Elk River Rail Trail
Running through Braxton, Clay and Kanawha counties, as of September 1, 2024, the trail meanders 52 miles along the Elk River, with an additional 18-mile rails-with-trail section running along Buffalo Creek. Portions of the trail are still under construction and, when finished, will be 73.3 miles long.
The northern end of the trail starts by the intersection of the Route 4 bridge and River Road in southern Gassaway. The trail follows the river south 45.4 miles to trailheads at Coastal Lumber, Frametown, Strange Creek, Duck, Ivydale, Dundon, and Hartland. In Frametown, Duck, Dundon and Hartland, the trailheads double as a river access point for kayaks and other water vessels, with other public and private river access sites along the way. The trail winds its way down through acres of woodlands along a former railroad bed. While the trail runs alongside the Elk River Water Trail for its entire length, views are sometimes obscured by dense tree cover.
The 22-mile section from Hartland to Queen Shoals is under construction, but another 4.5-mile section is open from the Queen Shoals Trailhead to a point south of the Clendenin Trailhead, with a one-mile section paved from the Clendenin Trailhead north. The trail abuts four public river access sites in Queen Shoals and Clendenin.
The very flat (1/2% grade) trail runs alongside the Elk River Water Trail for its entire length through otherwise mountainous, rugged, beautiful terrain, with trail users often spotting an abundant range of wildlife ranging from deer and bears to bobcats, foxes, rabbits and squirrels, beavers and otters, and birds, including eagles, wild turkeys, and several varieties of owls, ducks and hawks. Many of the trailheads double as a river access point for kayaks and other water vessels.
The Elk River Trail is open for use by walkers, hikers, runners, cyclists and horseback riders. Class 1 and Class 3 e-bikes are also allowed. There are exercise stations along the three-mile trail section downstream from Dundon for an extra work out for trail users. Restrooms at placed at several locations along the trail, and benches are being installed at several spots. Bike repair stations like the one at Ivydale are planned for each trailhead.