This tour will begin at 9:00am EST at the Elk River Touring Center and Inn, Rt. 219, Slatyfork, West Virginia, 304-572-3771. After loading up we will drive up to the Greenbrier Trail in Monongahela National Forest where we will begin our ride. You will need to spend the night before in Slatyfork.

We meet at Elk River Touring Center where our friends Gil and Mary run a combination backcountry lodge and bike shop. We shuttle through the mountains and valleys of central West Virginia to the tiny town of Glady. Here we start our family adventure at the top of the Greenbrier River Rail Trail. For the next four days we descend along this converted rail line which has a gentle 1% grade and which features some of the most spectacular scenery in the state. Today we warm up on the rail trail for a few miles, passing farms and pastures. After about five miles, we enter the Monongahela National Forest where the trail offers great views of the broad valley carved by the Greenbrier River. We arrive at our camp along the river, where we'll set up and have lunch. After lunch while the kids are entertained in camp, additional riding is available on the nearby network of forest roads and singletrack.
TOTAL MILEAGE - 8 miles, additional 10 mile option

We continue our journey along the Greenbrier Rail Trail as it descends through the secluded mountains of West Virginia. We pass through the locations of several former villages which mark when this area was an active logging center. This river valley is now protected by the National Forest and little remains of former towns called Beulah, Wildell and May. The entire Greenbrier River Rail Trail is a double track with a consistent downhill grade that parallels the river all day. After about eight miles of riding today we camp along the Greenbrier River by lunch time. We have some fun options for the group after lunch, including more riding or shuttling up to the nearby Gaudineer Scenic Area which has a preserve of old growth hemlock and oaks. Plus, there are great swimming opportunities available along the Greenbrier.
TOTAL MILEAGE - 8 miles, additional 12 mile option

After two fun days of riding, we switch gears and head to the historical town of Cass. The entire town is a state park, a restored logging town from the late 1800's. Today's highlight is riding to the top of Bald Knob on the Shay - one of the finest remaining steam locomotives in the world. We ride the train from the valley all the way up to the top of Bald Knob, which is the second highest point in West Virginia, and has a climate and plant population similar to Canada. The Shay ride climbs nearly 2,000 feet from the valley floor and takes about five hours. The steam-powered Shay ride is a truly memorable experience. The train traverses the incredibly steep mountainside along switchbacks and views from the top are spectacular. After the train ride, we stay in the town of Cass at a renovated company home right off of Main Street.
TOTAL MILEAGE - No biking, train rides

Today we are back on our bikes. We ride out of Cass along the Greenbrier Rail Trail and get more views of the countryside, farms and mountains of this lovely part of West Virginia. The trail follows the twisting river as we descend slowly along double track through mature forests of oak, maple and hemlock. We stop after 10 miles in the tiny town of Clover Lick, where a restored train station will be our lunch stop. After lunch we shuttle back to Elk River.
TOTAL MILEAGE - 10 miles

We will return to Elk River Touring in Slatyfork between 2:00-3:00 pm on the last day.

Riding Surface: Mostly well packed gravel.
Technical Difficulty: Easy.
Physical Difficulty: Most riding is easy and slightly downhill. Optional riding from camp includes climbing and descending on intermediate difficulty trails and forest roads.
Altitude: 2,500 - 3,000 feet.

Please Note: Itineraries are subject to change due to weather, road conditions, rider safety, and other factors which may affect the logistics of the adventure.

Jun 14 - Jun 17, 2011
Jun 21 - Jun 24, 2011
Jun 28 - Jul 01, 2011
Jul 05 - Jul 08, 2011
Jul 12 - Jul 15, 2011

Family
4 Days
West Virginia
Camping
Introductory
$985 ($885 under 14)
Start/End: Slatyfork, WV