Thurmond Walk

Unlike many turn of the century towns in New River Gorge, Thurmond was a railroad town instead of a coal town. For years, this small town brought in millions of dollars for the C&O Railway with a bustling downtown district and trains rolling through every 15 minutes. Now, over 100 years since the boom time of Thurmond, the town is all but abandoned. Join a ranger as you walk through the remnants of the downtown district while learning more about this unique place and the people who lived there. This outdoors walking tour will cover approximately 0.25 miles one way on mostly flat paved and graveled walkways. Some terrain may become slightly uneven. Good shoes, water, a hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent are recommended. The path through town is located directly next to active CSX railroad mainline; loud freight trains may be encountered during the tour.

Meet at the Thurmond Depot Visitor Center. The road to Thurmond is narrow and winding; RVs and trailers are not recommended on this road. Since parking is limited at the depot, overflow and large vehicle parking is available across the river in the Dunglen area. Visitors in this parking lot can access the town by walking across the road bridge.