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Oak Hill hopes to connect to New River Gorge trails

Register-Herald file photo by Chris Jackson Cyclists walk their mountain bikes up a stairwell on the Rend Trail in November.
Register-Herald file photo by Chris Jackson
Cyclists walk their mountain bikes up a stairwell on the Rend Trail in November.

BECKLEY, W.Va. — The City of Oak Hill has developed a trail concept which, if actualized, will connect its Main Street with more than 100 miles of trails within the New River Gorge National River.

“It has been a dream of the National Park Service — and we buy into that dream — that our national parks should tie in with our local communities like Oak Hill, Fayetteville and Mount Hope,” said Oak Hill City Manager Bill Hannabass. “We only have a concept at this time, but we have the possibility to tie into miles and miles of trails in the national park.”

The proposed trail would pick up the White Oak Rail Trail, go up Central Avenue to Main Street, cross the U.S. 19 bridge and cut through a field along the downtown exit.

The city is currently in discussions with the Hamilton family who has expressed willingness to donate family property for an overlook beyond the field, he explained. From that overlook, there is a view of Minden down to New River.

The city will then use rights of way to create a trail from the overlook through Minden (about 2 miles) to connect with the Rend Trail/Minden-Thurmond Trail, which leads to Thurmond and countless other national park trails…

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