Sunrise Carriage Trail

West Virginia

Meandering 0.65 mile gravel trail rising 200 feet through a forested haven with abundant wildflowers and birds, originally constructed in 1905 for oxen hauling construction stone to build the Sunrise mansion, as nearby Bridge Road was too steep for the animals.

photo: Section of Carriage Trail in Spring

Be the first to review this trail.

Length: 0.65 miles
Loop Trail? No
Type: Nature Trail
Agency: City, Town, or County
Entry Fee? No
Parking Fee? No

Allowed Uses:

Bicycling (on pavement)
Dogs - On leash
Heritage and History
Pedestrian - Walking/Hiking/Running
Wildlife Observation

See more details.

Location: Adjacent to Bridge Road, the Southside Bridge, and downtown Charleston, WV, between Myrtle Road and Justice Row
State(s): West Virginia
Counties: Kanawha
Longitude: -81.63911
Latitude: 38.34631

Driving Directions

From downtown Charleston, cross the Southside Bridge (Dickinson Street) in the center lane; go past the ramp and immediately turn right on Justice Row (do not take the ramp, or Bridge Road, or Louden Heights Road)

Description

A short walk across the Southside Bridge from downtown Charleston, WV leads to the Sunrise Carriage Trail, a meandering 0.65 gravel trail which rises gently through a beautiful forest. The Trail is a welcome respite, offering a walker a cool breeze, abundant bird song, numerous varieties of wildflowers, fragrant and flowering shrubs and trees. Huge cut stones serve as benches and offer places to rest. There are two noteworthy monuments. The first is a short distance from the Justice Row entrance and reads: "In the second year of the Civil War, two women convicted as spies by drumhead court martial were brought to this spot, shot, and here buried. In 1905 when building this road to Sunrise, their remains were disinterred and reburied opposite this stone." Further up the trail is a shrine erected by former Governor William A. MacCorkle in memory of his daughter, Isabelle. A statue of a compassionate figure with outstretched arms belongs in the shrine's niche and will be restored in the future. The Carriage Trail is one small part of an extensive trail system linking nearly all neighborhoods in the City of Charleston.

Additional Details

Width: 127 inches.
Primary Surface: Gravel
Secondary Surface: Asphalt
Wood chips

Average Grade: 5%
Maximum Grade: 8%
Elevation Low Point: 600
Elevation High Point: 800
Elevation Gain (cumulative): Not Available

Year Designated: 2012

Supporting Webpages and Documents

Brochure: Brochure for the Sunrise Carriage Trail with histo
Brochure: 4-page leaflet describing trees planted on Justice
Map: Charleston Greenways is the former name of the Nei
Website: Sunrise Carraige Trail/Facebook
Website: Charleston Land Trust

Contact Information

For more information and current conditions, contact the trail manager (listed below). For questions, suggestions, and corrections to information listed on the website, contact American Trails.

Trail Management:
David Molgaard
City Manager
City of Charleston
P. O. Box 2749
Charleston 25330, WV
(304) 348-8014
[email protected]

Public Contact:
Harley Goodwin
Director of Public Grounds
City of Charleston
1 Twilight Drive
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 348-6458
[email protected]

Trail Management:
Mary Stanley
Member, Charleston Land Trust
Charleston Land Trust
740 Myrtle Rd
Charleston, WV 25314 -1152
(304) 347-3279
[email protected]