The North Bend Rail Trail (Parkersburg, WV to Wolf Summit, WV)
https://wvstateparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NorthBendRailTrailMap.pdf
This trail is characterized by an abundance of old rail tunnels, many short bridges, and woodland. The Western Trailhead in Parkersburg can be reached by car from NE Ohio in 2 to 2.5 hours. The Happy Valley Trailhead (on Happy Valley Rd) is close to I-77. Parking is along the dirt road/lot across the street from the trailhead. On our visit everyone was parallel parked along the North side of that "lot."
We have not traveled the entire trail, choosing The Doddridge County Park Campground near Smithburg as our turnaround point. Beyond Smithburg (about mile 55 of 71), there is a potentially difficult area with fist-sided stone just west of Tunnel #4 in New Milton. Trail conditions are said to be more primitive as you approach Wolf Summit from there. Recent YouTube videos confirm this.
Overall trail conditions are pretty variable on the sections we traveled. Wider tires are recommended - at least 42mm with wider being best. Almost without exception, the trail surface is much coarser gravel than is found on the Canal Towpath/OTET or Headwaters Trails. While a few sections in the first 10 miles, and segment west of West Union, are somewhat smoother, most surfaces are 1/2-inch stone, with patches of 3/4 to 1-inch stone interspersed. Except for the first eleven miles out of Parkersburg, you can expect continuous slight up/down grades of 1 to 1.7% on the approaches to tunnels and ridge-top cuts. This is typical for railroad routes where a maximum grade of 2% is the limit.
Camping and Lodging
The only hotel along the route is a Sleep Inn in Ellenboro. B&B options may (?) exist. Two drive-in campgrounds are placed along the NBRT and both are easily accessed via relatively flat side-trails. Some primitive sites exist as well, and wild camping appears to be permited with the State Park.
Trip Notes
https://wvstateparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NorthBendRailTrailMap.pdf
This trail is characterized by an abundance of old rail tunnels, many short bridges, and woodland. The Western Trailhead in Parkersburg can be reached by car from NE Ohio in 2 to 2.5 hours. The Happy Valley Trailhead (on Happy Valley Rd) is close to I-77. Parking is along the dirt road/lot across the street from the trailhead. On our visit everyone was parallel parked along the North side of that "lot."
We have not traveled the entire trail, choosing The Doddridge County Park Campground near Smithburg as our turnaround point. Beyond Smithburg (about mile 55 of 71), there is a potentially difficult area with fist-sided stone just west of Tunnel #4 in New Milton. Trail conditions are said to be more primitive as you approach Wolf Summit from there. Recent YouTube videos confirm this.
Overall trail conditions are pretty variable on the sections we traveled. Wider tires are recommended - at least 42mm with wider being best. Almost without exception, the trail surface is much coarser gravel than is found on the Canal Towpath/OTET or Headwaters Trails. While a few sections in the first 10 miles, and segment west of West Union, are somewhat smoother, most surfaces are 1/2-inch stone, with patches of 3/4 to 1-inch stone interspersed. Except for the first eleven miles out of Parkersburg, you can expect continuous slight up/down grades of 1 to 1.7% on the approaches to tunnels and ridge-top cuts. This is typical for railroad routes where a maximum grade of 2% is the limit.
Camping and Lodging
The only hotel along the route is a Sleep Inn in Ellenboro. B&B options may (?) exist. Two drive-in campgrounds are placed along the NBRT and both are easily accessed via relatively flat side-trails. Some primitive sites exist as well, and wild camping appears to be permited with the State Park.
- The little hamlet of Petroleum has a site including a pavilion, table, fire ring, and pit toilet (no water).
- The River Run Campground at North Bend State Park (just east of Cairo) was fine, but many “Tent” sites were not level. Level sites are located close to the pond and river. The restroom and shower complex was far away in an RV section. Port-a-Johns and water was handy, and firewood bundles could be purchased. You'll need to bring a hatchet, as gathering of wood for fires is prohibited here.
- There are also some primitive sites right on the trail for a couple of miles on either side of the access trail to the North Bend State Park Campground. These must also be reserved. No toilet or water facilities are present. Picnic tables, fire rings and trash cans are provided.
- A primitive site with a Pavilion, tables, and pit toilet, but no water, is located about a half mile west of West Union. It's muddy.
- The Lone Pine Campground at Doddridge County Park (via Smithburg) was beautiful. The accessible, level tent sites were nestled in behind some RV sites near the river. Really nice shower and patio facilities are provided. Our registered campsite was on a hill via stairs, so the Camp Manager, Greg, moved us to the flat areas amongst the RV sites. In early October, we were the only campers there. The dirt access road for hikers/bikers was a bit rough (big gravel in places) but very manageable regarding hills. There is a cracking plant on the ridge above the camp, so a low, steady whine from equipment can be audible at night. Not terrible. Firewood bundles can be purchased, but as noted for River Run, bring a hatchet.
Trip Notes
- Our use of the trail in early to mid-October (8-11) coincided with walnut-falling season and sycamore leave-drop time (large, stiff leaves). Our narrow-ish tires (we soldiered on with 37-40 mm rubber) helped avoid the golf- to tennis ball-sized nuts, but we picked up a fair amount of debris (leaves and sticks) in our fenders from the trail. The thick leaf coating on the trail may have made the slog over the coarse gravel a bit easier :) We normally ride about 45-55 miles per day on smoother limestone trails, but 30-miles was plenty on the gnarly NBRT. The two major campgrounds are spaced at about that interval from Parkersburg.
- At road crossings, the bollards were placed close together and often forced you to ride around groups of boulders, through depressions or ditches, and on sloping ground. Anyone with wide panniers would have difficulty clearing some of these. We only hit one or two. The bollards on the river bridge from Smithburg to the service station (on route to Doddridge County Park) were particularly narrow and our panniers were a tight fit. Due to some strange approach grades, you'll want to walk this anyway.
- Cairo (pronounced "CARE-o") has a restaurant, small market, bike rental shop and an outdoor center (mostly rentals?) This is becoming a true trail town but there are some derelict buildings at the edge of town.
- Pennsboro is a larger town and the P&H restaurant (right on the trail) was welcoming, with home cooked food (gravy boats) as well as Pizza, sandwiches, and all-day breakfast. There may be more to see here.
- West Union and Ellenboro are larger towns with more ammenities to explore another time.
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