Guest River Gorge Trail Temporary Closure

03/06/2018 Norton, VA -  The George Washington and Jefferson National Forest will temporarily close the Guest River Gorge Trail this month to repair storm damage.  The repair work is estimated to begin on March 12 and is expected to take approximately 45 days. During the repairs, the entrance road, parking lot, and trail will be closed to ensure public safety.  

 

The repair work is needed to address damage from a 2015 storm and includes a large-scale trail embankment reconstruction. The repair, in addition to improving conditions for trail users, will reduce the potential of the unstable bank impacting the water quality of the Guest River. During the repair work, heavy equipment will be traveling into and along the trail and the trestle bridge safety rails will be removed to allow passage of heavy equipment. 

 

“I recognize this is a popular trail and the temporary closure will be an inconvenience to our users”, Clinch District Ranger Michelle Davalos said, “However, visitor safety is my utmost concern at this time. I look forward to the trail being open again and serving as a source of enjoyment for Forest visitors.”

 

The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests’ 5.9 mile Guest River Gorge Trail is located approximately 2 miles south of the Town of Coeburn in Wise County. The trail lies on the old Norfolk/Southern railway and is used by hikers and bicyclists. For more information about the trail or other nearby opportunities, please contact the Clinch Ranger District office at 276-679-8370.