over Mill Creek at the top, I headed back down, the climbed back up GSYP to the lodge. I don't recommend this. The stairs are uneven and nearly vertical. Spring for the half tram ride to the top. Lovely walk.
For biking I prefer beginning from the south end. The initial portion on this end follows an old surface mine access road and mine bench. Most of the trail appears to be an old connecting road between the old surface mine and the Kaymor deep mine. The degree of difficulty varies along the trail. The scenery can be spectacular. On one trip in the spring we discovered a cherry tree with delicious, ripe cherries. On an autumn trip on Bridge Day, I found a pear tree bearing fruit. The size of both trees lead me to believe they resulted from miners discarding cherry pits and pear cores from their lunches. We always go at least as far as the Kaymor mine and back. Your chances of finding the fresh fruit are slim, but the ride and the history are well worth it.
I am 55 years old, in decent shape, don't walk or bike a lot but this was pretty easy walk. The only thing easier would be flat pavement. Grade is 240' per mile which is not really noticeable. no ups and down, just even grade downhill going downstream, and slight uphill going upstream.
It might have been somewhat exerting if I had to pedal a slight uphill grade on a bike (from New River upstream along Mill Creek to the trailhead). But I only bike on flat pavement! So I walked it. Going down I could have slowly coasted all the way. This would be an easy mountainbike trail for even moderately mountainbikers, but I would not take a road bike with narrow tires and expect a leisurely flat ride in a middle or upper gear. Mostly hardpack gravel and dirt, a couple of damp places but no real muddy puddles.
Some very scenic waterfalls, one big one about 20' high, can wade out in the stream a few places. Some interesting sedimentary geology and one abandoned coal mine entrance. It would be very pretty in the fall with the change in leave color, but some places the leaves would partial block the view of Mill Creek, at least for picture taking.
I went Sunday April 17 2016 and the leaves were just emerging. On that day there was a large tree, about 18" diameter, across the trail about half way (1 mile mark or so). It fell from a cliff above so it was across at an angle, not laying flat, so you had to climb over it, or crawl under it. You could not ride a mountain bike across it but you could lift it over.
I started at the top and walked down it talking my time and taking pictures, took 60 minutes to go the almost 2 miles. Coming back, kept a brisk exercise pace and didn't stop and made the 2 miles back "uphill" in 40 minutes. You can also walk just one way if someone will drop you off and drive to the other end to get you.
Bathrooms and parking at each end (a road follows the other side of Mill Creek), drinking fountain only at bottom. Plus at the bottom where Mill Creek empties into the New River there is a small gift shop, refreshment stand and nature center. All were not open as of April 17, might have been too early in the tourist season.
10/26/2015: Sign at the Minden trailhead advised "Trail Closed 1.27 Miles". We rode on down and found the second trestle barricaded (couldn't see the issue). Otherwise seemed like a great trail!
The Elk River Trail was recently widened to the width of a road due to a landslide at Charleston's Yeager Airport that landed on Keystone Drive. The change provides an emergency exit for residents of Barlow Drive in the case of flooding, or other emergencies.
Some consider it an intrusion into the forest near Coonskin Park, but for bikers and casual hikers, it creates a flat, even walking/riding trail along the Elk River in Charleston, WV.
Here's a link to a recent TV report where you can see some video of the newly widened and gravel covered Elk River Trail:
http://www.wchstv.com/news/features/eyewitness-news/stories/Coonskin-Park-Defending-Decision-To-Widen-Elk-River-Trail-115974.shtml#.VgWpGctViko
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