Information
Landmark: West Fork River TrailCity: Clarksburg
Country: USA West Virginia
Continent: North America
West Fork River Trail, Clarksburg, USA West Virginia, North America
Overview
In north-central West Virginia, the West Fork River Trail meanders beside the river’s gentle bends from Fairmont to Shinnston, offering quiet views of water glinting through the trees.The trail winds for roughly 16 miles along the old Baltimore & Ohio Railroad bed, passing quiet fields, shaded woods, and little riverside towns where you might catch the smell of fresh bread from a corner bakery.Here, the low hum of an old mill drifts into the gentle rustle of leaves-a stretch steeped in local history, touched with understated beauty, and perfect for a slow afternoon walk.Just outside Fairmont in Marion County, the trail starts and winds south along the West Fork River, where the water slips past mossy rocks.For most of the way, the trail traces the river’s easy bends, at times coming so close you can hear the water lapping at the bank.It’s pure Appalachia-soft, rolling hills, pockets of sycamores and willows, and meadows veiled in morning mist that drift toward shadowed ridges.Come spring, violets, daisies, and trout lilies dot the path’s edge, and by fall, the hardwoods flare into rich gold and burnished rust.The gravel path stretches broad and smooth underfoot, perfect for cycling, jogging, horseback rides, or a slow walk while listening to the crunch of stones.The gentle slope makes it easy for everyone to enjoy, from kids chasing butterflies to grandparents strolling at a relaxed pace.Small bridges span still tributaries, and here and there along the old rail bed you can spot the leaning remains of telegraph poles beside moss-covered stone culverts-echoes of the days when trains rumbled through the valley with loads of coal and fresh-cut timber.In the mid-1800s, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad rolled into the West Fork River Valley, tying together its small factory towns and running steel tracks toward the busier hubs of Fairmont and Clarksburg.For decades, locomotives rumbled down these tracks, hauling freight that kept the region’s mines busy and its factories humming.As rail service dwindled in the late 20th century, locals stepped in, turning the quiet, overgrown corridor into a place for biking and afternoon walks.Working with local and state partners, crews turned the old rail line into the West Fork River Trail, now woven into West Virginia’s growing network of rail-trails that protect its transportation history while opening miles of shaded paths to hikers and cyclists.Along parts of the old right-of-way, you can still spot weathered stone abutments, sturdy trestles, and worn mile markers, each offering a brief glimpse of the railroad’s careful craftsmanship.Along the trail, you’ll wander through a handful of small towns, each with a café or porch swing that gives the path its warm, lived‑in feel.Fairmont Trailhead sits near the northern end, where you can start your walk just steps from the spot where the West Fork meets the Tygart Valley River in a wide, slow swirl before joining the Monongahela.At the trailhead, you’ll spot a handful of benches, a weathered kiosk with maps, and a small patch of gravel for parking.In Worthington and Monongah, once bustling coal towns, you’ll still find traces of their industrial past-faded brick storefronts, rust-streaked rail sidings, and quiet river crossings that have stood for decades.From the Monongah Bridge, the river valley stretches wide beneath you, a sweep of green and silver you won’t forget.Shinnston Terminus: At the trail’s southern tip, it spills out near downtown into a calm stretch where a pocket park, shaded by a couple of tall maples, invites both cyclists and walkers.From here, you can wander into cozy shops and bustling cafés, or head farther out along quiet country roads that curve past hedgerows.Wooden benches, a few picnic tables, and shady spots invite you to stop for a moment and take in the view, maybe with the scent of pine drifting through the air.Wildlife thrives here-deer wander through the fields, nibbling at clover, while herons skim low over the water’s surface.At dawn, mist curls up from the river, muffling the faint hum of far-off cars and wrapping the scene in a stillness that seems to hold time itself.For many, the West Fork River Trail isn’t just about getting outside-it’s a glimpse into the valley’s quiet heartbeat, where water slides past mossy stones and time feels slow.Cyclists often talk about the calm that settles in as they pedal beside the river, its surface glinting softly in the afternoon light.As they wander, walkers see the path shift from bright sun to cool shade, each bend opening onto rippling water, a quiet stand of trees, and the faint memory of train whistles that faded years ago.The trail’s surface is made of tightly packed crushed limestone, and while it’s kept in great shape, it still carries a rustic charm, like the warm dust that lingers on your shoes.When the days turn warm, the air drifts past with a soft hint of honeysuckle and the damp, green smell of river moss.In winter, the frozen river throws pale light across the bare sycamore trunks, making the whole stretch shimmer with a hushed, silvery glow.Local towns work hand in hand with state recreation officials to keep the trail in shape, focusing on protecting its wildlife and drawing neighbors together, whether it’s for a cleanup day or a summer hike.Volunteer crews keep the path in shape, hauling away fallen branches and setting up regular cleanup days.The corridor doubles as a migration path, carrying small mammals, songbirds, and shimmering fish that belong to the West Fork ecosystem.In the past few years, the trail’s turned into a modest yet important part of regional tourism, bringing in hikers and cyclists from nearby towns and helping breathe new life into the downtowns of Fairmont and Shinnston, where café windows glow warm in the evening.The West Fork River Trail carries the quiet resilience of the region, like footsteps crunching on frost-hardened gravel.Once buzzing with trade and clattering carts, the street has softened into a space for quiet thoughts and slow, steady footsteps.The old bridges and embankments still trace the crisp lines of the railroad era, yet now they border a scene nature has claimed-green, rolling, and unmistakably West Virginian, with river mist curling in the morning air.If you’re roaming the north-central part of the state, this trail gives you a rare mix of history, scenery, and quiet-a slow walk along the valley’s old industrial spine with nothing but the river’s murmur and the wind stirring the leaves.
