To reach either end of the trail from US 19, take the US 60 Exit and head east for 10 miles to State Route 41, heading south. The trail can be accessed from the campground, which is 2 miles south of US 60 at Clifftop (the trail begins on the service road between the campgrounds and the stables). This entrance is open only in summer.
The trail also can be accessed from the main park entrance, a little farther south on SR 41, behind Cabin #13. Follow the signs to Cabin #13 from the entrance. Go behind the Glade Creek Grist Mill and follow that road (Old Sewell Road) past the cabins to the official start of the trail at the fork of the creek. The trail is downhill from the cabins to the campground.
I hiked the Narrow Gauge trail Oct. 9 and enjoyed the scenery as well as the traces of old railroad ties and the rushing waters of the creek. As I left the trail to go back to my cabin, I missed the sound of the water. Compared to the Wilderness and Triple Creek trails at Babcock State Part, the Narrow Gauge Trail was interesting.
It is as advertised - the path of an old narrow gauge rail. But it's a dull hike. On one side the mountain the trail hugs rises, and below you can hear beautiful Glade Creek but most of the time you can't see it. 1.5 miles out there's a notch waterfall at the switchback as you descend to the creek, where you find a suspension bridge on the old railroad tresses pylons. When you get to the end and realize you have three miles of boredom back to parking, you'll let out a audible groan. There are so many better trails in the area.
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