North Bend Rail-Trail

The North Bend Rail Trail is a multiuse recreational trail operated by the West Virginia State Park system. The 72 mile trail was formerly the main line of the B&O (later CSX) railway. The NBRT covers 72 miles from near I-77 outside Parkersburg WV in Wood County to Wolf Summit WV in Harrison County. It is part of the 5,500 mile coast-to-coast American Discovery Trail. The NBRT passes through 10 tunnels and crosses 38 bridges. Easily accessible from north/south interstates 77 and 79, the trail roughly parallels US Route 50 east and west. Although there are many trails that are paved, the North Bend Rail Trail remains just as it was intended to be: a crushed-limestone trail. This gives users a unique hike, bicycle outing or horseback ride in the great outdoors. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail. Areas in some towns are blacktopped, but once you get out of town, you experience the country path much as it was when the steam engines roared through.