The Rails to Trails Conservancy named the Meadow River Rail Trail its Trail of the Month for March 2026 — national recognition for a 24-mile trail in Fayette and Greenbrier counties that has been quietly building a reputation since its first phase opened in October 2023. The trail runs along a former CSX spur line from 1907, following the Meadow River between Nallen and Rainelle, tucked between New River Gorge National Park to the south and Summersville Lake State Park to the north.
CONTENT SUMMARY
The Meadow River Rail Trail sits in a geographical sweet spot that hasn’t been fully leveraged yet. Positioned between two major public lands anchors and running through country that sees relatively little recreational traffic, it gives hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers access to a stretch of southern West Virginia that most visitors simply drive through. The trail’s surface is compacted stone, the grade follows the old rail corridor (gradual and consistent), and the river provides a consistent visual and acoustic companion for most of the route.
Phase one of the trail currently runs about 9 miles from the Nallen Trailhead south into Greenbrier County. Construction is ongoing to extend the trail further through Rainelle, with the ultimate goal of completing the full 24-mile corridor. The Fayette and Greenbrier County Commissions own the corridor and have committed to non-motorized trail use. The Rails to Trails Conservancy’s Trail of the Month designation is likely to bring attention from outside the region to a trail that has flown under the radar — including its link to the Meadow River Valley Association and Adventure Meadow River, the nonprofit working on outdoor access across that watershed.
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