West Virginia · National Park & Preserve trail

Keeneys Creek Rail Trail

in West Virginia

Labeled (3) on the Nuttallburg Area Trails map Length 3.3 miles/5.31 km (One-way) Difficulty Easy Trail type Hiking and biking Trail Description This former rail line once connected the mines and communities up Keeneys Creek to Nuttallburg and the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway mainline. Enjoy a leisurely stroll or bike ride on this wide trail that criss-crosses the rugged mountain landscape at a 4% grade. Here it is easy to see how the rugged terrain was a great challenge to those who constructed this railroad line over 100 years ago.

This trail crosses under the conveyor, plus several trestle bridges offer spectacular views of scenic mountain streams, like Short Creek. Trail connections can be made from this trail to the Conveyor Trail and Town Loop Connector Trail. Note Keeneys Creek Rail Trail is currently closed due to a dangerous washout.

Please check back for updates. Lansing-Edmond Road and Keeneys Creek Road are both very small, curvy roads, including some single lane sections. Use caution while driving and be prepared to cooperate with other drivers; this may include reversing!

States: West Virginia
Trail type: National Park & Preserve trail
Centroid nearest city: Greensboro, NC · 153 mi · ~4 hr drive
Centroid coords: 38.0467°, -81.0324°

About New River Gorge National Park & Preserve

National Park & Preserve

This trail is inside New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, a national park & preserve managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Conditions, road status, trail closures, and reservation requirements are published on the park's NPS page — check it before driving in, especially in winter or during major weather events.

Official NPS trail page: https://www.nps.gov/places/keeneys-creek-rail-trail.htm

Park homepage: https://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm

Plan your hike

Practical notes

Maps + permits: long-distance trails like this often require permits for through-hiking, backcountry camping, or specific sections (especially in National Parks). Check with the maintaining organisation listed above and the relevant land manager before booking travel.

Water + supplies: water sources vary seasonally on most U.S. trails. Carry a filter and consult current trail-condition reports — through-hiker journals (PCT-L, AT Reddit, etc.) and the maintaining organisation publish regular updates.

When to go: hiking seasons vary widely with elevation, latitude, and snowpack. Through-hikers traditionally start the AT in March-April (Springer northbound) and the PCT in late April (Campo northbound). High-elevation western trails (CDT, JMT, Wonderland) generally aren't passable until July.

If you've hiked Keeneys Creek Rail Trail and have current notes (water sources, trail closures, permit changes), tell us at /contact — we update pages as we learn.