Explore the best rated trails in Wheeling, WV. Whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Clearview Park Trail and Three Rivers Heritage Trail. With more than 31 trails covering 4227 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.
This was my daughter's and my first time on the trail, and we will definitely be coming back from now on
So I rode the middle section from the Zoarville Station Bridge (Rt 800) to Rt 416 (near Saltwell Western Store). I could not find the northern end of this trail section by the intersection of Old Zoarville Rd and Boy Scout Rd, so went back and took the more obvious side trail between the Zoarville Station Bridge and Old Zoarville Rd that followed the river. I later read on a trail map of Camp Tuscazoar that I had found the Lower Rail Road Bed. It was ok for the most part. More a trail I would walk my dog on than anything I would want to bike, but it is mostly passable with a few muddy sections I had to walk through. Probably not going to be the highlight of anyone's bike trip as it was a rough ride at times. I was thinking of finding a different way back. It was clear for the most part of tall vegetation (keep reading).
When I got to Dover Dam, the trail/road that went uphill was all ballast but short. At the top is where I met the actual Zoar Valley Trail. I biked south and it was a nice crushed stone access road for the dam that people can easily enjoy on a hybrid bike. The only issue is they filled potholes with ballast (which can be avoided). If you had to bike just to Dover Dam, this portion is recommended.
After turning around at Rt 416, I biked back to the dam. This time I stayed straight on the higher trail (instead of going down the ballast road) which was the route of the Zoar Valley Trail. It started out okay as a dirt trail, but as I kept going the vegetation got worse and out of control. Near the end, I had to pedal a few seconds here and there before tucking my knees up and coasting along the jungle path. However, by then I was at the point of no return and kept going until I popped out on Old Zoarville Rd in a spot I was at earlier when looking for the trail. If it wasn't for a previously missed trail post showing it was a trail for equestrian use, I would not have been able to point it out from the road. That is how bad the vegetation is.
Traveling south, if it is not flooded, I would recommend skipping the "higher" Zoar Valley Trail and taking the connected and more obvious Lower Rail Road Bed trail (take the trail to the right after the bridge, there is a sign indicating it is a trail), even if that means walking your bike up a small section of ballast near the dam. Again, the access road for the dam heading south was in overall good condition (and can even rival some trails). Traveling north, when you get to the dam take the ballast road down to the lower trail (again, if it is not flooded). The Lower Rail Road Bed ends at the path to get to Zoarville Station Bridge (turn left for the bridge).
In my opinion, if they add limestone and clear some vegetation, this middle section of the Zoar Valley Trail would make a nice addition to the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail. It has potential.
We intended to start trail at Schoenbrunn Historic Village. No signs, and were unable to find the start of the trail. Reviewed the traillink map and then headed by road to New Philadelphia. Found the end of the southern trail. Stopped passersby, no one knew what trail we asked about. Eventually resorted to "google maps" and followed a hilly road which turned us right onto a trail that ran along the river for a couple of miles. Again, no signs. There were a few forks in the trail with no signage, so we had to guess as to which way to go. By this time we had no reception. The trail was rough, more suited to mountain bikes with no panniers!! We walked our bikes up a few VERY steep hills and through Camp Tuscazoar to a car parking area where some locals gave us directions back to roads that would take us on to the Ohio & Eerie Towpath. The towpath was a very pleasant 5-6 miles to Fort Lauren. Enjoyed this section very much. The previous 15 miles I would not recommend due to lack of signage, hills and rough terrain, ESPECIALLY if you are travelling with luggage. Only recommend for mountain bikers on day trip who know the area.
I have ridden my fair share of rail trails and the GAP is the best rail trail I've ever experienced. I started in Cumberland and finished in Pittsburgh. I knew what I was getting myself into riding against the Eastern Continental Divide but I got the harder riding done right away. I spent three days on the trail staying overnight in Confluence, Smithton and ending in Pittsburgh taking Amtrak back to my car in Cumberland.
The GAP offers so much variety over its 149 miles from scenic river views, sweeping mountains, ruins of a mining past to human development from a rural to urban scale. Most of the trail is very tightly packed gravel which is in immaculate shape. For the first few miles out of Cumberland and the last twenty or so miles to Pittsburgh the trail is asphalt.
I went on my ride in mid-May right before peak riding season so while many businesses in the trail towns were open many still had limited hours. Riding during peak season will give you even more options to eat, stay and shop. Every town I visited were very bike friendly (I've never seen so many places to lock your bike), with plenty of signage to share the road and locals very happy to see tourism in their communities. Some of the smaller towns like Smithton and Boston are not heavily highlighted but still offer dining and places to stay overnight.
There are many bike fix-it stations located on the GAP. While I expected to see some in the trail towns I was surprised by the abundance of fix-it stations located outside of towns as well. There are bathrooms (a mix of businesses, port a pots and composting toilets) roughly every ten miles. Most trail towns had a store to buy refreshments and I did notice a few restaurants had no issue with filling up a water bottle for any who asked.
My least favorite part of the trail was the last twenty miles from Boston to Pittsburgh. The asphalt in this section is in pretty good shape but in comparison to over 100 miles of smooth gravel it is rough. McKeesport is a sudden shift to an urban environment with a fair amount of on road riding but it is well marked and I had no issues navigating and I felt safe. I had issues navigating in Pittsburgh as I felt the clear marking that helped me navigate McKeesport was non-existent. Also to note is the on-road detour to Point State Park. It is easy to follow if you have a map but it requires riding in a major city for a short distance.
I have ridden many trails, a few that are in the Rail Trail Hall of Fame. The GAP is by far the best and is truly the ride of a lifetime.
This trail is a gem! This trail will be a very important connecting piece between the North Bend Rail Trail that runs from Parkersburg to Clarksburg, WV and the Mon River Trail System in the Morgantown area. Someday, all of these wonderful trails will be connect as part of the planned Parkersburg to Pittsburgh Trail (P2P).
What a gem! The greater Morgantown area is so lucky to have this amazing trail system! It will be so nice when this trail is connected to the North Bend Rail Trail! This trail will be a major part of the 238 mile long Parkersburg to Pittsburgh Trail. I can’t wait until the trails from Clarksburg, Shinnston, Fairmont, and Morgantown are all connected!
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!
A new and still underdevelopment rail trail opened May 2022. The trail is a mix of grass and crushed stone. The trail goes through two train tunnels. The trailhead parking lot is in Claysville, PA and passes behind a General Dollar store where you can pickup items to eat at some benches and picnic tables along the trail. Trailhead needs a restroom.
This is a beautiful trail at all times of the year. Lots of shade and only a few - not so busy road crossings. It's a day trip destination ride from Clevealnd, Pittsburgh or Columbus. As the trail takes you through Leetonia and it's brick streets, you can visualize a once thriving Italian community. St. Patricks church and its' attached grade school (no longer open) still stands proudly as the centerpiece of the town. You'll love this trail!!!!
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!
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