A Salute to the Past, and a Commitment to the Present
If you’ve hiked the Craig Branch & Kaymoor Loop Trail, you’ve probably seen it — the rusted steel sign stretched across the path at the old Kaymoor mine entrance:
“YOUR FAMILY WANTS YOU TO WORK SAFELY.”
It’s more than just a relic. It’s a message that echoes across generations here in the New River Gorge.
The sign once reminded coal miners — men and boys who worked long hours in dangerous, often deadly conditions — that the most important thing was making it home safely. Today, it still carries weight, especially for climbers racking up to tackle the Gorge’s iconic sandstone.
At Water Stone Outdoors, we invite you to take that historic message to heart:
Your family wants you to climb safely.
As we lace up our approach shoes and gear up for spring and summer sends, it’s worth reflecting on the deep roots of hard work, risk, and resilience that run through this place. The Kaymoor mine was one of the most productive in the region — now part of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, it stands as a powerful memorial to the lives, labor, and legacy of Appalachian families. Many of today’s trails, including Kaymoor and Craig Branch, trace the same routes miners once walked to work. Today, those same cliffs that once echoed with the sounds of mining are filled with the voices of climbers. Long before miners, timber crews, rail workers, and climbers, the cliffs and rivers of the New River Gorge region were home to Indigenous peoples including the Shawnee, Cherokee, Moneton, Delaware and others—who revered the river and land and relied on them for sustenance.
As climbers, honoring the past means respecting the human stories behind the evolution of our region, protecting and sharing the lands that past generations opened up for us, and ensuring future generations from all of these communities can continue to enjoy the wonderful nature that surrounds us here in Appalachia.
Want to see it for yourself?
The Kaymoor Trail Loop is part of the #NRGTrailChallenge and leads you straight to the historic sign. Along the way, you’ll pass interpretive markers and remains of the old mine while walking beneath the cliffs that now draw climbers from around the world.
More trail info here »
Join the #NRGTrailChallenge »
Other Historic Mining Sites Worth a Visit:
Nuttallburg Mine Complex — Explore preserved coke ovens, tipples, and conveyor towers deep in the forest.
Thurmond — A near-ghost town that was once a booming rail hub along the Gorge.
Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine — Tour an underground mine with real miners as your guides.
Coal Heritage Trail — A broader driving tour linking multiple historic sites across Southern West Virginia.
Climbing Culture, Rooted in Respect
It’s easy to focus on the crags and overlook the history beneath our feet. But every trail, cliff, and overlook in the Gorge tells a story.
Climbing here isn’t just about style and grades — it’s about joining a legacy of ruggedness, self-reliance, and deep family ties.
So before you tie in this season, do a quick gut check:
Is your gear solid? Are your skills sharp? Are you treating your risk with the seriousness the New River Gorge has always demanded?
Because whether you're clipping bolts or threading a belay device, that old sign still rings true:
Your family wants you to climb safely.
See you out there — and stop by Water Stone if you need anything before your next adventure.
