My Greenbrier River Trail Hang-up

**Crash** · 07-15-2010, 11:29

Originally Posted by Knotty

Sounds like a nice trip, Crash. Glad you're enjoying your retirement.

I've been out of mountain biking for about a decade already but a rail trail mixed with hammock camping could convince me to get back in the saddle.

Thanx Knotty.

If you don't want to go so far, there's the St. Anthony Wilderness - Stony Creek Rail Trail, that's north of Harrisburg, PA. The A.T. runs parrallel and then bisects it. Camping is only at Rausch Gap shelter. The Rail trail is 20 miles long. If you start at Goldmine Rd. parking lot its only 3.5 miles to Rausch Gap shelter. I did that on July 1 & 2. The side benefit is just like the Greenbrier River Trail - swimming in the creek!

**MedicineMan** · 07-15-2010, 11:32

I'm thinking a ride-n-hang on this trail.....anyone interested? I'm going to do it in November....probably not when most would want to but that is my next block of free time is not taken.
Thanks for the kind offer WV....I'll be in touch between now and Nov.
Also, I'll be Aarning it this weekend for my first tast of their packs....fingers crossed.

**Poppabear** · 07-15-2010, 11:45

MM I would be interested in hooking up with you for this ride-n-hang.

**MedicineMan** · 07-16-2010, 00:16

Poppabear good deal....I'm thinking 4 days of biking or do we need more?

**Poppabear** · 07-16-2010, 12:11

MM, Four days sounds to be about right. To avoid hijacking Crash's trip thread any further. Perhaps we should start a new thread over in the Trip Planning Section to iron out the details of this ride-n-hang. Who knows we might even catch the eye of a few others that may want to tag along. I will PM you latter after I get home from work.

**Jsaults** · 07-18-2010, 12:09

I have ridden numerous sections of it, sometimes in conjunction with overnights. All of this before I was a hanger. If you visited Jack Horner's can I assume that you overnighted at the Riverside campground at Watoga SP?

I am getting back into riding (funny how if at 50 you quit bicycling you put on weight!) and I plan on doing an overnight on the GRT after I re-establish my ischial callouses.

Another trail you should look into is the Allegheny Portage Trail, which connects to the west end of the C&O Towpath. Quite a bit hillier (for a rail trail) it features the Savage Mountain Tunnel and a great section on the Casselman River, and connects to the Youghiogheny River trail at Confluence PA. What the heck - Why not just ride the whole way to Pittsburgh?

Jim
St Albans WV

**Crash** · 07-18-2010, 21:19

Originally Posted by Jsaults

I have ridden numerous sections of it, sometimes in conjunction with overnights. All of this before I was a hanger. If you visited Jack Horner's can I assume that you overnighted at the Riverside campground at Watoga SP?

I am getting back into riding (funny how if at 50 you quit bicycling you put on weight!) and I plan on doing an overnight on the GRT after I re-establish my ischial callouses.

Another trail you should look into is the Allegheny Portage Trail, which connects to the west end of the C&O Towpath. Quite a bit hillier (for a rail trail) it features the Savage Mountain Tunnel and a great section on the Casselman River, and connects to the Youghiogheny River trail at Confluence PA. What the heck - Why not just ride the whole way to Pittsburgh?

Jim
St Albans WV

I didn't camp at Watoga, I camped @ 13 & 63. I just got back from the C&O canal. Problem with the Great Allegheny trail is a lack of 'free' camping sites. If I go again I think campsite @ MP 28 with its rope swings looks real nice.

WV · 07-19-2010, 08:48

I have an old road bike with a broken derailleur that I've been thinking of converting to a one-speed bike for the Geenbrier River Trail (I put the widest tires that would fit on it, and I think it would be well suited to that trail - at least the southern part of it where I walk my dog). Maybe I'll start riding longer sections with a view to locating camping spots. I have just talked with Mike Smith, the ranger at Droop Mt. Park (Civil War battle site), because he used to take care of the river Trail too. He says there are developed campsites about every 5 miles along the trail, many of them with pumps and some with toilets. (Toilets are spaced about every 13 miles, he says.) Camping is allowed anywhere along the trail, not just in developed sites. The width of the park varies from 50' to 200' or so. Stealth camping would be easy in some areas, but difficult in others. If I get around to biking it I'll locate some good trees to hang from.

http://www.greenbrierrivertrail.com/

**spklbuk** · 07-19-2010, 09:38

Shameless tourism plug: GRT SP

Never ridden it but have fished and floated along most all of it. If anyone goes and should the rains become heavy, make absolutely sure you camp on high ground. River comes up QUICK!

high water

**Crash** · 07-25-2010, 19:50

Originally Posted by WV

Camping is allowed anywhere along the trail, not just in developed sites. The width of the park varies from 50' to 200' or so. Stealth camping would be easy in some areas, but difficult in others.

From Greenbrier State Park Website:
Q:Is tent camping allowed anywhere along the trail?
A:Camping is only permitted at designated camp
areas. Eleven rustic camping areas are available;
see trail map for locations.

So if you stealth....

I hope to go back there and do it again someday.