Bikepacking the Greenbrier River Trail

[@southernebiking]

Wife and I rode the Greenbrier this summer. Had a bobcat crossed about 5 feet in front of me. Also ran across the lot of evidence of a bear a bit south of marlinton. Overall, one of our favorite.

[@WitchHatVR2]

went to seebert and got ice cream from hack horners corner every day! it was so fun but the stuff is expensive!

[@mattcardarelli]

Great video, great music. Been all over this country,West Virginia is easily one of the most beautiful states. There’s magic in those woods

[@KentuckyCycling]

Thanks for the kudos. They call WV wild and wonderful for a reason!

[@castle228]

Another trail I need to add to my list of destinations. Thanks for sharing!

[@DeniseLookingOut]

Awesome trip Nathan. What a great group! The trail reminds me of the C&O. Love those tunnels! More trails need hiker/biker sites like these.

[@KentuckyCycling]

Thanks, Denise!

[@theblueblazebeyond4766]

The GRT - right in my backyard. We think that this is a bright gem in our crown and it is greatly loved by so many! Glad you enjoyed the time here in the Greenbrier Valley and hope you will get to return and ride it again!

[@KentuckyCycling]

You've got a right to be proud. Beautiful trail with great resources for bikepackers.

[@RobParker8]

Hey Nathan, it’s Rob from PNW Bikepacking. Been enjoying some of your clips this rainy Sunday afternoon in Portland Oregon. Keep up the good work!

[@KentuckyCycling]

Thanks!

[@SmuggiNOLA]

Such an excellent video!! Love how informative you made it! It's so great to see a solid idea of a trail you're looking at doing!

[@philsmith2346]

Really glad you did a video on this trail. I've hiked a lot of it, and loved it everytime I've been on it. I live within a stones throw of the North Bend Rail Trail State Park and while I'm partial to that Trail, I have the greatest love for the Greenbrier. Have a fantastic year, and "See you on the Trail. "

[@KentuckyCycling]

It's a great trail!

[@philsmith2346]

@@KentuckyCycling The practice of using crushed limestone has worked so exceptionally well on the Greenbrier and North Bend Rail Trails, and making them State Parks has been a real blessing. Now the North Bend Trail is 4 miles east and 4 miles west of completion. CSX is hard balling us aficionados by asking too much for the unused mileage. Oh well...uhm, correct me if I'm wrong here...Happy New Year, ever!

[@KentuckyCycling]

@@philsmith2346 In my experience, crushed limestone provides the best riding experience. I haven't ridden the North Bend Trail, but will have to check it out. I know from some local trail projects, here in KY, that trying to move forward with CSX can be painfully slow.

[@philsmith2346]

@@KentuckyCycling If it helps, the western terminus is 4 miles east of Parkersburg, along West Virginia Rte. 48, and the eastern terminus is located west

[@philsmith2346]

...4 miles west of Clarksburg in the thriving metropolis of Wolf Summit along US 50. Clarksburg is especially good for their pepperoni rolls. I live a couple of hundred yards from the North Bend Rail Trail State Park at milespost #3, so if I may be of assistance, I'll try. Later this year, please.

[@mountainsnmoore256]

Another nice video of what looked like another great trip. Enjoyed it.

[@davidcrowson4745]

Thank you for sharing these videos i have enjoyed them I think I stumbled across your channel while searching for information on the surly bars and I think I watched about 10 of you adventures yesterday. Your videos are done very well and hopefully I might be able to try some of those trips. Thanks again and press on in the good work sir 👍

[@KentuckyCycling]

Thanks for the kudos!

[@abrin5508]

This is a great video of the trail and captures pretty well what its like to ride it. I skipped the camping part to go light renting a cabin around the middle to do an up and down and then down and up over a couple of days (you could also get something at Marlinton to spread it over 3 days). And yes there are bears for sure. Take bear spray for peace of mind.

[@billysbikesbrews7183]

Great Video.. So much to love about this trail.. It exceeded my expectation also.. I stayed in Marlinton.. I visited Jack Horner's.. fun place.. I look forward to going back.. more sooner than later..

[@goldenrule-jk3fq]

Nice video Nathan !! I ride here annually !! Love the GRT and WV

[@TapioBlue]

Awesome route, and fantastic video.

[@tomfrohlich123]

Thank you for a great video.. always looking for trips

[@jakeatterson2641]

Great video!! I hope to do this Trail soon but have never really camped in bear country… any suggestions? Thanks

[@KentuckyCycling]

@@jakeatterson2641 The main thing is to store your food apart from where you camp, in a “bear bag”. Some people carry bear spray. Personally, I’d be excited to see one, from a distance. If it came towards me at all, I’d talk loud and just tell it to go away. They have bear proof trash cans there and you want to make sure to use those.

