Itineraries
Greenbrier Valley Heritage Loop
Journey Overview
Greenbrier Valley Heritage Loop is a three-day cultural journey from White Sulphur Springs through Marlinton and Durbin, exploring Civil War battlefields, Civilian Conservation Corps architecture, and restored lumber company towns. History enthusiasts discover Cold War relics, pioneering Appalachian culture, and the stories embedded in mountain communities that shaped West Virginia’s heritage. Designed for travelers who appreciate historical context and preserved architecture, the route reveals how conflict, industry, and resilience transformed the Greenbrier Valley across generations.
Best Times to Visit
Late spring through early fall offers optimal conditions, with special events enhancing the experience.
- Museums and visitor centers operate extended hours May through October
- Droop Mountain Battlefield hosts Civil War reenactments in October of even-numbered years
- Cass Scenic Railroad operates heritage steam trains May through October
- Fall foliage enhances scenic drives through historic mountain communities
- The Greenbrier Resort offers bunker tours year-round, though reservations are recommended
Itinerary
Day 1: White Sulphur Springs to Marlinton
Bunkers, Battlefields, and Bears
Morning
Breakfast in White Sulphur Springs
- Cook’s Country Kitchen: Traditional breakfast in a casual downtown setting
- The Greenbrier Resort: Elegant breakfast at the historic resort
- Tootsie’s Place: Cute downtown cafe with delicious pastry options.
The Greenbrier Resort and Bunker Tour
The story of White Sulphur Springs begins with mineral springs that attracted visitors as early as the 1770s. The Greenbrier resort, established in 1778, hosted presidents, royalty, and society figures for over two centuries. During World War II, the resort served as an internment facility for Axis diplomats and later as a military hospital. Most remarkably, from 1958 to 1992, a secret underground bunker capable of housing the entire U.S. Congress was constructed beneath the hotel. The declassified bunker is now open for guided tours, offering a fascinating glimpse into Cold War-era emergency planning. The resort’s interior, designed by Dorothy Draper, features bold colors and distinctive patterns that define American resort style.
Note: Bunker tours require advance reservations and a separate admission fee. The resort grounds are open to day visitors.
White Sulphur Springs National Fish Hatchery
Established in 1902, this is one of the oldest federal fish hatcheries in continuous operation. The facility showcases early 20th-century aquaculture methods alongside modern conservation efforts. The park-like grounds include historic structures and offer views of ongoing trout production operations.
Midday
Lunch in White Sulphur Springs
Stop by the store to grab some picnic essentials or enjoy small-town eats in White Sulphur Springs.
- April’s Pizzeria: Serving classic, comforting pizzas and Italian-American favorites in a cozy, casual setting that’s popular with locals and visitors alike.
- Max on Main: Offers a varied menu of wood-fired pizzas, pasta, steak, and other fresh dishes in a welcoming space with a lively yet family-friendly vibe.
- The Lunch Box: A beloved local lunch spot known for handmade sandwiches, fresh salads, and sweets, perfect for a casual midday bite.
Directions to Droop Mountain
Drive north on US-219 approximately 45 minutes through the scenic Greenbrier River valley. The route passes through small communities established during the timber boom of the late 19th century.
Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park
West Virginia’s first state park commemorates the state’s last significant Civil War engagement. On November 6, 1863, Union forces under Brigadier General William Averell defeated Confederate troops commanded by Brigadier General John Echols, effectively ending Confederate resistance in the new state. The park’s museum, housed in a Civilian Conservation Corps cabin from the 1930s, displays artifacts from the battle, including weapons, uniforms, and personal effects. An observation tower built by the CCC offers panoramic views of the valley where the battle unfolded. Interpretive trails lead to surviving earthworks, the Confederate cemetery, and the spot where Major Robert Augustus Bailey fell while rallying his troops.
Minie Ball & Tower Trail Loop
Walk in the footsteps of Union soldiers who climbed this mountainous terrain during the 1863 assault. The trail passes American Chestnut stumps that were alive during the battle. A period-accurate wooden lookout tower serves as the capstone, with panoramic views of the valley below.
- Distance: 1 mile loop
- Elevation Gain: 200 feet
- Estimated Time: 30-60 minutes
- Difficulty: Moderate
Afternoon
Beartown State Park
A short drive east brings visitors to this geological wonder donated to West Virginia in 1970 in memory of Ronald Keith Neal, a local soldier killed in Vietnam. While the 300-million-year-old sandstone formations predate human history by eons, the park preserves an important story of sacrifice and remembrance. Interpretive signs along the boardwalk explain both the natural history and human connections to this landscape.
