North Bend Rail Trail — Cairo, WV to Ellenboro, WV

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North Bend Rail Trail Trail 17 to 33-Mile Bike Ride

Come out for a ride! This is part of a trail ride series sponsored by the Ohio River Trail Council (ORTC) intended to bring awareness to the wonderful trails in our quad-state region (Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia). All cyclists are welcome for this rails-to-trails, moderate-paced ride!

Join us, as we visit the the North Bend Rail Trail. The ride departs from the Cairo, WV Trailhead and we ride esst to Ellenboro, WV. The trail is of moderate difficulty with rolling hills and provides a total of 17-miles of scenic biking. An optional longer ride can be accomplished by continuine on to Toll Gate, WV for an additional 16-mile roundtrip. Along the trail, you can expect to see and enjoy a variety of wildlife: whitetail deer, leatherback snapping turtles, wild turkeys, beavers, great blue herons, squirrels, red-tailed hawks, song birds, and other critters too numerous to mention.

Trailhead

Cairo Trailhead - Cairo Town Square, 297 Main Street, Cairo, WV 26337

GPS: 39.208769, -81.156476

Directions: Exit Rt. 50 onto Rt. 31 and go 4 miles to town; Rt. 31 crosses the trail and parking is available on the blacktop in town square, or on the gravel lot by the old Bank at Cairo.

Features and Points of Interest:

The North Bend Rail Trail is a multi-use recreational trail operated by West Virginia State Parks. Formerly an abandoned spur of the CSX system, the trail is part of the 5,500 mile coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail. Stretching 72 miles from I-77 near Parkersburg in Wood County to Wolf Summit in Harrison County, this scenic trail passes through 13 tunnels and crosses 36 bridges. Easily accessible from north/south Interstates 77 and 79, the trail nearly parallels US Route 50 east and west.

The trail passes through wild and natural areas, farmland and a variety of small rural communities that grew up along its length. The many points of interest and history include the Old Stone House and the former Stage Coach Inn at Pennsboro, a marble factory, hand-blown glass factories, outlet stores, arts and craft markets, fairs and festivals, sites of train robberies and legends of tunnel ghosts. The trail also passes numerous state, county and local parks.

In the tumultuous years before the Civil War and the creation of the state of West Virginia, the former rail corridor was constructed by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad between 1853 and 1857. The trail boasts 13 remaining tunnels constructed by the railroad. The number 10 tunnel west of Ellenboro, for example, is 337 feet long and is a "raw" or natural tunnel which is bored through solid rock.

Important Notice:

Trail users are encouraged to wear blaze orange or brightly colored outerwear during hunting seasons in West Virginia. The North Bend Rail Trail is for hiking, biking and horseback riding only. The trail right-of-way passes through private property where hunting activity may occur. Hunting is not allowed on or from the North Bend Rail Trail. For hunting regulations and seasons click here.

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