Glade Creek Trail

Glade Creek Trail is a 5.6-mile, one-way walk on an old narrow-gauge railroad grade, following Glade Creek between the lower access near the New River and the upper trailhead. It is point to point, not a 5.6-mile loop or round trip. Allow about 2½ hours for the walk itself, then arrange a ride between the ends; walking back doubles the distance. I’d choose it for a long, unhurried stretch beside moving water rather than a quick waterfall stop. Without a pickup, the footbridge about 3 miles from the New River makes a straightforward 6-mile out-and-back.

The rail grade climbs gently, but the path below the footbridge can be narrow and rocky, with branches across the tread. That uneven footing is the main effort; the reward is staying close to the creek. Small cascades, pools and swimming holes break up the wooded walk, and you can often step down to the water. Take the rougher sections slowly, especially if you are hiking with children. Don’t drink from the stream: it may contain harmful bacteria or parasites.

A footbridge crosses Glade Creek about 3 miles up from the New River, a useful halfway point and natural place to turn around. The route beyond it is wider and better maintained, then continues toward the upper trailhead and passes beneath I-64. Kates Falls is a separate, steep 0.2-mile spur from Glade Creek Trail, rated strenuous; it is not the end of the 5.6-mile route. Count the approach to that spur and the return when you plan your day.

The easy grade follows an abandoned narrow-gauge railroad through the gorge. The rail corridor once served remote coal mines, so the trail is using the same practical line that carried people and supplies along the creek. It is a close-up water walk, with the stream and its little falls as the main draw. The route’s history is built into its shape: instead of climbing the slopes, it keeps to the old rail bed beside the water.

The lower trailhead is at the end of Glade Creek Road, reached from WV 41 near Prince by about 7 miles of gravel. The upper access uses an unmarked gravel road approached from WV 9; it has steep terrain and tight switchbacks, and a high-clearance 4WD vehicle is recommended. Arrange your pickup before starting the one-way walk, and use the trailhead directions rather than the trail’s midpoint map pin. There is no drinking water at the trailheads. Dogs are allowed on park trails but must stay on a physical leash no longer than 6 feet.