Marlin Mtn. - Halfway Run - GRT Loop

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

The trail starts in Marlinton and weaves through town streets with minimal traffic. The first mile is on pavement up to the Forest Ranger station and continues beyond on a dirt/gravel road that winds around the cemetery to the start of FS 300.

This recently graded (2021), well-maintained, wide Forest Service road has minimal obstacles and technical difficulties. With your legs now warmed up, climb 650' over 2.5+ miles and keep a little energy in store for a short steep pitch just before the crest. Top out into an open meadow and it's all downhill from there.

The initial descent is on the wide FS 300, take it at whatever speed you can safely manage, cross a few seeps (or more depending on the recent weather) and be careful to not blow by the start of Halfway Run FS 300A. Although the Halfway Run segment is labelled as a Forest Service road (FS 300A), the trail is like singletrack. It is a forest canopy-covered path that makes its way down the holler alongside Halfway Run. Expect to encounter some root, rock and wet spots along the way. Keep on your toes through this 1.6 miles down the run keeping an eye out for some blowdown across the trail here.

The bottom of this segment will open up onto the Greenbrier River Trail. This crushed limestone rail trail is on the railbed of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway built around 1900. This segment follows the Greenbrier River downstream into Marlinton to complete the loop.

FS 300 was recently graded and in excellent shape, no major trees across the road as of 9.11.2021. Ride through stinging nettles at the top of the Halfway Run segment. Some trees are down through the Halfway Run segment. Keep an eye out for hikers coming out of Marlinton on the rail trail segment.

Start in Marlinton from the Bank parking lot and thread your way through small town streets, across 39, follow signs to the Forest Ranger station and continue around the cemetery. The water tank is on your left as your start onto recently graded (2021) FS 300.

Shortly you'll come to a fork, stay left (the right climbs a ridge with moderate blowdown across the trail on 9.2021). Continue on FS 300, a couple of rideable steep pitches at the start and then just before the top of the climb. At the crest you'll enter into an open meadow, stay on the main road that drops down, it is the right side of the fork, not the grassy path across the meadow leading up to a weather station.

Bomb it from here but pay attention where the drop levels out; look for the Halfway Run trailhead, tucked in on the left side of a wide right turn, easily missed. From here, it is FS 300A but it is essentially singletrack. There are some trees across, Will bring saw on future rides. A couple of mud and rock spots towards the bottom but nothing to swallow you up. Emerge at the Greenbrier River Trail and haul it downriver back into town.

The Greenbrier River Trail is a 78-mile former railroad now used for hiking, biking, horseback riding with ski touring when the conditions are right. It is the longest trail of its kind in West Virginia. The trail follows along the Greenbrier division of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway from North Caldwell to Cass. In its 1920's heyday it provided passenger service and served quarries, sawmills, tanneries along with agricultural and livestock enterprises. Service on the railroad came to an end in 1978.