[@richone231]

Nicely done

[@THEBLACKANARCHIST]

Much appreciated 👍

[@southerntexashomestead5028]

Beautiful trail.

[@Johann-4354]

Nice trail. Thanks.

[@spaceghost8995]

Looks great but sadly it's only 78 miles. I would have to make it a round trip I suppose. It's 590 miles just for me to drive to the Cass at the north end.

[@j.foobar1764]

Surprisingly few videos about riding this trail and much of what is out there is very old so nice to see a newer, more thorough video made. Thanks for making this. If my math is correct, seems like someone do this in three days and spend the night in Marlinton (non-camping) each night and have three ~50 days. Does that sound about right?

[@TheBlindAcorn]

I’ve watched several of your videos, dumb question what do you carry to freshen up with?

[@KentuckyCycling]

That's not a dumb question. Personally, I ended buying a small cosmetic bag (see amzn.to/3gV14Xz) with whatever I deem to be essential (e.g. toothbrush, a small fold-up travel brush, soap, shampoo, etc.). I also carry a small microfiber towel, if we think we'll have access to water. On occasion, I've carried some body wipes, if we think access to water will be limited. Hope that helps!

[@dimitriosfotopoulos3689]

Nice video Nathan, thank you for sharing. I have a follow up question. I am new to RidewithGPS, and at 0:41 in the video, I see your route-map and many points of interest such as campsites and restrooms showing, but I can't seem to call them up. How do you get them to show?

[@KentuckyCycling]

I put together a Ride With GPS for the purposes of our trip, but it was far from a complete list of resources. The best resource to use for planning purposes is the map from WV state parks, which I included a link to in the KZbin description.

[@rney100]

Your backpacking routes are great! Are you interested to take in a rider from NC to join you on trips?

[@KentuckyCycling]

Hi Richard, In answer to your question, it depends on the trip. Most of my adventures are with close friends and people I've ridden with for a while. But, my kids are now out of the house so I'm trying to widen my circle so I've started participating in and even leading some trips with a facebook group called Central Kentucky Bikepackers where I'm riding with new folks. We have had a few out of Kentucky folks join rides that way so you might want to check that out.

[@rney100]

@@KentuckyCycling sounds great. Will be doing the New River trail soon. Thanks for the video on that one.

[@Jaysus145]

Oh, one more question... how easy would it be to filter water from the river during most of the ride? I imagine that there is somewhat easy river access fairly often. I know there is potable water along the trail, I was just curious about options ;)

[@KentuckyCycling]

Yes, that is certainly an option. Though the ease of access varies depending on where you are on the trail (e.g. the bank is wooded and/or steep). And the trail is not always right on the river.

[@michaelanstead6116]

Planning to ride Greenbriar soon. Would a flat bar road bike with 28 mm tires be good to ride the trail or do you need wider tires and a true gravel bike?

[@KentuckyCycling]

Could you do it with a road bike with 28 mm tires? Yes. Would I see it as ideal? No. I'd suggest at least 35 mm tires, but my personal preference would be to go even wider.

[@michaelanstead6116]

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it. One other question. We ride mountain and road regularly and usually do a road century ride a few times a year. We generally average about 15-16 mph on these rides.We are planning to start early in Cass and ride to the South end in one day. Would it be reasonable to expect to average 12-13 mph on this trail if we average 16 mph on a road ride so we could do the ride in one day with some time to enjoy the scenery a bit.

[@KentuckyCycling]

@@michaelanstead6116 Yes, it’s totally doable. We actually road a little over 70 miles on our second day and from Cass, you’ll be heading slightly downhill the whole way. You are a faster rider than me, but with a ride pace of 12-13 mph,I would suggest that you plan on covering about 10 miles per hour, including stops (longer if you stop for a meal). Otherwise, you may feel like you are rushing through it. It’s beautiful out there so you don’t want to move too awfully fast through it as you’ll want to take it all in. Enjoy!

[@michaelanstead6116]

Thanks again for all the advice. I’m very inspired by all your videos. Thanks for posting. Seems like a great group of people doing some really fun and fulfilling rides.

[@michaelanstead6116]

We really appreciated your advice. We made it in day no problem. Averaged about 14.2 mph while riding and made lots of stops. One guy had a road bike with 28 mm tires and the rest of us had gravel bikes with 35 mm tires or more. I agree a 32 mm or better would be best. I had a 38 mm and it was perfect. However doable on a 28 mm road bike if so inclined. No flats for us, but would definitely worry about flats for a more narrow tire like a 28 mm, particularly if you have tires with tubes. Awesome ride. May be something we try to do every other year or yearly

[@joeyculley2256]

If youre just going one way would it be easier to start at the end of the trail, that way youre going downhill mostly?

