Even though it has been almost a year since the last time I rode my bike, Claysville National Pike Trail was just what I need to get riding again.
The 1.8-mile-long trail opened in the spring of 2022 and is on a bed of grass, soil and crushed gravel and follows the route of a pre-civil war rail line. The stretch of terrain transitions from a wide-open soil and grave path to a more narrow grassy bed under a cool canopy of trees.
Once you enter the wood line, the temperature change between the two surfaces was notably and pleasantly different. The canopy of trees create enough shade to keep the space cool and inviting. Picnic tables dot the trail along with a Workout Station built by Eagle Scout Elihu Dale from Troop 1031 and his team.
It’s a lovely place to take a break and enjoy a few moments of exercising, viewing butterflies and birds. If you have a hobby of taking photos, this trail will provide opportunity for you.
The sound of the highway faded once I entered the first of two unlit train tunnels. There is a sign posted at the portal of the tunnel to remove sunglasses, they are not joking. Note to self: stop at Home | Quick Service Bicycle Shop (quickservicecycle.com) in Martins Ferry to pick up a battery-operated light for my classic old Trek.
The head of the trail in Claysville, PA has a new set of steps leading up to the path and is great for runners, hikers and dog walkers. For bikers, not so much.
The set of steps appeared to be too steep to carry a bike up the hill. We drove a short distance on 40 East to a large gravel lot next to a Dollar General. This is a good place to jump on the trail. My husband and I took a leisure ride with multiple stops for taking photos and ate a grapefruit at one of the picnic tables. It took us about an hour to complete the journey. A trail app called https://www.traillink.com/ is a great resource to find trails which can be relatively close to home. Read the reviews and picked what fit into our day.
If you are looking for a short ride with train tunnels, a canopy of trees and a low elevation ride, check out Claysville National Pike Trail website https://claysvillenptrail.com/ or find them on Facebook.
And don’t forget, bring your headlight!