- Distance: 0.5 miles boardwalk loop
- Elevation Gain: 59 feet
- Estimated Time: 30-45 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy – boardwalk with stairs
Night
Dinner in Marlinton
The county seat of Pocahontas County features a compact downtown with historic railroad connections.
- Trailhead Pizza Company: Pizza and craft beer right next to a bike shop!
- Alfredo’s Greek & Italian: Casual Italian and Greek dishes, from pasta to pizza. Relaxed family atmosphere with outdoor seating that can also be ordered from the neighboring Old Mountain Tavern.
- Greenbrier Grille: Fill up on country classics with riverside dining and watch Marlinton’s iconic feathered friends wade in the water!
- Dari Land: Outdoor seating for ice cream, burgers, and other American classics.
- Mim’s Kitchen: Homecooked Mid-Century meals- Cafeteria Style. Fill up a plate and grab one of their signature sweet treats!
Evening Activities
Check the Pocahontas County events calendar for live music performances at the historic Opera House, outdoor Discovery Junction venue, and Rivertown Cafe.
Lodging Options:
- Watoga State Park: Cabins and campgrounds within the park; CCC-era cabins offer historic charm.
- Vacation Rentals & B&Bs: Wide array of downtown rentals on the riverside.
- Greenbrier Grille and Lodge: Simple rooms above the restaurant with river views.
- Marlinton Motor Inn: Basic motel accommodations in town.
- Seneca State Forest: Rustic pioneer cabins and campground; about 20 minutes from Marlinton.
Day 2: Marlinton to Durbin
Steam power and space
Morning
Breakfast and Marlinton Railroad Depot
Begin with breakfast in Marlinton, then visit the restored Marlinton Railroad Depot, which serves as a trailhead for the Greenbrier River Trail and a regional art gallery. The depot represents the railroad era that transformed Pocahontas County.
- Dirtbean: Coffee shop and cafe with breakfast sandwiches and pastries.
- Greenbrier Grille and Lodge: Full breakfast menu including pancakes, eggs, and country favorites.
- Rivertown Cafe: Historic building with creative breakfast options and upstairs shopping.
Option A: Greenbrier River Trail
Walk a section of this 78-mile rail-trail, which follows the former Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Greenbrier Branch. Built between 1899 and 1900, this line opened the remote mountain valleys to the timber industry and connected isolated communities to the outside world. A historic cabin and watertower can be seen along a short 1 mile walk from downtown.
- Distance: Variable – out-and-back from Marlinton
- Elevation Gain: Minimal (rail-trail grade)
- Estimated Time: 30-60 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
Option B: Pocahontas County Historical Society
A local history museum housed in the historic Frank and Anna Hunter House and adjacent grounds, where long-time residents and visitors alike can explore artifacts, photographs, and exhibits tracing Pocahontas County’s story from early settlement through the Civil War and into the 20th century, including an authentic 19th-century log cabin on site. Operating hours are seasonal; the museum is typically open to the public during the summer and fall months, with genealogical resources available year-round at the McClintic Heritage Room. If you’re planning a visit, please contact the museum at 304-799-6659 in advance to confirm current hours and any special events.
Midday
Drive to Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
Head north toward the remarkably preserved lumber company town of Cass, approximately 35 minutes from Marlinton. The scenic drive follows mountain roads through the heart of what was once one of the nation’s most productive timber regions.
Cass Scenic Railroad and Historic Town
Founded in 1901 by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, Cass is a nearly complete company town frozen in time. At its peak, the sawmill here was the largest double-band sawmill in the world, processing an estimated 1.25 billion board feet of lumber. The town features original company houses (now vacation rentals), the restored company store, a museum documenting the logging era, and a historic theater showing documentaries about the community’s past. Walking tours depart from the Company Store.
The centerpiece is the Cass Scenic Railroad, operating original geared Shay, Heisler, and Climax locomotives on track built in 1901 to haul lumber from the surrounding mountains. These specialized engines, designed to navigate steep grades and tight curves, represent engineering marvels of their era. Cass maintains the world’s largest operating fleet of geared logging locomotives.
Train Options:
- Bald Knob Trip (4.5 hours): Full journey to West Virginia’s third-highest point; includes lunch
- Whittaker Station Trip (2 hours): Shorter excursion to a mountain picnic area
- Greenbrier Express (to Durbin): Scenic riverside journey to the small mountain village; includes lunch
Afternoon
Green Bank Observatory
Drive southeast approximately 25 minutes to a site that represents a different kind of pioneering: the exploration of the universe through radio astronomy. Established in 1956, the Green Bank Observatory has been at the forefront of astronomical discovery for nearly seven decades. The facility conducted Project Ozma in 1960, the first modern search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Today, it operates the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope, with a dish spanning 2.3 acres.
