04/02/2026
Starting April 25th in West Virginia, you can ride a railbike past incredible river views, rock cliffs, waterfalls and the rebuilt Sand Fork Bridge with West Virginia's Rail Explorer's Elk River Division! The ride follows the old Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad line, which first opened in 1904 to haul coal from the mines in Widen and lumber from the sawmill in Swandale. Today, that same track lets visitors pedal along one of the most scenic stretches of rail in the state. The trip is a 12-mile round ride and usually takes about two hours to complete. Along the way you pass the beautiful Devil’s Sawmill waterfall, tall rock cliffs, quiet forest, and wide views of the Elk River flowing beside the tracks. The railbikes are specially built and include electric motors that do most of the work, so the ride stays easy and fun for all ages. About halfway through the ride, everyone stops along Buffalo Creek to stretch, take photos, enjoy a snack, and relax in the peaceful mountain setting before turning around and riding back. This awesome experience starts back up April 25th and runs through mid-November of 2026!
