2025
West Virginia: Almost Heaven with Premier Rail Trails (May 17-23, 2025) $1949 per person/double occupancy
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Come join us on the premier rail trails throughout the State of West Virginia.
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See why John Denver's song with the lyrics, "Almost Heaven, West Virginia" is still true today.
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Enjoy bicycling on the most talked about trails including the North Bend Rail Trail, the Allegheny Highlands Trail, the Sheepskin & Marion Trails, and the Decker Creek and Carperton Trails.
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All the trails are on crushed stone, gravel or crushed limestone. The trail is normally in very good shape for all bikes with the North Bend trail having larger crushed stone and the other trails having crushed limestone, dirt and pea gravel. The State of West Virginia recommends e-bikes, hybrid bikes, mountain bikes or bicycles with wider tires.
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Enjoy seeing the Appalachian terrain while riding on the old flat trailheads that make up the trails.
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Unpack only one time. We are staying at the same hotel for the entire trip.
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♫ Almost Heaven, West Virginia ♫ Come join us!
Day 1, Saturday
Welcome Dinner
Spend time exploring Clarksburg and nearby Morgantown and the University of West Virginia area. Clarksburg, West Virginia, is a small city lin the north-central part of the state. Known for its rich history, Clarksburg was founded in 1785 and played a significant role in the early settlement of the region. The city has a population of around 16,000 residents. The area is characterized by its picturesque landscape, with rolling hills and lush greenery typical of the Appalachian region. Clarksburg is also home to several historic sites and cultural attractions, such as the Waldomore Mansion and the Clarksburg History Museum. The city hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, celebrating its heritage and community spirit. Overall, Clarksburg combines small-town charm with a strong sense of community and a rich historical background. Check into the hotel and later join the group at 4:00pm at the hotel for the welcome meeting and then dinner with friends - new and old- to begin your spectacular bicycling vacation.
Dinner:
Oliverio's Ristorante
- #1 Ranked Italian Restaurant by TripAdvisor -
Morgantown, West Virginia
Entrée Choices include:
- Stuffed Shrimp & Risotto - Black Tiger Shrimp, Seafood Imperial, Lemon Cream Sauce, Risotto
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Pasta & Meatballs - Angel Hair, Spaghetti, or Rigatoni, Meat Sauce, or Marinara
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Grilled Salmon - Atlantic Salmon, Teriyaki Glaze, Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetable
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Chicken Parmigiana - Breaded & Pan Seared, Italian Cheeses, Pasta, Meat Sauce
- Pizza, Sonny's Original - Homemade Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Choice of Toppings
Lodging:
Hampton Inn Bridgeport/Clarksburg
Bridgeport, West Virginia
(Stay at the same hotel for the entire bicycle tour. Just unpack one time!)
- Internet
- Business Center
- HD TVs
- Swimming Pool
- Fitness Center
Day 2, Sunday
North Bend Rail Trail (Happy Valley to Bill Hinton Memorial Park)
We begin our journey on the North Bend Rail Trail that stretches 72 miles across the state of West Virginia. Since this is a rail trail, we can view the beauty and hills all around while staying on relatively level old railbed. As we bicycle in north-central western West Virginia on the North Bend Rail Trail, riding from Happy Valley in Parkersburg to Bill Hinton Memorial Park in Ellenboro, we will get assimilated to the clean air and surrounding beauty of West Virginia. This trail features 36 bridges, 10 tunnels and is considered part of the 5,500 mile American Discovery Trail, which spans the length of the United States. This trail has become known for its beautiful views of the Appalachians and is known for its perfectly shaded tree canopies on this beautiful bike path with wilderness all around.
Breakfast provided by the hotel each morning.
Bicycling Route: North Bend Rail Trail. 0 miles, staying at the hotel; or 32 miles riding on the North Bend Rail Trail from the trailhead at the start of the trail to Bill Hinton Memorial Park in Ellenboro. [The route has a gentle grade of 3% on a rail trail.]
