RED ASH, WV (SWVO) – Hidden along the New River in Fayette County is an abandoned cemetery containing more than 200 graves, many of which date back to the region’s coal-mining era.
Known as Red Ash Island Cemetery, the historic burial ground is located on an approximately 12-acre island within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. The cemetery serves as a reminder of the diseases, mining disasters and hardships experienced by residents of the New River Gorge during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
During the 1890s, Red Ash Island was used as an isolation area for people suffering from smallpox. Those who died from the disease were buried on the island, away from surrounding communities.
The cemetery also became a burial place for coal miners who died in accidents at the nearby Red Ash Mine, along with victims of other illnesses, including influenza.
Although more than 200 people are believed to be buried there, only a small number of headstones remain visible today. Many graves are unmarked or have become obscured by vegetation as the island has gradually been reclaimed by nature.
How to hike to Red Ash Island Cemetery
Visitors interested in exploring the historic cemetery can access the area using the Southside Trail in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
One approach begins at the Brooklyn trailhead near Cunard in Fayette County. From there, hikers can follow the Southside Trail along the New River for approximately two miles toward Red Ash Island.
The trail follows a former railroad corridor and passes through an area once home to several coal-mining communities.
Access to the island itself depends on river conditions. During periods of low water, visitors may be able to reach the island on foot. However, higher water levels can make the island inaccessible, and the route from the trail to the cemetery is not clearly marked.
Visitors should not attempt to cross flowing water to reach the island and should use caution when exploring the area.
Red Ash Island Cemetery remains one of the lesser-known historic locations within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, preserving the memory of residents and coal miners who lived and died in the region more than a century ago.
According to the National Park Service, hikers must leave the Southside Trail and travel downhill toward the riverbank to reach the island. The park describes the approach as a moderate hike, with a creek separating the elevated island from the surrounding land.
The National Park Service also reminds visitors that removing or disturbing historic objects and gravesites is prohibited. Nearby active railroad tracks are private property and should not be used to access the area.
Additional information about the cemetery and its history is available on the National Park Service’s Red Ash Island webpage.
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