The park system in West Virginia has included a new trail for hiking and biking in the New River Gorge.

The latest hiking and biking trail in the West Virginia State Park system offers an opportunity to discover the rough canyon landscape of Babcock State Park and also connects to the industrial history of the New River Gorge.
The recently constructed trail traces the route of a slender gauge railway that was built in 1886, spanning a distance of 8.5 miles. This railway linked the deserted town of Sewell, which was involved in the production of coke, situated on the western bank of the New River, with coal mines located along Manns Creek and at Clifftop, near the edge of the Gorge.
The rail line was no longer in use and was transformed into a road. Eventually, it became a route for four-wheel-drive vehicles until it was shut down a few years ago because it was impossible to pass through due to erosion and lack of maintenance.
The Governor is expected to take action in February of 2022.
Jim Justice instructed the Department of Transportation of the state to renovate the deteriorated road and transform it into a trail for public hiking and biking. This trail will connect Babcock to the boundary of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
The recently constructed trail has been given the name "Old Sewell Road" as a tribute to its previous function.
The state Division of Highways crew finished the task of transforming the previous railway and road into a trail with a crushed rock surface that can be used all year round. This was accomplished in one year, and the funding for the necessary materials, such as timber and steel for a new bridge, came from a federal grant of $350,000.
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The trail initially runs alongside the paved access road situated at the back of the mill, which leads to Babcock's guest cabins numbered 1 to 13.
The starting point of the trail is located just after the road turns into a dirt path, where a gate can be seen downhill from Cabin 13.
The path is adorned with various natural wonders such as blooming wildflowers in spring, towering cliffs, and massive trees. Additionally, the remains of stone support piers from the previous railway can also be seen along the way.
Babcock's Narrow Gauge Trail meets Old Sewell Road approximately 1.5 miles away from the gristmill. This intersection allows for entry to a swinging bridge that crosses Glade Creek.
A hundred-year-old boiler can be found at the end of the trail, approximately 2.5 miles past the intersection. It is located near a small waterfall where a newly constructed wooden bridge with steel support crosses Flanagan's Branch.
The recently constructed bridge utilizes the stone supports that were previously used for a railway trestle at the same location.
As per the notice displayed at the location, the boiler was previously utilized to provide energy to a train that operated on a small railway track.
As per an article published in Trains magazine in 2010, the boiler was initially utilized to provide energy to a sawmill. Later on, it was transformed into a water tank that supplied the steam-powered Shay locomotives that traveled along the route.
After passing the boiler and bridge and traveling a short distance downhill, there were sightings of newly excreted bear feces on the path.
In a short while, a black bear that is a young adult was observed taking a rest on a rock situated on a steep incline approximately 100 feet uphill.
As soon as it noticed the humans, the bear quickly climbed up the hill and disappeared from view.
Shortly after spotting the bear, a gap in the trees revealed a portion of the New River, and a bridge carrying the C&O Railroad over the waterway became visible.
The Old Sewell trail stops a little before a boundary marker of the National Park Service that is placed at the border of the previous road/railbed.
The path proceeds through National Park Service land towards Sewell's townsite, but the presence of numerous fallen trees and dense vegetation makes it difficult to walk or ride a bike along the designated area.
A white gate and a sign cautioning against disturbing cultural resources are visible on the right side of the road, approximately half a mile downhill from the state park boundary.
If you go down the rocky and difficult-to-see path and pay close attention, you will be able to see what is left of Sewell.
Sewell was constructed on a raised platform located slightly above the western bank of the New River, close to where Manns Creek meets it. Glade Creek joins Manns Creek approximately one mile upstream.
The town is situated on the opposite side of the New River from the Cunard River Access facility of the National Park Service.
The area of Sewell was established on property that was previously owned by Peter Bowyer. Bowyer constructed a cabin and started a small farm and ferry business in this location in 1798.
It is possible that Bowyer was the initial individual to create a residence and enterprise in the New River Gorge.
Republican states are getting ready to take legal action against Biden's regulations on power plants. The settlement that emerged at Bowyers Ferry was eventually called Sewell, after Stephen Sewell, who was among the initial White settlers in the upper Greenbrier Valley.
The Longdale Iron Co was nearing completion of its construction as the C&O Railroad was being built through the New River Gorge.
Started purchasing land containing coal resources near Sewell.
Longdale commenced mining operations at Sewell, its first mine, several months after the completion of the rail line through the Gorge in 1873.
The company intended to convert coal extracted from Sewell into coke, which would be used to power its steel furnaces located 128 miles away in Longdale, Virginia.
The process of making Coke involves heating coal to remove its impurities, resulting in a fuel that burns at a higher temperature and is more suitable for iron production.
The initial mine of Longdale at Sewell was established a year ago, and now the company has started the production of its first coke ovens at the same location.
Longdale was the initial company to manufacture coke in the New River Gorge, and introduced the utilization of coke ovens in the "beehive" style, which was later adopted by several other companies.
A high school teacher in West Virginia has incorporated a "body farm" that studies decomposing bodies into their class lessons. Sewell, which had 196 coke ovens, became the leading coke production site in the Gorge within a decade.
Coke production at Sewell persisted until 1956, even after other coke ovens in the New River Gorge had stopped functioning.
In the mid-1880s, the coal reserves that were supplying the coke operation in Sewell, Longdale, started to deplete.
The company requested civil engineers from C&O to determine if it was economically viable to construct a new, narrow gauge branch line that would extend through Manns Creek and reach Clifftop at the Gorge's peak, in order to access the company's coal reserves.
The company sought advice from Charleston engineer William G after their specialists determined that the suggested branch line was not viable.
Reynolds informed them that the task was feasible, but it would require a payment of $100,000.
In 1886, Reynolds was responsible for creating and managing the building of the Manns Creek Railroad, a railway that was only 3 feet in width.
During the early 1900s, Sewell was at its peak with over 300 residents and had a thriving store, hotel, and sawmill.
Presently, there are several remains of Sewell that are still visible, including a springhouse that is still in use, the walls and chimney of an office building and vault, and numerous coke ovens in the town.
The National Park Service advises visitors to be cautious and prevent harm when exploring cultural resource sites such as Sewell. Additionally, they recommend refraining from removing any artifacts from these locations. To access the Fox News app, click on the provided link.
People who visit Sewell should be careful not to enter the CSX railroad area that is currently in use and is located between the town and the New River.
The distance for hiking back and forth from Sewell's townsite to Babcock's Glade Creek gristmill is approximately 12 miles.
The Old Sewell Trail has 12 benches placed in strategic locations to offer tired hikers a place to rest and relax.
It took approximately seven hours to complete a hike to Sewell, which involved a lunch break and an hour of exploring the townsite.
It is recommended that individuals who are journeying on the path should carry water and wear durable footwear.