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 I have tried twice in the last year to get down to Sewell through Babcock State Park and have decided after two aborts that a bike may be the best way to get down to the ruins at Swell. Twice we got tired of the 5 MPH ride through pot holes for 5 miles and gave up after 1/2 hour as we could see we were still way "up the creek", Manns Creek. It is a beautiful canyon and we will go back when there are less leaves. The grade is not bad, 4% but and the 1000 ft rise coming back in 5 miles should be OK! A motorised bike would be nice. The road is not gravel, more hard dirt and some rocks positioned in line with oil pans. There are bike rentals in the area at some of the river runner camps.
River rafting is a big time industry in the area now. One Camp, Force V, is located right on the north rim of the canyon with a deck overlooking the arched bridge and with the views of shown on page 29 of Riding that New River Train, the bible of the New. Take the back road from Ansted toward the arch bridge and you go right by the Force V outpost.
We checked into the quaint Babcock Park cabins but my wife, Georgia, did not like the smoky cabins. They do have cabins without fireplaces for all size groups from 2 up but we decided to check in to our old standby the Hawks Nest Lodge. It's $65 with A/C and a room with a view of the C&O Hawks Nest Bridge.
With a scanner you can hear the crews calling Hawks Nest and Cotton Hill signals from the lodge. Two passing crews were talking about their "two lightening bolts" and how quick they could take 90 loads up the river. CSX has a big program to keep things humming along at track speed and reduce running times - and overtimes.
They have located the new 1000 ft high arched bridge just so on a clear day you could just see it from the Lodge's dining room - the food was great and reasonably priced. For $15 the lodge has a package tour to take you on a tram down to the New River where you board a large 30 passenger jet boat that takes you up the river almost to the arched bridge at Fayette Station.
You can also drive down to the river from Ansted following the abandon branch line and passing a spectacular high curved wood trestle way below you in the canyon. At the bottom is a park with a snack bar, facilities, boat ramp, paddle boats and the jet boat.
Another good overnight stop is the Glen Ferris Inn 3 miles west of Gauley Bridge located on the side of the New/Kanawha Rivers and next to the NYC, Conrail and probably NS soon. Their gazebo dining deck is right on the river at the Gauley dam. CSX is across the river and keeps trains humming through the trees. There was a power plant down stream at Cabin Creek Jct. but they tore it down. Always make hotel reservations ahead of time and have a nice trip.
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