kaymoor miners trail

There are over 800 stairs down to the river and of course that many back up again. That might not sound like a lot but it will get your heart pumping for sure! If you want views from up high, I suggest you do the endless wall hike. It's much easier and the views are amazing. If you want to see the old mine town and climb a lot of stairs then this hike is for you. Both are worthwhile but I liked the other one much better.

This is a great hike. We did the Upper Kaymore trail, and walked only to the level that has the mine entrances. It is a fairly steep walk on switchback trails. We did not do the 800 steps to the bottom of the hill, as we had done it in prior visits and there is not much to see at the bottom. Standing at the main mine entrance really helps you appreciate how difficult coal mining is. There is also usually a steady stream of cool air escaping the mine, which is very welcome on a muggy August day.

This is not a hike for the faint-of-heart. My wife and I are in good shape and both do a lot of walking but this trail is what you would call vertical :-) We had a cool day with a light rain and I was VERY thankful for that! Historically speaking, the hike was a real eye-opener to the area's coal mining history and what life must have been like during the Kaymoor era. If you don't do a lot of hiking and the weather is warm, take water and a lot of breaks.

The National Park Service map/brochure gives you the directions to the trailhead that is a one way road that winds under the New River Gorge Bridge to the bottom, crosses the river and ends up at the trailhead. There are lots of switchbacks and narrow roads but we were the only ones on the trail from the Wolf Creek entrance the day we went. The trail starts out by crossing a stream, then there are a couple of small waterfalls that you have to walk across the excess water so wear proper hiking footwear. It's about 2 miles from the trailhead to the Kaymoor Mine and the 819 stairs down to the dilapidated buildings. You've just got to do them because they're there and, there's not much to see at the bottom but, you can stop often on the way back and rest when you need to. Since it was hot when we hiked, we walked up to the mine entrances and got some natural air conditioning - helps to cool off. The trail is fairly level, wide and hard packed so the surface is not a problem however, the first 1/4 mile or so must be on the lee side of the mountain and very wet. This made for a great condition for what my husband said were deer flies and boy, did they love me. Didn't bite, just buzzed me constantly. All I had was "natural" bug repellent because I so hate to use DEET but, for these buggers, break out the DEET if bugs like you too. Spray your cap, hat, bandanna or something and maybe you will have better luck than me at keeping them away. After that first section the flies went away but on the way back they were still there and I hiked quickly to get to the end. I would definitely recommend this trail - we had been to the Coal Exhibition Mine in Beckley a few days before and learned the details of coal mining from a miner's perspective so it was that much more meaningful to see this old, abandoned mine operation.

try to run them from top to bottom, and then bottom to top, stopping at the landings to do push ups, sit ups, etc. wicked work out!

The waterfall is absolutely beautiful! Bridge is pretty for photos also. Just not much parking! Not a long walk to the falls, but does go uphill, but not real steep.

We loved our exploration along this trail. Some work has been done to display the history of the mine, and there are several remains of the old mine still intact. You can feel the cold air from a couple of mine openings, can see the remains of an old coal car, and there is signage to help explain some of the remains. If coal mining history interests you at all, this is a great place to explore a bit, besides making a wonderful short hike that can be extended if you like. I think the national parks have taken this trail, and it looks like they are midway into developing it for visitors.

This is a great easy hike. There are some inclines but for the most part they are gradual. We went in summer of 2012 and it was HOT! There were plenty of trees to shade the trail as well as over sprays from waterfalls to cool you down. Also streams to get cold water for your face. Perhaps the best thing is towards the end there are the old mines. They are barred off BUT,,,, they have supercool air flowing out of them from deep in the earth! Better than A/C!!! We came to the mines from two ways. First from the old Route 19 access that winds through the New River Gorge. The second way in is by going through town to a parking lot (kinda hard to find) and going down a much more strenuous trail. Recommend walking sticks for that one! All in all it was a blast!

Nice trail to explore, beautiful views with mountain streams and waterfalls, old mine buildings and coal mines!

The 2mile trail was fun to walk and adventurous. Visiting the remains of the town gave insight into what life was like back then. We didn't get to walk the stairs due to a rainstorm but it was worth it seeing stuff at the top.

New River National River trails are great fun in and of themselves. But in the case of the Kaymoor Miners Trail you can really challenge yourself by exploring the 821 steps leading down (almost) to the river. This is an aerobic workout the likes of which you will not find at any gym. Breathe in the fresh mountain air as you descend these well constructed wooden steps interrupted by many landings for any needed breaks. You'll find locals challenging themselves with one, two or even three round-trips down and back up. The steps are located near the mine entrance which is about halfway down the mountain, right on the Kaymoor trail. If you want to go on to the river, at the bottom of the steps you'll find a dirt trail.

Nice walk in the New River Valley with some old remains of a forgoten town. Best time to visit is in the fall of the year when the trees all start to change color.