CSX Boulders

The area is access sensitive!

🔴This area is water level dependent. The minimum level is 4.35ft. You can find the current water level at this site:
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/380649081083301/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D

🚗 Driving:
From Fayetteville, drive north on WV-16, heading straight through the intersection with US-19. Drive about 8.5 miles to a stop sign at the intersection with US-60. Make a careful U-turn at the odd intersection and head back the way you came. After crossing over the first bridge, park in the next pullout on your right. This is labeled "Parking 7".

Hiking:
This is a challenging hike, and after a steep descent requires scrambling over riverside talus. From the parking, walk south (upstream, towards Hawks Nest Dam, further up the road in the direction that your car is pointing). Follow a 2-3ft high hump of ground on the outside of the guard rail. The hump disappears into a steep ravine, then starts up again. When it flattens out, hop over the guard rail (there is usually a cairn here) and follow the faint trail down the pretty steep hill. The trail heads downhill briefly, then traverses the hill left to a fixed rope (inexplicably this sometimes gets stolen. If there is no rope, don't go down the hill). Use the rope for the even steeper hill all the way to the river. Work gloves are helpful. The fist cluster of boulders is upstream from the approach trail (if you're facing the river, to the left), but most boulders are downstream. The trail is long, steep, and poorly maintained with a handline. Once you reach river level, the walking is adventurous with rock hopping, scrambling, and routefinding. Total hiking time: 15-45 minutes.