If there’s one thing that West Virginia has no shortage of, it’s ruins of old mining towns. Many of these fascinating glimpses into the past are being slowly reclaimed by the surrounding forest. That’s definitely the case with Brooklyn Mine, which you can find abandoned right along a relatively easy rail-trail in West Virginia’s popular New River Gorge region.
The Brooklyn Coal Mine opened in the 1890s. By the very end of the 19th century, the Brooklyn mine had 50 beehive coke ovens and 72 employees. Today, remnants of those coke ovens lie buried beneath leaves and vines in the thick forest.
The massive mining buildings are still standing - barely. And bits and pieces of mining equipment - some large, some small - lie scattered along the forest floor nearby.
Ruins from the coal camp of Brooklyn, which was named for the mine and supplied the mine with most of its workforce, can also be seen near the Cunard River Access.
From Route 16 South in Fayetteville, follow signs for Cunard and/or Cunard River Access. The Brooklyn Trailhead is just past the Kaymoor Trailhead on the Cunard River Access Road. If you actually reach the river access, you've gone quite aways too far, but before you turn around, check out the ruins of the Brooklyn Coal Camp there along the river!
In addition to old mining ruins, the Brooklyn Trail offers a view or two of the gorge, especially in seasons when the leaves have fallen from the trees.
Unless you choose to start at Kaymoor and take the stairs, this is a fairly level out and back hike that stretches for a little more than 2.5 miles one way.
Have you hiked to the Brooklyn Mine? Any tips for your fellow adventurers? To learn more, visit the New River Gorge National Park website here. Another worthy hike in the area is the trek to Red Ash Island and cemetery, which you can read more about here.
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