[@KentuckyCycling]

For sure. I think most riders ride from north to south, for that reason.

[@fredholley6248]

South to north is upgrade, but it is a VERY small one, mainly 1% or so except for a couple small hills/climbs. Opposite going back. I walked it in a week starting at south terminus at Caldwell and returning back in 2015.

[@tonyorme6446]

You guys rock...great video...this is one on my bucket list....Is this trail somewhat similar to the Gap trail or better?

[@KentuckyCycling]

Better and worse would be a matter of opinion and would be pretty subjective, in comparing the two trails. GAP is more road-like in the riding surface and has a lot more resources along the way. The most wooded and rural sections of the GAP are similar to this in some ways. But, overall, this is much more rural. Also, hiker/biker sites are much nicer on this trail. But, GAP is almost twice the length and includes a major city (Pittsburg). Biggest town on Greenbrier is only 1,000 people. So, it's apples to oranges in some ways.

[@tonyorme6446]

@@KentuckyCycling I agree that the Gap has a lot more resources on that trail than the Greenbrier but it looks if you want a good quiet country trail the Greenbrier fills the bill...Btw I'm doing the Gap trail probably in October....

[@KentuckyCycling]

@@tonyorme6446 I should also clarify that, once you get out of Pittsburg, the GAP is plenty rural. A better word for this trail is forested, which I enjoyed quite a lot.

[@mocarver]

Is this route suitable for recumbent trikes? Thx.

[@KentuckyCycling]

Yes.

[@fredirle7173]

Hi Nathan. I really enjoyed the video of the ride. I see you are still using the Surly Moloko handlebars. How are they working out? I want to convert my Surly Disc Trucker to a flat bar. I liked the review did on them earlier but was just wonder what you than now. Keep up the great content!

[@KentuckyCycling]

I'm really enjoying the Moloko bars. No regrets and hope to have them a long time.

[@princepage632]

How many nights did you camp going and coming back

[@KentuckyCycling]

We camped a total of 3 nights.

[@Jaysus145]

Do you know what size Voile Bike Rack straps she is using as seen at 2:49?

[@KentuckyCycling]

See this video where she goes over her whole setup. Note: they are not the regular Voile straps, but some that click into her rack. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHrdnKuIo7OFaLM

[@Jaysus145]

@@KentuckyCycling Those are the kind I have been looking for! Thanks for the link I will check it out!

[@KentuckyCycling]

@@Jaysus145 She's got links to all the products in her setup in the KZbin description.

[@outbackwack368]

I've read about that area... what a wonderful trail! I'd love to see RideWithGPS files for your rides! Do you often ride without gloves? I wore traditional bike gloves for many years and wondered why my components were starting to corrode. Turned out to be the sweat and oils from my fingers. After that I switched to full-fingered gloves and never looked back. Thanks!

[@KentuckyCycling]

I don't always publish RideWithGPS files as they are not always the best resource to share for others doing ride planning for the ride featured in the video. In this case, for example, the best resource is the trail map that is produced by West Virginia State Parks. I have created a couple of collections of RideWithGPS files, which I've published at www.kentuckycycling.org/resources, for Kentucky gravel and road rides. I did wear gloves on this trip. I just like to mix it up sometimes.

[@elmiguel6725]

Hi Nathan I am only a few minutes into the video and have to run so will watch the rest later. One question, my concern is often about wildlife, since you camped, are there bears or coyotes etc.? I am from north Jersey and we do have a black bear issue. I would never hurt an animal but won't allow myself or family to become it's dinner either. So how is the trail in that regard? Thanks.

[@KentuckyCycling]

There are black bears in the area. We didn't see any, but talked to a cyclist who is a regular rider of the trail and has seen them. You'll need to plan to put food in a bear bag. Hiker/biker sites are very nice and have bear proof trash cans.

[@elmiguel6725]

@@KentuckyCycling Thanks Nathan.

[@billnoi]

I've seen black bears on the trail. They're harmless.

[@fredholley6248]

@@billnoi Ditto, I saw two the week I walked it, and LOTS of deer. A couple snakes stretched out on trail trying to soak in the sunshine too. Never saw a coyote, but know they are around, oh and one fox.

[@toddburdette]

🚲🎥👍👍👍👍AWESOME

[@KentuckyCycling]

Thanks!