River Access & Ridge to River Trail is a 10.7-mile out-and-back in Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield near Riverside, WV. The route reaches River Access. It climbs 424 ft, with sections as steep as 15% grade, and is mostly paved. It scores 35/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
0 mi367 – 659 ft · steepest grade: 15%11.1 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Mission Road 39.16135, -77.84398
Nearest town Riverside, WV
Directions
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River Access & Ridge to River Trail
10.7 mi · ▲ 424 ft · 3 hr 47 min
Elevation 367–661 ft
Out & Back · Shenandoah River Campus at Cool Spring Battlefield
Trailhead: Mission Road · 39.16135, -77.84398
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:13 PM
Bikes allowed on the whole route · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Mission Road, heading SW.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Ridge to River / Perimeter Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Ridge to River Trail, heading W.
- 1.2 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading SW.
- 200 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.8 miPass River Access.
- 2.5 miBear left, heading E.
- 150 ftReach River Access, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 100 ftBear right, heading NE.
- 3.3 miBear right, heading NE.
- 250 ftBear left, heading N.
- 1.3 miContinue straight onto Ridge to River / Perimeter Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miSharp left onto Mission Road, heading E.
- 0.4 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
63% paved37% dirt
Weather
Sunrise 6:58 AMSunset 7:13 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.6 mi in (~68 min). Leave by 5:46 PM for the 7:13 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:43 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Bikes allowed on the whole route
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Mission Road Trailhead
- Foot Trail–Friends Trail, 5 sights 12.2 mi · ▲ 2,206 ft
- Ridge to River Trail 3.6 mi · ▲ 397 ft
- Raven Rocks–Power Line Trail, 3 sights 4 mi · ▲ 818 ft
- Fallen Tree–Mission Road, 3 sights 2.2 mi · ▲ 241 ft
- Friends Trail–Langdon Loop, 5 sights 9.8 mi · ▲ 1,714 ft
- Friends Trail–Niles Cabin Trail, 5 sights 4.2 mi · ▲ 707 ft
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