Riding the Old Hot Springs Branch from Covington to Natural Well

Twenty miles of crushed gravel and river-hugging rail grade doesn’t sound like a dramatic day out—until you realize the route under your tires once carried Chesapeake & Ohio trains into the mountains of western Virginia.

We rode the Jackson River Scenic Trail on February 28, starting at the southern end near Covington and heading north to Natural Well before turning back. We were a little short on time and didn’t complete the full trail, but this out-and-back delivered exactly what a good rail-trail should: easy miles, big scenery, and just enough history to make the ride feel like something more than exercise.

If the Virginia Capital Trail feels like infrastructure reclaiming an old transportation corridor, the Jackson River Scenic Trail feels more intimate. This is mountain railroading turned quiet recreation path—less industrial waterfront, more river bends, cliff faces, and the lingering sense that something mechanical used to move through here with purpose.

Jackson River Scenic Trail: Covington to the River Valley

We rolled out from the southern-most parking area near Covington and headed north, rolling directly onto the old grade. Right away, the defining trait of the Jackson River Scenic Trail makes itself known: this route still rides like a railroad.

The gravel is fine and smooth, the grade is gentle, and the line bends with the Jackson River in long, easy curves that feel built to calm the journey rather than challenge it. Much of the trail runs parallel to the river, and the farther north you go, the more the corridor settles into that quiet, immersive rail-trail rhythm.

This is a 16-mile rail-trail stretching from Covington into Bath County, following the former Hot Springs Branch of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. It is scenic without being flashy. The beauty comes in layers—water beside the trail, wooded walls, exposed rock, and the feeling that the route was engineered to belong exactly where it is.

The Railroad Beneath the Ride

What gives this trail its personality is the history under the gravel.

The Jackson River Scenic Trail follows the old Hot Springs Branch, a line built to connect Covington’s C&O main line to Hot Springs and the resort destination known as The Homestead. Regular passenger service ran on the branch from 1891 until 1970, carrying visitors into the Alleghany Highlands on a route designed to keep grades manageable by following the valley and staying close to the river.

In its later years, the branch became known for the “Hot Springs Mixed,” a mixed train that handled both passengers and freight on the same run. That detail matters because it helps explain why this corridor feels so grounded in working history. This wasn’t just a scenic line—it was a railroad that brought people to a mountain resort while also moving the goods and fuel that kept the valley functioning.

The line’s regular passenger era ended in 1970, and the best-documented last trip to Hot Springs came in 1974. After that, the rails were removed and the corridor went quiet for decades.

Northbound to Natural Well

For our ride, Natural Well made the perfect turnaround.

From the southern end near Covington, the trail gradually draws you deeper into the valley. Smith Bridge comes first, and Natural Well lies farther north, making it a clean and satisfying target for a roughly 20-mile out-and-back. By the time we reached that point, the ride had settled into a pattern that rail-trail riders know well: steady cadence, no real climbing, and scenery that reveals itself gradually rather than all at once.

Natural Well itself is a simple but satisfying place to stop. There are picnic tables, a crossing, and enough space to pause, hydrate, and let the quiet do some of the work. We took a short break there, looked around, and tried to imagine what this same corridor sounded like when the Hot Springs Mixed was still working its way through the valley.

That’s the magic of trails like this. The grade still carries the logic of a railroad even when the rails are gone. Every gentle turn, every easy rise, every line-of-sight through the trees still reflects an older purpose.

A Corridor With a Second Life

Today, the Jackson River Scenic Trail has become one of the Alleghany Highlands’ standout recreation assets.

The trail now runs 16 miles from Covington into Bath County, and the final northern phase at Cedar Creek reached a ribbon-cutting milestone in 2025. That matters because this is not just an abandoned rail bed with a few local walkers on it—it is a real destination trail, and one that is still growing into itself.

Even on a partial ride, that newer identity is easy to feel. The trail is maintained, accessible, and scenic, but it still holds onto enough railroad character that the experience never feels generic. If you like routes where the history is inseparable from the ride itself, this one stands out.

Closing Thoughts

We didn’t complete the full Jackson River Scenic Trail on this trip, but going from Covington to Natural Well and back was enough to understand why this route sticks with people.

It’s not a hard ride, and it doesn’t need to be. The appeal is the combination of smooth gravel, river scenery, Appalachian rock walls, and the persistent sense that you’re moving through a corridor that still remembers trains.

If there’s a takeaway here, it’s this: some trails are built for speed, some for fitness, and some for scenery. The Jackson River Scenic Trail is built for all three, but what really sets it apart is memory. You can still feel the old branch line in the shape of the ride itself.

Ride Notes and Takeaways

For riders planning the same segment, the Covington-to-Natural Well out-and-back is an easy, high-reward rail-trail day.

• Start: Southern end near Covington / Intervale area
• Turnaround: Natural Well Trailhead
• Distance: About 20 miles round trip
• Surface: Fine crushed gravel
• Difficulty: Mostly flat rail grade
• Key waypoint: Smith Bridge comes before Natural Well and helps break up the outbound leg
• Average elevation estimate for this ride: about 1,375 feet
• Best fit: Gravel bikes, hybrids, e-bikes, fat bikes, and casual rail-trail riders

If you only have a couple of hours and want a ride that gives you scenery, history, and smooth miles without a big logistical lift, this segment is a strong choice.

Bike: For this ride, I took old faithful, the trusty OG, The Nomad. The bike does sport a bit of a new look, but it’s the same bike at heart.

Sources

• Jackson River Scenic Trail official site: https://jacksonrivertrail.com/
• Jackson River Scenic Trail trail experience page: https://jacksonrivertrail.com/trail-experience/
• Jackson River Scenic Trail map: https://jacksonrivertrail.com/map/
• TrailLink overview of the Jackson River Scenic Trail: https://www.traillink.com/trail/jackson-river-scenic-trail/
• Alleghany Highlands tourism page for the trail: https://visitalleghanyhighlands.com/jackson-river-scenic-trail/
• C&O Historical Society / Homestead rail history reference: https://chessieshop.com/product/the-homestead-and-the-co-railway/
• Alleghany Highlands Chamber event page for Cedar Creek ribbon cutting: https://ahchamber.com/event/ribbon-cutting-celebration-for-the-jackson-river-scenic-trail-cedar-creek-trailhead/