Day 3 Two Wheels, Gorge Views and Cold Brews
Miles logged: 72 on two wheels | 7+ on foot
Stops: Historic Thurmond, Endless Wall Trail, Fayette Station Road, Fayetteville, Bridge Brew Works
Sometimes the best days on two wheels aren’t about chewing up hundreds of miles on the highway; they’re about taking your time, soaking in the elevation changes, and earning your evening meal. Today was all about West Virginia’s New River Gorge—packing 72 scenic riding miles, over seven miles logged on foot, an authentic railroad ghost town, and incredible local craft pours into one unforgettable run.
Stepping Back in Time: Thurmond (Pop. 4)
We took a detour down into the belly of the canyon along Route 25 to visit Thurmond—an old Chesapeake & Ohio boomtown that once saw thousands of passengers and coal cars rumble through daily. Today, the official population sits at just four people.
Riding across the shared train-and-car bridge into town feels like rolling onto a movie set frozen in the early 1900s. We walked along the main depot and the rusted tracks right beside the roaring river, surrounded by weathered brick storefronts that nature is slowly reclaiming. It was quiet, eerie, and a fascinating look into West Virginia’s industrial heyday before we headed back up into the mountains.
Trading Pegs for Boots: Endless Wall Trail
From Thurmond, we swapped riding boots for hiking shoes to tackle the Endless Wall Trail. The path weaves through thick rhododendron tunnels and hardwood canopy before breaking out onto sheer sandstone bluffs hundreds of feet above the New River.
Standing out on the Diamond Point overlook, watching rafters trace the currents below with the cliff line stretching endlessly in both directions, puts the sheer scale of the gorge into perspective. Between this trek and our time exploring the canyon floor, we were well on our way to clearing over seven miles on foot for the day.
Carving the Canyon: Fayette Station Road
Back in the saddle, we took on the Fayette Station Road tour that the folks at the visitor center mapped out for us. If you ride, this route is pure gold.
Before the iconic steel arch bridge was completed in 1977, this narrow, winding descent was the only way across the canyon—a trek that used to take 40 minutes of hairpin turns. Carving down the mountain flank, rumbling across the historic lower bridge with white water churning underneath, and sweeping back up the opposite rim was motorcycling at its finest. Looking straight up at the massive New River Gorge Bridge towering hundreds of feet overhead from the river level is a view no highway bypass can match.
Fayetteville on Foot and Cold Pints
After climbing out of the canyon, we rolled into historic Fayetteville and parked the bikes to wander downtown on foot. Strolling the streets, browsing local spots, and taking in the laid-back mountain-town energy easily pushed our pedometer past the 7-mile mark. Our boots had definitely earned a rest.
To close out the day, we pulled into Bridge Brew Works. There is nothing quite like peeling off riding gear after 72 winding miles and seven miles of trail pounding, grabbing an outdoor table, and unwinding over great food and fresh craft pours. Recounting the sweepers, train tracks, and cliffline vistas over a cold glass was the perfect end to an incredible day.
West Virginia roads—and trails—never disappoint. Onto the next leg!
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