Hiking the Kaymoor Miners Trail

I was quite nervous about hiking the Kaymoor Miners Trail.  OK, I was absolutely petrified!   We had visited the area a few months earlier and we had heard fabulous things about the Kaymoor Miners Trail.  It was supposed to have anything that someone could ask for.  Waterfalls, gorgeous views and abandoned ruins of a coal mine, it had it all.  It sounded like something we would love   We had known that it was a must do hike.  So on that visit, we made our way to the trail head to hike this trail.   We even started down the trail anxious to see what this trail was all about.  It didn't bother us that the trail was marked as strenuous.  We had been on difficult trails before!  We had this!

We did not have that!  On that hike, we got to the waterfall and the steep rock scramble and I totally wimped out!  I became frightened and worried about my balance and stability and we turned around and did not complete that hike.  I regretted it almost immediately and began to try to come up with ideas to allow me to traverse that rock scramble safely.  I came up with the idea to start hiking with trekking poles.  Best decision ever!

Time to Hike the Kaymoor Miners Trail

I had been hiking with my trekking poles for a few months between our first visit to the New River Gorge and the Kaymoor Miners Trail and the second visit. The time had come, we were back at the New River Gorge for our vacation.  It was time to put those trekking poles to use and hike the Kaymoor Miners Trail.  I was so excited to experience this trail that we decided to hike this trail on our very first day of our vacation.  

We started out on the trail and we were loving the trail.  It was easy, deceptively so; but I knew what was ahead of me.  We got to that rock scramble area and it didn't seem quite as difficult.  I paused for a few seconds and then moved forward.  I went carefully and slowly but it wasn't that bad and the rock scramble was relatively short. 

Kaymoor Miners Trail

We kept hiking and before long we were at the intersection of the Kaymoor Trail.  The Kaymoor Trail in this area sits on a shelf on the side of the mountain.  This is the first visible evidence of the old mine.   You can see buildings and mine entrances at this level.  

Kaymoor Mine

Kaymoor Mine

Kaymoor Miners Trail:  Stairway 

After exploring this area, we took a deep breath and headed down the stairs.  The signage near the stairs makes it very clear that there are 821 steps that will take the brave person down the side of the mountain.  The signs also included a brief description of what we would see at the bottom of the steps.   There was no question in my mind!  We were going down those stairs! 

Kaymoor Miners Trail Stairway

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hThe stairs were tough.  Going down them was surprisingly rough on my muscles.  Climbing back up the steps?  That was difficult also!  I was breathing like a freight train!

But on my word!  The beauty at the bottom of those steps is incredible!  The ruins of the abandoned mine are all around you.  There are traces of the lives and work that took place here evident with every step we took!  It was worth every muscle ache and every gasp for breath as I climbed back up!

Inside Building at bottom of Kaymoor Mine

Kaymoor Mine Tankers

Abandoned equipment Kaymoor Mine

I was so afraid of this hike, and it turned out to be the best hike of our entire visit.  Was it difficult?  Absolutely!  Would I do it again?  In a heartbeat!  The Kaymoor Miners trail has it all.  It's a great workout.  It has fabulous scenery.  It has abandoned buildings.  It has amazing history.  It has the peace that nature brings.  This trail is top notch!
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Nature and views at Kaymoor Mine