Dinner:
Plaza Maya
- The Top Visited Mexican Restaurant by Locals -
Clarksburg, West Virginia
Entrée Choices include:
- Fish Tacos - Seared with rice, lettuce, green tomatillo sauce, pico de Gallo and sour cream
- Burritos - Delicious check and bean or beef and bean burrito each toped with lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream.
- Fajitas - Steak, Chicken, Shrimp or Vegetarian marinated in Los Mariachis secret recipe served on a bed of tomatoes, onions and peppers. Served with Mexican rice, beans, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, pico de Gallo and tortillas.
Day 3, Monday
North Bend Rail Trail (Bill Hinton Memorial Park to Salem Old Train Station & Caboose)
We start our ride today, where we stopped yesterday, continuing on the North Bend Rail Trail. We start at the small town of Ellenboro West Virginia, United States. When we arrive in town we will increase the population by 10%, since their population was 222 at the 2020 census. Also, it may be the 2nd smallest town that has a McDonalds. The smallest town with a McDonalds is Garrison, Minnesota with a population of 195 people. Thought the town is small it is at the junction of U.S. Route 50 and West Virginia Route 16. The North Bend Rail Trail enters the town on the west with a large uniquely "paved" bridge. Elevation is 810 ft (247 m). The town was named for Ellen Mariah Williamson, the eldest daughter of the family that granted a right of way for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to build their line through the town. We bicycle all the way to the Salem Old Train Station depot that was constructed in 1912 and served on the transcontinental railway, with its last passing train in 1985. At its high-point 12 trains passed by the depot each day. The station has been preserved and restored, and now serves as the town's visitor center and our terminus for the ride.
Breakfast provided by the hotel each morning
Bicycling Route: North Bend Rail Trail. 0 miles, staying at the hotel; 31 miles, riding directly from Bill Hinton Memorial Park to the Salem Old Train Station & Caboose. [The route has a gentle grade of 3% on a rail trail.]
Dinner:
On your own
Day 4, Tuesday
Free Day or Allegheny Highlands Trail (Highland Park to Hendricks Trailhead & Park)
Enjoy a Free Day or ride the Allegheny Highlands Trail, following the original route of the West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway, built by Henty Gassaway Davis in 1884. The ride includes 26 continuous miles from the Railroad Depot in Elkins to Hendricks, with an additional 5 miles in Tucker County near Davis. This trail is exceptionally scenic trail provides panoramic views of the West Virginia countryside, as it passes through a mountainous region with small towns and rural farmland all by way of bike path. We will also pass under the Pearcy Bridge system construction project, which closed the highway for almost three years through 2023. We will stay down below on the trail with the new bridge system hovering over us when we make our turn to Hendricks.
Breakfast provided by the hotel each morning
Bicycling Route: Allegheny Highlands Trail. 0 miles, staying at the hotel; or 24 miles, riding directly from Elkins to Hendricks. [The route is basically flat on a rail trail.]
Day 5, Wednesday
Sheepskin/Marion Rail Trails (Point Marion Park to Pricketts Fort State Park)
Today we ride on the part of the Marion County Trail System on the Sheepskin Trail. The Marion County Trail – better known by the locals as MCTrail – runs along Prickett’s Creek through Marion County. This route has wonderful scenery as it runs adjacent to the Monongahela River. The trail is beautiful, mostly shaded, quiet and peaceful. Be sure to bring your camera. We end our ride today at Pricketts Fort State Park that features a reconstruction of the original Prickett's Fort, which served as a place of refuge during colonial times. This historical park commemorates late 18th-century life on the Virginia frontier; though, today the park features running water!
Breakfast provided by the hotel each morning.
Bicycling Route: Sheepskin/Marion Rail Trails. 0 miles, staying at the hotel; or 31 miles, riding from Point Marion Park to Pricketts Fort State Park [The route is is basically flat on a rail trail.]
