9 NPS trail 9
Kaymoor Miners Trail
Steep switchbacks to the mine site, then 821 wooden steps toward river level.
From NPS Our data
Access by section
Upper Kaymoor Miners Trail: Access unknown
Current access evidence is missing. Check NPS before leaving.
Stairs and lower trail: access unknown.
- Unknown Today
- Unknown
- Unknown
- Unknown
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- Unknown
The park's facts
Length: 1.0 mi one way · Difficulty (NPS): “Strenuous; drops 900 ft” · hiking only
- Descends steeply about half a mile, on rocky stairs and switchbacks, to the Kaymoor mine site, where it crosses the Kaymoor Trail.
- A gorge view opens 0.2 mi down, on the right, before the stairs.
- From the mine site, 821 wooden steps continue to the coal processing plant, coke ovens and town site near river level. The trail doesn't reach the river.
- The railroad at river level is active and private property: don't walk on or cross the tracks.
- Leave walls, structures and artifacts as you find them.
Trailhead: Kaymoor Top
From US 19, follow WV 16 south through Fayetteville and turn left on Gatewood Road. After 2.0 mi, turn left at the Kaymoor sign onto Kaymoor No. 1 Road. Go about a mile to the T and turn left; parking is 50 yards on the right. Vault toilet.
NPS: Kaymoor Miners Trail · updated Jul 23, 2025. Its closure note still shows 2025 dates; the current closure comes from the closures page.
Walked by us
Our own GPS track of the whole trail, down the stairs and back.
- Round trip
- 1.5–1.6 mi
- Total ascent
- ≈940 ft
- Map file
- Download GPX ↓
Our GPS puts the top-to-bottom drop at about 950 ft, close to the NPS figure of 900. Read both as about 900–950 ft.
Routes that use this trail
- Craig Branch–Kaymoor Loop
The upper section, downhill · 4.8 mi loop
- Kaymoor Miners Trail and stairs
The whole trail, down and back · 1.5–1.6 mi
- Long Point–Timber Ridge–Fayetteville–Kaymoor circuit
The stairs down and back, then the upper section uphill · 7.9 mi
Connects to
- Kaymoor Trail
At the mine site
- Fayetteville Trail
At Kaymoor Top
- Butcher Branch Trail
At Kaymoor Top, toward Long Point
Where this comes from
- NPS: Kaymoor Miners Trail
- Updated 2025-07-23. Handoff check: 2026-10-26. Page still shows 2025 closure dates; the closures page is the current source.
- NPS road and trail closures
- Access unknown. Check the NPS page.
- Our GPS tracks
- Track, distance, total ascent, high and low points, profile, GPX file. Collected on foot; altitude not terrain-corrected.
Not on this page
- Photos. None of ours yet. None borrowed.
- Footing and conditions. Not assessed. Weather and trail surface change.
- Accessibility. Not assessed here; ask NPS.
NPS facts are the park's; the GPS data is ours; neither is a rating.