"It's a nice ride, a little bit of a small windey road there, but the trail is nice, a constant uphill grade from the Thurmond side, 1 set of stairs that you have to carry the bikes over (big rock), and some small trickling waterways making a little bit of mud on your way. You hardly have to peddle the whole trip home though...very nice. Beautiful views as well."

"The trail is nice...rarely rough (a few rocks, some remnants of the old train line, and 1 set of stairs you have to carry your bike around), a nice smooth grade as would be expected from an old rail line, so not too steep and (the best part) from the directions given, you park at the bottom of the hill. So the ride home is a breeze! Nice trail."

"On October 7, 2003, I took a gentle, quiet walk in the woods overlooking the New River with fall colors springing forth from the trees. It was very relaxing and comforting."

"This trail is a sentimental one for me, since it is the one my dad used as a kid to get from his home in Rock Lick (Minden) to his grandparents' house in Thurmond. Of course, back then it wasn't a hiking trail, but that didn't stop anyone. Although Thurmond is now a ""ghost town"", my great-grandparents' house is still up on that hill, with all of my great-grandpa's sheds (he farmed and raised livestock up there) and all of the religious sayings he painted on the steps. Down in town, there is a post office, a depot which has been nicely restored, and a great place to admire the New River. The hike itself is rewarding as every few minutes you catch glimpses of Glen Jean and Thurmond through the trees. Lizards and millipedes abound, and the creek keeps you company for about a third of the walk.

It is an easy walk, but when you factor in the round-trip distance, it's a nice workout. Besides, if you hike for the beauty and serenity of the surroundings, the difficulty doesn't matter too much anyway. Be warned, though, if you go from Minden to Thurmond or vice versa, there is a connector trail that you need to take which is very steep and pretty ankle-endangering. It isn't well marked, but if you have a map or just a good eye, you shouldn't have a problem. Although I grew up in Michigan and now live in Georgia, this trail is one of my favorite places in the world. "

"Trail is in pretty good shape, in spite of the flood damage from a few months back. Very scenic. Bridges can be very slick, so watch your footing. I generally start at the Minden trailhead and take the trail (3.2 miles) to where it intersects with Southside-Brooklyn trail head, and then take Southside-Brooklyn trail 6 miles to Cunard, and then I head back. The first part of Southside-Brooklyn trial runs beside old ties and rails. Really cool. You can cross over the river on an old bridge to visit the NPS Thurmond depot at Southside-Brooklyn trailhead as well. Mountain bikes are recommended, hybrids would work if tires are not too slick."