Dinner:
On your own
Day 6, Thursday
Deckers Creek/Carperton Rail Trails (Reedsville to JFK Memorial Park)
We begin our ride in Reedsville, West Virginia, riding to the end of the trail about 1 mile away and then doubling-back on the trail and riding to Morgantown. When we start on the trail we will ride in the same area that the first female winner of the New York Marathon was born. We will be riding on the Deckers Creek trail until we arrive in Morgantown,the home of West Virginia University. It is also the inspiration for a Joni Mitchell's song "Morning in Morgantown" and the birthplace of Don Knotts. In addition, it is also known for its extensive rail trail system along the Monongahela River, which we will join. The river is unique as it is one of the few rivers in the Untied States that flows north. The Deckers Creek Trail is the gem of the system, beginning at the Monongahela River and Deckers Creek in downtown Morgantown. We will join the Caperton Trail in the park and continue onto our final destination at JFK Memorial Park. The water flows noisily through a series of dramatic rapids and waterfalls. We may see see highly experienced kayakers paddle Deckers Creek, which has some Class VI rapids and rock climbers scaling the cliffs.
Breakfast provided by the hotel each morning.
Bicycling Route: Deckers Creek/Carperton Rail Trails. 0 miles, staying at the hotel; or 23 miles, riding from Reedsville to Morgantown's JFK Memorial Park. [The route is basically flat on a rail trail.]
Dinner:
Brickside Bar & Grille
- Most awarded restaurant in Bridgeport -
Bridgeport, West Virginia
Entrée Choices include:
- Slow cooked Ribs
- Made to order Pizza
- Healthy Wraps - Italian, Turkey Club, Caesar or Buffalo Chicken
- Brickside Burgers - Build your own burger
- Homemade Soups & Fresh Salad
Day 7, Friday
Bicycle one last time on your own before departing for home.
Breakfast provided by hotel each morning
Please note all trip information is based on previous trips and/or contracted lodging and restaurants and is subject to change based on availability or specific trip needs.
Riding difficulty and highlighted information:
- Riders who are comfortable riding at least 10 miles per hour should have an enjoyable trip. The routes are 99% on bike paths. Please see the daily routes descriptions for additional information. Of course, if a rider is tired or does not feel like riding, the SAG vehicle will transport the rider to the end of the ride. All riders may ride at their own pace, slow or fast or anything in-between. The State of West Virginia recommends wide tires for the trails. Also, we would recommend having a bright light for the tunnels.
Arriving by Automobile:
- Drive to the starting hotel: Hampton Inn Bridgeport/Clarksburg, 1515 Johnson Avenue, Bridgeport, WV 26330
Arriving by Plane:
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Fly into Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (PIT) and rent a car for the 1 hr, 41 minute drive to the hotel.
Deposit:
- $200 to reserve your spot and the remainder due 45 days before the trip start.
What is Included:
- Hotel lodging
- Ride packets, including maps & cue sheets (directions)
- GPS & Google Maps Downloadable Routes
- Fully sagged, including ride leaders, luggage transport, SAG vehicle transportation and rider assistance
- Breakfast each morning
- Dinner with the group three evenings (see above)
- Great riding, scenery, fun and enjoyment!
Bicycles:
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Most participants bring their own bicycles
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To ship your bike, we would suggest using shipbikes.com or bikeflight.com for shipping. To ship your bike to the hotel: Hampton Inn Bridgeport/Clarksburg, 1515 Johnson Avenue, Bridgeport, WV 26330
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If you fly, many major airlines including now waive the oversize fee for bicycles (sporting equipment) and just the standard luggage fee applies. Please contact your airline for all the details.
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Bike Rental: Bikes are available for rent in the Morgantown area. We suggest conducting a Google search to find the best place to accommodate your needs.
Weather near the biking area at the time of trip:
- Average High: 73°
Vacation Bicycling, LLC
1860 Barnett Shoals Rd, Ste 103-514
Athens, GA 30605
Athens, GA 30605