Midland Trail
The Midland Trail Historical Tour
| Departure: | White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia |
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| Destination: | Charleston, West Virginia |
| Time to allow: | 1 day |
Along every mile of the Midland Trail, historical buildings await to be explored. The natives of the area make sure that not an ounce of the culture is lost.
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Start: White Sulphur Springs
Start off your journey with a glimpse of the history that abounds throughout the area. This town was the scene of the 1862 Civil War battle of Dry Creek.
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Stop 2: Lewisburg
Directions from previous place: Start going west on US 60 before turning left on US 64 towards Beckley. Take the 219 exit towards Lewisburg.
Distance from Previous Site: 11.37 miles / 18.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 16 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes Drive into this 200 year old ante-bellum town, which includes many galleries and shops for you to visit and collect souviners for your trip.
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Stop 3: Sam Black Church
Directions from previous place: Continue west on US60 before reaching the junction of US60 and US64.
Distance from Previous Site: 14 miles / 22.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 10 minutes Trail past this historic church, which was built in 1902 and named in honor of Rev. Samuel Black, a circuit-riding Methodist minister.
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Stop 4: Lookout
Directions from previous place: Continue on US 60.
Distance from Previous Site: 29 miles / 46.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 30 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Stop by the town of Lookout, which is home to "Spy Rock," and located close the Babcock State Park and Glade Creek Grist Mill.
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Stop 5: Hico
Directions from previous place: Start out going WEST on US-60 W toward CR-60 then make a U-TURN onto US-60 E. End at Hico.
Distance from Previous Site: 4.43 miles / 7.1 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes While on the Midland Trail, a stop in the heart of whitewater rafting country is a must, and a short detour will bring you to the Carnifex Ferry State Park, a historic Civil War battle site.
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Stop 6: Ansted
Directions from previous place: Go east on US60 E then make a U-turn onto US60 W.
Distance from Previous Site: 6.67 miles / 10.7 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes Located near Hawk's Nest State Park, Ansted has buildings that date back to the Civil War era, such as the Halfway House, and in the third week of September, celebrate the Country Roads Festival with the natives.
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Stop 7: Hawk's Nest State Park
Directions from previous place: Located just outside of the town of Ansted.
Distance from Previous Site: 3 miles / 4.8 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 3 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour 30 minutes This beautiful State Park offers a scenic overlook of the New River Gorge and tram rides down to the lake over 800 feet below.
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Stop 8: Malden
Directions from previous place: Continue on US60.
Distance from Previous Site: 45 miles / 72.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 hour Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes By visiting Malden, you can still see a number of homes from the time when salt industry was prominent. Malden also includes a reconstruction of Booker T. Washington's boyhood cabin, the Craik-Patton house.
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End: Charleston
Directions from previous place: Stay on US 60.
Distance from Previous Site: 7 miles / 11.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 2 hours A city of charm and history, Charleston is a must-see place on the Midland Trail. Culture abounds on the grounds of the capitol where you will be able to find specialty shops, sample homemake apple butter, and hear traditional dulcimer, banjo, and guitar music.
