Cedar Creek Backway in Gilmer County, West Virginia

Popular for bicycling, fishing and camping, the Cedar Creek Road Backway in West Virginia wanders 42 miles from WV Route 5 to Interstate 79. Because the route is divided into four zones of varied characteristics, the adventurous can enjoy the route from one end to the other, while those with limited means or time can enjoy the Cedar Creek Backway one zone at a time. To get a feel for the Cedar Creek Backway path, visit our online map.

Zone One:
Lower Cedar Creek
Beginning on WV Route 5 at historic Pisgah Church, this zone offers a rolling, unpaved, gravel path through the wide natural valleys. Pisah Church has many historic gravesites, including one from the civil war. This zone, although appropriate for motorized vehicles, this natural wildlife area can be most appreciated by those on foot, bicycle, or horseback. A popular crossing for turkey, groundhog, deer and raccoon, the shaded path also runs past the home of hawk and the great blue heron.

Zone Two:
Cedar Creek Road
Zone two is a paved, mostly shaded trek perfect for joggers and bicycling families. The most popular feature of this region is Cedar Creek State Park. The park features three lakes, 45 campsites, a swimming pool, picnic pavilions, volleyball and tennis courts, hiking trails and miniature golf. Historic features include a One-Room School Teacher Memorial, a reconstructed one-room school, and a restored cabin.

Zone Three:
Cedarville and Exchange
Zone Three is a paved path through the small historic towns of Cedarville and Exchange where most buildings date from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. Visitors to Cedarville are welcome to view the Butcher old-time watering trough, historic landmark Cedarville School, and the General Store, which dates back to the Civil War era. In Exchange, the old mill still stands, and old bullet holes still poke through the once-ornate ceilings of the General Store and post office.

Zone Four:
The Spur
The most challenging section of the Backway, the Spur is a bicycle enthusiast's delight, but is not appropriate for recreational vehicles or low-riding cars. This unpaved path makes an arduous climb up CR 19/22 to Sunshine Church before rattling back down hill to CR 10/4. The Spur then turns northwest toward Cedar Creek where it catches Route 10 back into Zone Three.