Explore the best rated trails in Petersburg, WV. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the West Virginia Northern Rail-Trail and Rocky Point Trail. With more than 35 trails covering 4317 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
There’s a really nicely developed parking area with facilities and a full museum of the C & O canal in Williamsport, Just south of Hagerstown. The trail is fairly wide and well maintained . However, it is secluded and sparsely populated so if you’re not comfortable with that take note.
For scenic views and a step back in time this trail is a must. It's muddy, especially right after rain. We avoid our e-bike on this trail due to the mud, but it's mainly flat. Paw paw tunnel is a must see, but it's nothing out there along the way. Harpers Ferry is gorgeous and historic. Bring your Bug Guard you'll need it. And your swim tube.
What a gem! North Central West Virginia is lucky to have this trail system. I can’t wait until the 238 miles Parkersburg to Pittsburgh Trail is complete! It will be fantastic when all of the trails from the North Bend Trail to the trails in Clarksburg, Shinnston, Fairmont, and Morgantown are linked!
Trail was in great condition and it is a beautiful ride.
Bright Morning Bed and Breakfast was a definite highlight of my GAP ride last summer. It’s right on the trail and had a great purpose built bike shelter building. Oh yeah, the breakfast the next morning was fabulous!
Surprised to see this amazing trail that has great bed and breakfasts along it is not noted as part of the Great American Rail Trail. It sure would help demonstrate more GART completion if it was.
Nov 2022 --- Oh this is a fabulous trail! If you have ridden the GAP west from Cumberland, and ever wondered what it would be like to ride up to the Allegheny Mountains from the OTHER SIDE, this is the trail for you. The first 2-3 miles east from Morgantown are flat with nice, new asphalt. Then it becomes nice smooth crushed stone and the climb begins. There are wonderful views of Deckers Creek, with waterfalls and whatnot. Reedsville is more or less the endpoint, with a Dollar General and supermarket to get a drink or food. These are about a half mile off the trail, in town. It would be awesome if the Deckers Creek trail would eventually go all the way to Kingwood, like the old railroad line, but I know that these things take a lot of time, energy and $$$. For now, what is there is an awesome ride! Thank you to all the wonderful people who keep this trail so nice!
you can go about 17.5 miles from elkins wv until the trail ends(building a highway) The trail is paved for about three miles and then is a 2 sided gravel road. seemed a lot more uphill than the elevation gain but was a lot easier coming back. not much scenery.
i was the only person on the trail after about 3 miles.
i would do the other side today but it is 30 degrees
Checked out the Kingwood trailhead last weekend and was pleasantly surprised to find a paved parking area with a nice pavilion and some kid's activity items. Trail is packed with a fine gravel that is decent. We first walked the spur into town near the Municipal Building and then walked the main spur to near the old town of Snider. This section was fine although it is in a somewhat residential area to start. Afterwards we drove to Snider and saw that the trail was finished to there. At the next road crossing to the south it was still unfinished. This is a good start but there's still a long ways to go.
I have done the C&O/GAP trip 4 or 5 times now and loved it every time. everyone is friendly and on the C&O you can go as little or as far as you want per day. Camping areas every 10 miles so you cant get yourself stuck.
I love the GAP but prefer the C&O because its more of a trail vs just spinning away road ridding like always. Much of the C&O feels like you are in the woods away from things but without ever really being far should you need help. its the perfect amount of "adventure" for normal people.
Don't over pack, towns and stops all along the trial. Its flat so its easy to over do it.... but once you hit the PawPaw detour you will question if you really needed the laptop, espresso machine, and mini fridge :)
Test ride your bikes loaded, make sure its still fun to ride and remove the silly stuff you really don't need.
Bring/try and keep 3 water bottles full in case a pump or two is out, and drink more than you think you need to
bring snacks and eat more than you think you need to
ride a bike with around 38c-50c (1.5"-2") tires and do not pump them up to the max pressure listed on the sidewalls. that number on the side of the tire is the maximum and not even close to ideal pressure (google tire pressures for dirt roads on bikes), not a rule, you can totally go with thinner tires, I had no problem with my 32c tires last time but it is far more comfortable with a bit more rubber between you and the trail especially if you don't ride all the time.
Makes me sad when I see people complain about the C&O trail surface, thats why I go.... We have millions of miles of road to ride starting at our doorsteps why make more. Just use the proper tire and pressure for a TRAIL and your golden.
In the last week of October 2022, while heading to N. VA. to attend a hobby show,
I decided to bring along the bike to sample some bike trails along the way.
First stop was the Cardinal Greenway. Next I transited to N.VA via Ohio, Pennsylvania,
W. Va & Maryland. Oct 27 2022, I took My first ride on the "Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
National Historical Park" towpath (here after 'C&O'). By comparison to other trails I've
done, this trail is packed gravel, so a change of wheels/tires was in order. The surface
reminded Me of the Forest Service roads at De Soto NF, so I felt right at home. My start
point was Carderock Recreation Area. The access road actually goes through a tunnel
'under' the canal & towpath! This is milepost 10.5. From there I went west toward mp 16.6,
Swain Lock (lock 21). On the way you will encounter 'the Great Falls' of the Potomac. Stop
and check out the walkway to the Olmsted Island & Falls Overlook. Spectacular, and this is
just 10 miles west of Wasington DC! I then visited the Great Falls Tavern Visitors Center, then
returned to Carderock for lunch. After a break, I headed east getting as far as mp 7 (lock 7),
before returning to Carderock. I was running out of time, & decided to save the rest of the
east leg for another day. [21 miles total, and lots of sightseeing!]
After visiting the 24th "International Paper Modelers' Convention" 2022 (the point of the road trip)
on Sunday, Oct. 30th, I decided to Return to the 'C&O', and complete the eastern leg. Starting at
the Lock 8 parking area, walking the bike down a flight of 'stairs', I started the ride at mp 8.3 in the
Seven Locks area, heading east. Soon encountered the Capital Cresent trail, which crosses the C&O
on an old railway bridge, then runs parallel into the city. Just for comparison, I rode the Cresent, which
is asphalt, into town, and the C&O out. With a brief hour of sightseeing by bike around the National Mall
(because I was there) then back to the start. 3 hrs/22 miles. Will return again, as this was just a recon
ride [the whole C&O is 184.5 miles] I only scratched the surface!
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (a non-profit) and we need your support!
Scan the QR code to get TrailLink on your phone
