Greenbrier: River Landscapes, Caves and Culture

Greenbrier invites you to discover a wide variety of experiences: a river trail follows a former railroad line, caves reach deep underground, and museums, city tours and stage performances offer insights into the region’s history and culture. When planning your trip, it’s worth first choosing your focus: active days outdoors, a visit underground, or more time for local places and events.

Out and about by the river and on the trails

The Greenbrier River Trail is a 78-mile former railroad line that is now used for hiking, biking and horseback riding. For most of its length, it follows the Greenbrier River. This brings outdoor activity on the trail and the river as a landscape feature closely together. There are also good fishing opportunities along most of the route. A West Virginia fishing license is required to fish in the Greenbrier River.

Greenbrier State Forest offers another way to stay active outdoors: it covers more than 5,100 acres and has 19 miles of mountain biking trails. There is also a campground with 16 sites for tents and recreational vehicles. The trail, mountain biking routes and campground suit different travel plans—from spending time on a long route to staying in the forest. Which combination is right for your stay depends on how you want to spend your days.

Caves and hidden history

Two remarkable underground worlds await below the surface. The cave system at Lost World Caverns extends for 11 miles and lies 120 to 235 feet deep. A four-hour expedition offered there leads through tunnels and chambers filled with formations; along the way, participants climb and crawl. This is a very different kind of experience, in terms of both time and activity, from a trip on the Greenbrier River Trail. Organ Cave, meanwhile, has more than 45 miles of mapped passages.

The region’s history can also be discovered at specific sites. From 1962 to 1992, the Greenbrier Bunker served as an underground relocation center for the U.S. Congress. The Greenbrier Bunker Tour takes visitors through a 25-ton blast door. The North House Museum, built in 1820, houses artifacts, archives and family genealogies from Greenbrier County; free guided interpretive tours are also offered.

City history, art and stage performances

Lewisburg’s history can be explored from several different angles. The Lewisburg History Tour visits early landmarks—from the town’s founding fort to a Civil War site. The Lewisburg Historic Walking Tour tells the story of the town, its founders and its architecture. Printed materials for a self-guided walk through Downtown Lewisburg are available at the Greenbrier Valley Visitors Center.

In Lewisburg, Carnegie Hall is one of only four Carnegie Halls in the world. Since 1983, it has served as a regional arts center and event venue. The Greenbrier Valley Theatre is West Virginia’s professional state theater; its program includes live theater, music events, children’s productions and literary readings. For a trip focused on culture, there are several options: city history on a walking tour, art at an event venue, and stage performances.

The Blue Sulphur Springs Pavilion is another special place that forms part of the region’s heritage and is West Virginia’s only resort pavilion. A roadside pull-off and a footpath lead to the pavilion. Check current visitor information before setting out.

Travel routes and the right focus

The 180-mile Midland Trail National Scenic Byway passes through Greenbrier County, connecting rural landscapes, historic sites and small towns along its route. U.S. Route 60 is also useful for getting around by road: it passes through Rainelle, Rupert, Lewisburg and White Sulphur Springs in Greenbrier County. Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB) is one of seven airports in West Virginia with commercial air service. Amtrak’s Cardinal route stops in White Sulphur Springs and Alderson. Since flight routes and train schedules can change, check your connections before traveling.

When looking for a vacation rental, it helps to decide what you want to focus on during your stay: if the Greenbrier River Trail is central to your trip, the river landscape and outdoor activities will take center stage. Those especially interested in city history, art and stage performances can plan to make Lewisburg their cultural hub. Smooth Ambler Spirits offers another glimpse into local production: the distillery is located in Maxwelton in Greenbrier County and was founded there in 2009 to produce craft spirits.

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White Sulphur Springs, Lewisburg

Discover more destinations: Fayette County, Nicholas County, Putnam County, Boone County, Mineral County, Hampshire County

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