Glady Durbin

At each end of the road, a sign greets you and offers you a choice. It reads, "Two historic pathways await you — it's your choice! You are about to travel through a forest landscape steeped in logging and railroad history. Over a century ago, the West Fork was unspoiled and inaccessible. Thick forests of spruce and hemlock reigned supreme. The coming of the railroad and the woodsman's axe in the early 1900s transformed and reshaped this now-tranquil land."

Glady Durbin, Forest Road 44, was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and US Forest Service in the 1930s and 1950s. It is a 20-mile scenic mountain drive that parallels areas of the West Fork Rail Trail. The road is entirely gravel and suitable for any high-clearance vehicle. It crosses Lynn Divide, which is a natural dividing line between the headwaters of two major water systems in the Monongahela National Forest. Precipitation falling a few feet to the north, towards Glady, Is destined for the Cheat River. Precipitation falling to the south, towards Durbin, flows into the Greenbrier River.

Due to the route's historical significance, a few ghost townsites remain following logging and rail activity, although no original buildings can be seen. In these townsite areas, interpretive signs will be visible for those curious about what became of the towns. These areas are also filled with summer wildflowers.

The road has 15 designated dispersed campsites, with sites 7-10 being the premier locations.