The observatory’s location within the National Radio Quiet Zone, established in 1958 to protect sensitive instruments from radio interference, creates a unique experience in which wireless devices must be powered off, allowing visitors a rare disconnection from the electronic world. The Science Center offers guided tours and exhibits explaining both the science and the history of radio astronomy. The Starlight Cafe serves lunch.
Continue to Durbin for Dinner
Drive 15 minutes north to Durbin, another small railroad town with roots in the lumber industry.
Dining Options:
- Station 2 Restaurant: Comfort food and local favorites in a converted mercantile building decorated with firefighter memorabilia.
- Rustic Roots Bar & Grill: Locally inspired American bar favorites in a family-friendly atmosphere.
Lodging Options:
- Station 2 Motel: Simple rooms above the restaurant; includes breakfast.
- Castaway Caboose: Reserve your own private, beautifully restored traincar in Durbin.
- Cass Scenic Railroad Company Houses: Restored two-story vacation cottages sleeping 4-14 guests; available year-round
- Vacation rentals: Several cabins and home rentals are available in the Durbin area
- East Fork Campground: Developed private campground in Downtown Durbin with riverside access and amenities.
- Island & Lake Buffalo Campgrounds: Remote Forest Service campgrounds 10 minutes outside Durbin, offering a quiet night under the stars.
Day 3: Durbin to White Sulphur Springs
authors and old-growth
Morning
Breakfast in Durbin
- Simply Sweet Cafe: Breakfast sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, signature lattes, and fresh-baked treats.
- Station 2 Restaurant: Full breakfast menu including pancakes, eggs, and country-style meals.
Option A: Gaudineer Knob Scenic Area
Drive north on US-250 10 minutes outside of Durbin, then continue on FR 27 south to this remarkable National Natural Landmark, which protects approximately 50 acres of virgin red spruce forest- trees that were standing when European settlers first arrived. The interpretive loop trail is one of two short 0.5-mile loops and winds through towering 300-year-old spruces with trunks over 40 inches in diameter. The quiet, cathedral-like atmosphere is magical for children, and interpretive signs explain the forest’s ecology and history. The second loop offers a magical experience with minimal elevation gain and a beautiful overlook at the midpoint.
Gaudineer Knob Scenic Interpretive Loop Trail
- Distance: 0.5-mile loop
- Elevation gain: 70 feet
- Estimated time: 20–30 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy (packed earth with some roots)
Gaudineer Knob Loop Trail
- Distance: 0.5-mile loop
- Elevation gain: 40 feet
- Estimated time: 10-20 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy (gravel path)
Option B: Civil War Camps and Battlefields
Cheat Summit Fort
Head north on US-250 for 15 minutes to Cheat Summit Fort, which preserves a series of Civil War–era earthworks constructed in 1861 to control a strategic mountain pass along the Staunton–Parkersburg Turnpike. A short 0.25-mile walking trail leads visitors past well-preserved defensive embankments and interpretive signs that explain the site’s role in early Union and Confederate maneuvering in the Alleghenies. The fort’s location highlights how terrain and transportation corridors shaped military strategy in western Virginia.
Camp Bartow
Just 3 miles west of Durbin is the WV Land Trust’s Camp Bartow Preserve, which served as a major Confederate encampment in the fall of 1861, located near the historic Travelers’ Repose toll-booth to support troop movements and supply lines. Today, a roughly 0.5-mile out-and-back trail guides visitors to surviving earthworks and interpretive panels that outline daily camp life and the broader military campaign in the region.
Camp Allegheny Battlefield
Continuing from Camp Bartow along the Camp Allegheny Scenic Backway, this battlefield marks the site of the highest engagement in the Civil War’s Eastern Theatre. Fought on during a frigid December in 1861, Union forces attempted to dislodge entrenched Confederate troops from a fortified mountain position. The battlefield preserves remnants of defensive works and provides interpretive context for the challenges of winter warfare in rugged terrain that helped to shape the boundaries of the new state of West Virginia.
Midday
Pearl S. Buck Birthplace
Continue south to Hillsboro (approximately 45 minutes) to visit the birthplace of one of West Virginia’s most celebrated figures. Pearl Sydenstricker Buck (1892-1973) won both the Pulitzer Prize (1932) and Nobel Prize in Literature (1938), becoming the first American woman to receive the Nobel. Though she spent most of her childhood in China as the daughter of missionaries, she was born in this modest Hillsboro farmhouse. The restored home and adjacent cultural center explore her life, writings, and advocacy for civil rights and children’s welfare. Tours are available seasonally.
