Type: Trail, Point-to-point
Difficulty: 1 / 10
Altitude: 1,699 ft
Dog Friendly: Yes
Jog-Stroller Friendly: Yes
Filed Under: Cycling, Hiking, Running
Originally a part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, this 76.6-mile abandoned railroad grade has been developed into a long multi-use trail. The trail runs from North Caldwell to Cass, West Virginia. The trail passes through several small towns and traverses 35 bridges and 2 tunnels all with no more than 1% grade. For almost the entire course, the trail parallels the Greenbrier River.
This trail makes for a great (multi-day?) adventure run or can easily be broken up into smaller sections. The most logical sections would be North Caldwell ? Falling Spring (21.7 miles), Falling Spring ? Marlington (31.4 miles) and Marlington ? Cass (23.9 miles).
The trail is closed to motorized vehicles, but is open to equestrians and cyclists. Lone runners should carry along some type of pepper spray or mace as mean dogs have been reported around a few of the towns in-route. Overall this is a technically easy trail that follows a beautiful river allowing the long distance runner plenty of solitude and scenery.
For more information on the different sections of this trail, visit http://www.greenbrierrivertrail.com/trailmap.html.
From Charleston, WV:
Follow I-64 east about 120 miles to the White Sulphur Springs exit. At exit turn left toward US Rt. 60, about 200 yards from off-ramp. From US 60 intersection turn left (west) to about two miles to the Greenbrier River Bridge. Immediately after crossing the Greenbrier River, turn right onto Stonehouse Road. Proceed north 1 mile to the North Caldwell trailhead. Trailhead parking is on the right, the trail is on the left.
From Richmond, VA:
Follow I-64 west about 180 miles to the White Sulphur Springs exit. At exit turn right toward US Rt. 60, about 100 yards from off-ramp. From US 60 intersection turn left (west) to about two miles to the Greenbrier River Bridge. Immediately after crossing the Greenbrier River, turn right onto Stonehouse Road. Proceed north 1 mile to the North Caldwell trailhead. Trailhead parking is on the right, the trail (north) is on the left.
The Cass trailhead of the Greenbrier River Trail is located about one mile from the large parking lot at the Cass General Store and Cass Scenic RR depot. Unfortunately, there are no signs from the Cass parking lot to the trailhead. To reach the trailhead from the Cass parking lot cross the RR tracks and follow the road as it turns right, uphill past the General Store and the post office. Immediately turn left on Back Mountain Road toward Stoney Bottom. Follow through the town of Cass for about 3/8 mile to Deer Creek Road at the edge of town. Turn left onto gravel covered Deer Creek Road (at the only sign "To Greenbrier River Trail") and proceed about 1/2 mile, past the last house and the stacks of old RR ties. The old RR right of way is on the left and the trailhead parking is straight ahead. From the trailhead parking lot, the trail goes south (downstream) toward Marlinton.
Comments
sean said ...
North Caldwell - Falling Spring (21.7 miles)
GPS: 037° 47' 35.41"N, 080° 22' 53.22"W
From Charleston, WV:
Follow I-64 east about 120 miles to the White Sulphur Springs exit. At exit turn left toward US Rt. 60, about 200 yards from off-ramp. From US 60 intersection turn left (west) to about two miles to the Greenbrier River Bridge. Immediately after crossing the Greenbrier River, turn right onto Stonehouse Road. Proceed north 1 mile to the North Caldwell trailhead. Trailhead parking is on the right, the trail is on the left.
From Richmond, VA:
Follow I-64 west about 180 miles to the White Sulphur Springs exit. At exit turn right toward US Rt. 60, about 100 yards from off-ramp. From US 60 intersection turn left (west) to about two miles to the Greenbrier River Bridge. Immediately after crossing the Greenbrier River, turn right onto Stonehouse Road. Proceed north 1 mile to the North Caldwell trailhead. Trailhead parking is on the right, the trail (north) is on the left.
Falling Spring to Marlington (31.4 miles)
GPS: 037° 59' 25.05"N, 080° 21' 22.23"W
Marlington to Cass (23.9 miles)
GPS: 038° 13' 20.94"N, 080° 05' 35.87"W
From Charleston, WV:
Follow I-64 east about 120 miles to the White Sulphur Springs exit. At hte exit turn left toward US Rt. 60, about 200 yards from off-ramp. Turn right on US Rt. 60 toward White Sulphur Springs. Continue about 5 miles, through White Sulphur, to Rt. 92. Turn left onto Rt. 92 north, continuing for about 31 miles to WV Rt. 39. Turn left on Rt. 39 (east) and continue about 13 miles to Marlinton. The trail crosses Rt. 39 at the old RR depot. Trailhead parking is available at the depot, that now serves as the Pocahontas County Tourism Office. From Rt. 39 eastbound, trail right is north toward Cass, and trail left is south toward Seebert.
From Richmond, VA:
Follow I-64 west about 180 miles to the White Sulphur Springs exit. At the exit turn right about 100 yards from off-ramp. Turn right on US Rt. 60 toward White Sulphur Springs. Continue about 5 miles, through White Sulphur, to Rt. 92. Turn left onto Rt. 92 north, continuing for about 31 miles to WV Rt. 39. Turn left on Rt. 39 (east) and continue about 13 miles to Marlinton. The trail crosses Rt. 39 at the old RR depot. Trailhead parking is available at the depot, that now serves as the Pocahontas County Tourism Office. From Rt. 39 eastbound, trail right is north toward Cass, and trail left is south toward Seebert.
From Morgantown, WV:
Follow I-79 South about 90 miles to US 19 south. Follow US 19 about to WV Rt. 39 in Summersville. Turn left onto Rt. 39 and follow about 50 miles to US 219 at Mill Point. Turn left onto US 219/Rt. 39 and continue about 8 miles to Marlinton. At Marlinton, follow Rt. 39 left across the Greenbrier River. After Rt. 39 crosss the bridge, the trail crosses Rt. 39 about 5 blocks from the river, at the old RR depot. Trailhead parking is available at the depot, that now serves as the Pocahontas County Tourism Office. From Rt. 39 eastbound, trail right is south toward Seebert, and trail left is north toward Cass.
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