Trailhead Directions

West Fork River Trail

Getting to the Trail from Nearby Cities

• Charleston, WV  Follow I-79 North about 130 miles to Exit 125 (Shinnston/Saltwell Rd.) for Southern Trailhead in Shinnston or Exit 132 (US Rt. 250) for the Northern Trailhead in Fairmont. See detailed "Trailhead" directions below to each location.
• Pittsburgh, PA  Follow I-79 South about 90 miles to Exit 125 (Shinnston/Saltwell Rd.) for Southern Trailhead in Shinnston or Exit 132 (US Rt. 250) for the Northern Trailhead in Fairmont. See detailed "Trailhead" directions below to each location.
• Elkins, WV  Follow US Rt. 33 West to I-79 North to Exit 125 (Shinnston/Saltwell Rd.) for Southern Trailhead in Shinnston or Exit 132 (US Rt. 250) for the Northern Trailhead in Fairmont. See detailed "Trailhead" directions below to each location.
• Parkersburg, WV  Follow US Rt. 50 East to I-79 North to Exit 125 (Shinnston/Saltwell Rd.) for Southern Trailhead in Shinnston or Exit 132 (US Rt. 250) for the Northern Trailhead in Fairmont. See detailed "Trailhead" directions below to each location.

Finding the Trailheads

• Shinnston  Shinnston From I-79 Exit 125 (Shinnston/Saltwell Rd.) turn left (west) and proceed about 1/4 mile to the Exxon station, turning left on Saltwell Rd. (Rt. 131). Follow Saltwell Road about 7 miles to US Rt. 19 in Shinnston (traffic light). Turn left at the traffic light. The Shinnston Trailhead is located directly across from the Rite-Aid.
  
  
• Enterprise  From I-79 Exit 125 (Shinnston/Saltwell Rd.) turn left (west) and proceed about 1/4 mile to the Exxon station, turning left on Saltwell Rd. (Rt. 131). Follow Saltwell Road about 7 miles to US Rt. 19 in Shinnston (traffic light). Turn right at light onto Rt. 19, then continue through Shinnston, North on US Rt. 19 about 2 miles to Enterprise. In Enterprise, watch for the right turn back (east) across the West Fork River. Turn right across the bridge, then turn right at the end of the bridge. Park under the bridge. Facing the river, right to go north to Fairmont, left to go south to Shinnston.
  
  
• Worthington  From I-79 Exit 125 (Shinnston/Saltwell Rd.) turn left (west) and proceed about 1/4 mile to the Exxon station, turning left on Saltwell Rd. (Rt. 131). Follow Saltwell Road about 7 miles to US Rt. 19 in Shinnston (traffic light). Turn right at light onto Rt. 19, then continue through Shinnston, north on US Rt. 19 about 5 miles to Worthington. In Worthington, watch for the right turn back (east) across the West Fork River. Turn right and cross the bridge, then turn right into Worthington Park. There are restroom facilities at Worthington Park. The trail is at the top of the Park entrance. Cross the road to enter the trail north to Fairmont. Turn hard right to go south to Shinnston.
  
  
• Monongah  From I-79 Exit 125 (Shinnston/Saltwell Rd.) turn left (west) and proceed about 1/4 mile to the Exxon station, turning left on Saltwell Rd. (Rt. 131). Follow Saltwell Road about 7 miles to US Rt. 19 in Shinnston (traffic light). Turn right at light onto Rt. 19, then continue through Shinnston, continue North on US Rt. 19 about 7 miles to Monongah. Turn right at the Monongah Middle School. Turn left at the stop sign. There is a large parking lot adjoining the trail. Restroom facilities are expected to be completed in 2003.
  
  
• Fairmont   From I-79 Exit 132, go North on US Rt. 250. At the traffic light at Country Club Road and Rt. 250 turn left onto Country Club Road (Giant Eagle is to the right). Proceed on Country Club Road and turn left into the shopping plaza (approximately 1 1/2 mile). To the left of the Fairmont Credit Union is Edgeway St., a dead end street. Go down Edgeway to a farm gate on the right just before the street ends. Go around the gate. WALK your bike down the lift station road to the right-of-way at the bottom. The trail surface is a bit rough for about 1 mile to the official rail-trail start.