THURMOND, WV (SWVO) – New River Gorge National Park and Preserve has begun an approximately $11.8 million project to restore the Rend Trail and its historic bridges, a major investment aimed at reconnecting communities across Fayette County to the national park.
The project, funded by the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund, will repair the 3.2-mile trail that connects the Thurmond area with Minden and Oak Hill.
The National Park Service was joined by Friends of New River Gorge and the National Park Foundation for a ceremonial groundbreaking marking the beginning of construction.
“Rend Trail offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience the history, communities and landscapes that shaped New River Gorge,” said Acting Superintendent Eric LaPrice. “Thanks to funding from the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund, this project will improve safety and access and ensure visitors can enjoy this remarkable trail for generations to come.”
Formerly known as the Thurmond-Minden Trail, the Rend Trail follows the New River and Dunloup Creek and provides views of historic downtown Thurmond and the surrounding community.
The route was originally constructed in 1906 as a railroad line used to haul coal. Today, it serves as a recreational trail featuring scenic views and five historic railroad trestles.
However, aging infrastructure has created structural risks that have resulted in partial closures along the trail, including the closure of one of its main bridges. The area’s steep terrain has also prevented hikers and bicyclists from continuously traveling the trail.
The project is expected to eliminate those barriers and restore the Rend Trail as an important connection between the national park and surrounding Fayette County communities.
Work will include rehabilitating the multi-beam bridges, repairing retaining walls, resurfacing the trail and rerouting a portion around Big Rock. The project will also rehabilitate trailheads at Thurmond and Minden/Oak Hill.
Once completed, the improvements are expected to address public safety hazards while strengthening a major recreational route between Thurmond, Minden and Oak Hill and providing those communities with improved access to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
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