Broken glass around the foundations of old miners’ homes in Nuttallburg, West Virginia

Nuttallburg via atlasobscura

Because I couldn't resist on Black and White Monday, here's another shot from the Headhouse Trail at the Nuttallburg Mine site...and yes this is the actual headhouse... @newrivernps #newrivergorge #nuttallburg (at Nuttallburg, West Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CE2Ieu2lJRx/?igshid=1n5fws9ulsnls

Here we are visiting the abandoned town of #Nuttallburg #WV #Appalachia #photos #history #coal (at Nuttallburg Mine) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0nWONZnxOf/?igshid=5ez2expufa3s

The second mine of the day was Kaymoor, active from 1899 through the early 1960s. After the final company abandoned the operation they left the site intact, only filling in the mine entrances

The trail starts at the top of the gorge at the site of the former town of Kaymoor Top, descending quickly to the mine portal and outbuildings. Where Nuttallburg was mainly a few stone foundations, many of them at Kaymoor still have walls and the powder house even has an intact full roof. The mine entrance was one again sealed against explorers.

After the mine level the trail follows the old haulage line that took miners and cargo from Kaymoor Top to the sister town Kaymoor Bottom by the river. Parallel to the nearly 800 stairs was the conveyor, in much poorer but probably original condition. At the bottom a large fenced off area contained the old power station and the remains of the tipple, dynamited by the NPS in the early 2000s to keep it from falling on the active CSX rail line nearby. The power station is remarkably intact from the outside, with one hall roofless and overgrown but still standing, while the tipple is no more than a crumpled pile of wood and corrugated steel over the remains of the trail yard.

SOUTH ELEVATION, HOIST HOUSE HOUSES THE EQUIPMENT USED TO POWER MOUNTAIN HAULAGE; NOTE WINDING ENGINE (CENTER) - Nuttallburg Mine Complex, Hoist House, North side of New River, 2.7 miles upstream from Fayette Landing, Lookout, Fayette County, WV

Made it to the bottom in 90 minutes but I bet it takes a lot longer to hike back to the top #wvmountains #wv #newrivergorge #hikingadventures #hikingselfie #exploreoutside (at Nuttallburg Coal Mining Complex and Town Historic District)

Had a good time hiking the Endless Wall Trail in Fayetteville WV today...def gonna be hitting this place up for a sunrise or sunset soon!!! ___ The Endless Wall is one of the best "unknown" hiking destinations within the park. Long known to locals and rock climbers, this property was added to the park in May 1998, thanks to the willingness of trustees for the Nuttall Estate to sell this spectacular property to the NPS. This addition to the park protects significant natural and historical resources, and will provide visitors with abundant opportunities. ___ Great views of the New River, almost 1000 feet below, are abundant. You can often hear the voices of whitewater rafters as they experience the wild rapids of the lower New. This area also offers significant historical resources, being the site of the Nuttallburg Mine — the largest mine in the New River Coalfields in the late 1800s. ___ You might also get a glimpse of some of the thousands of rock climbers who visit the park to challenge themselves on the vertical sandstone walls that rim the gorge. Climbers come from all over the United States, and around the world, to select from the over 1600 climbing routes in the park. ___ (at Endless Wall Trail)

Nuttalburg coal camp. #emilyschwankphotographer #takemehomecountryroads #westvirginia #travelchangeslives #newrivergorge #nuttalburgcoalmine (at Nuttallburg, West Virginia)

King of the tipple. Anyone know what species this is? He also has a blue belly. #herpetology #lizard #wv #appalachia #nuttallburg #ghosttown

Imagine finding this in the woods. I mentioned the Headhouse Trail in Nuttallburg, WV in a previous photo...well this is the headhouse. @newrivernps #newrivergorge #nuttallburg (at Nuttallburg, West Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEu1ogKl-eu/?igshid=o9wwd0iibtvi

Here we are visiting the abandoned town of #Nuttallburg #WV #Appalachia #photos #history #coal (at Nuttallburg Mine) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0nWMRRndIG/?igshid=wd002qymifp0

Hope you guys aren't bored of hiking pictures yet because my friend and I went back to the New River Gorge today to explore some former mining towns

First up Nuttallburg, active from around 1880 until 1953. The mine entrance itself has been heavily closed off to prevent exploration, but visitors are able to walk inside the headhouse that weighed coal before sending it down the conveyor to the tipple at the valley floor. Most of these buildings were restored by the NPS after the site was acquired in the late 1990s, as they were in disrepair after sitting abandoned for nearly half a century.

GENERAL VIEW OF HEADHOUSE, SHOWING MAIN MINE PORTAL, LOOKING SOUTHEAST - Nuttallburg Mine Complex, Headhouse, North side of New River, 2.7 miles upstream from Fayette Landing, Lookout, Fayette County, WV

Emmet Jo #newrivergorge #travelchangeslives #westvirginia #takemehomecountryroads #emilyschwankphotographer (at Nuttallburg, West Virginia)

Nuttallburg Coal Mining Complex by jeua on Flickr.