Meadow River Rail Trail

A gentle, mostly level rail-trail following the Meadow River through a quiet slice of southern West Virginia, this route is best planned as an out-and-back unless you’ve arranged a shuttle. The tread is a compacted gravel/aggregate surface on an old railroad grade, so the climbing is minimal (expect roughly 0 m / 0 ft of gain overall, with only subtle rail-bed undulations). (meadowriverrailtrail.com)

Getting to the start (car + public transport reality check)

Most straightforward start point: the Nallen Post Office / Nallen Trailhead area at 9001 Wilderness Hwy, Nallen, WV 26680. This is widely treated as the primary parking option and the largest lot for the open section. (greenbrierwv.com)

• By car: Navigate to 9001 Wilderness Hwy, Nallen, WV 26680 and park at/near the trailhead area. Arrive early on fair-weather weekends if you want guaranteed space. (greenbrierwv.com)
  
• By public transport: This corridor is rural and remote; there isn’t a dependable “step-off-the-bus-at-the-trailhead” option. The practical approach is to take intercity service to a larger hub (often Lewisburg or Beckley) and then use a rideshare/taxi or a pre-arranged lift to Nallen. Plan as if you will be without cell service for much of the trail (so don’t rely on last-minute app pickups). (meadowriverrailtrail.com)

Route layout and what “26 km” means here

The rail-trail is being developed in phases. The currently open portion is described as a little over 9 miles (about 14.5 km / 9.0 mi) from Nallen Trailhead to the Meadow River Bridge area, passing the Russellville Trailhead in between. (wvrailtrails.org)

If you’re aiming for around 26 km / 16 mi, the simplest way is: - Out-and-back from Nallen toward Meadow River Bridge: ~29 km / 18 mi round trip if you go end-to-end on the open segment (close to your target, and easy to shorten by turning around earlier). (wvrailtrails.org)
If/when additional miles are open toward Rainelle, a ~26 km point-to-point becomes more realistic, but verify current open mileage on HiiKER before you commit to a one-way plan.

On-trail experience (mile-by-mile feel)

0.0 km / 0.0 mi — Nallen Trailhead (Wilderness Hwy / Route 41 area)
You start in a small, historic river-and-rail community. The corridor is wide enough for side-by-side walking and is built for a steady, non-technical pace. Expect a “green tunnel” feel in leaf-on season, with frequent openings toward the river.

~4.7 km / 2.9 mi — Russellville Trailhead area
This is the key intermediate access point. It’s also one of the few places you may briefly regain a usable signal depending on carrier, so it’s a smart spot to do a quick check-in before heading deeper along the river. (wvrailtrails.org)

~14.5 km / 9.0 mi — Meadow River Bridge / Burdette Creek end of the open trail
The open section is described as currently dead-ending near the bridge and woods by Burdette Creek, making the hike naturally turn-around-and-return unless you’ve staged a pickup. (wvrailtrails.org)

Landmarks, scenery, and wildlife

• Meadow River as your constant companion: The trail closely parallels the river, which alternates between calmer stretches and rockier, faster water—great for scenic pauses and listening to the river’s “texture.”