Lunch in Hillsboro
- Little Levels Depot: Combines a convenience store with a small café serving breakfast and lunch favorites, including homemade biscuits, sandwiches, and baked goods, ideal for families on the go.
- Hillsboro Public House: Blends local charm with creative, family-friendly comfort food, including sandwiches, burgers, fish & chips, and seasonal specials with locally sourced ingredients
Watoga State Park – CCC Legacy
Continue north to West Virginia’s largest state park, developed extensively by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. The CCC Camp here enrolled young men who built trails, cabins, shelters, and recreational facilities that remain in use today. The New Deal Resources Historic District encompasses 59 contributing buildings and structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The park museum documents this transformative period and displays artifacts from CCC life.
Directions to White Sulphur Springs
Continue south on US-219 through Lewisburg to White Sulphur Springs, approximately one hour from Hillsboro. Alternatively, drive north from Watoga onto US-92 for a scenic backcountry route to Greenbrier State Forest.
Afternoon
Option A: Lewisburg Historic District
Budget Travel magazine named Lewisburg “America’s Coolest Small Town.” The walkable downtown features 18th and 19th-century architecture, antique shops, galleries, and the Carnegie Hall performing arts center. The Old Stone Presbyterian Church (1796) is the oldest church building in continuous use west of the Alleghenies.
Option B: Greenbrier State Forest – CCC Heritage
Return to Greenbrier State Forest to explore structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the 1930s. The scenic Kate’s Mountain Road, constructed by CCC workers for fire protection and as a scenic drive, runs along the top of the ridge. The forest’s cabin area and demonstration forest showcase CCC craftsmanship and Depression-era conservation programs.
Young’s Nature Trail
This interpretive trail passes through forest land that was once farmed before being acquired for the CCC Camp in 1937. Signs explain the recovery of forest ecosystems on former agricultural land.
- Distance: 2.0 miles
- Elevation Gain: Moderate
- Estimated Time: 45-60 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
Night
Dinner in White Sulphur Springs
Complete the journey with dinner in the historic resort town.
Dining Options:
- Prime 44 West (The Greenbrier): Upscale steakhouse honoring NBA legend and West Virginia native Jerry West.
- Gustard’s Bistro: French-influenced bistro cuisine near the resort.
- Max on Main: Locally-sourced American cuisine in a renovated downtown building.
- The Varsity Bar & Grill: American favorites in a welcoming atmosphere.
Lodging Options:
- Greenbrier Hotel: This iconic American resort offers a refined stay steeped in more than two centuries of history, from its grand architecture and formal gardens to its long tradition of hosting presidents, dignitaries, and notable guests.
- Schoolhouse Hotel: Housed in a beautifully restored historic school building, it blends period character with modern comfort, offering a quieter, more intimate stay rooted in local history.
- Vacation Rentals & B&Bs: From historic homes and long-established properties to riverside retreats, White Sulphur Springs offers several short-term rental options.
Map
Planning Notes
Weather Considerations
Higher-elevation areas experience significantly cooler temperatures and more frequent precipitation than surrounding valleys. Conditions can change rapidly; bring layers regardless of the season. The Greenbrier Valley floor sits around 2,000 feet in elevation, while destinations like Watoga State Park and Gaudineer Knob reach 3,000+ feet.
Road Conditions
The main routes (US-219, US-250, WV-28/92) are paved and well-maintained. Some destinations require travel on secondary roads that may be narrow and winding. Forest Service roads to other recreation areas are generally passable for standard vehicles in good weather but may be challenging in winter conditions.
Wildlife
Black bears are present throughout this region; practice proper food storage and leave no trace. The area supports white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and various bird species. Timber rattlesnakes occur in rocky areas at lower elevations; watch where you step on the trail. Watoga State Park and Calvin Price State Forest are designated International Dark Sky Parks, offering exceptional stargazing.
Seasonal Considerations
Beartown State Park boardwalk is open April through October only (ice and snow hazard in winter). Cass Scenic Railroad operates May through October with special holiday trains in December. Facilities at Watoga State Park operate Memorial Day through Labor Day. Many restaurants and attractions in smaller communities operate limited hours or close seasonally; call ahead to confirm.
Leave No Trace
Many trails pass through sensitive ecosystems or protected natural areas. Stay on established trails, pack out all trash, and respect wilderness regulations. The old-growth forest at Gaudineer Scenic Area is particularly fragile; remain on the trail to avoid damaging root systems and understory vegetation.
Camp Allegheny Battlefield
Cass Scenic Railroad's Shay arrives in Durbin
Beartown State Park
Gaudineer Knob Scenic Area
Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park
Green Bank Observatory
Historic Railroad Bridge outside Marlinton on Greenbrier River Trail
