Babcock State Park · WV
Island in the Sky Trail
Short but steep climb behind the Glade Creek Grist Mill through boulders and ladder-style rock steps to a gazebo overlook above the Glade Creek valley. Rhododendron-lined with rough terrain and scenic vistas.
Live · updated
Today
Skip the trail running plan today.
Today's best: trail running
Conditions
Score by activity
Hiking
Skip the hiking plan today.
Trail running
Skip the trail running plan today.
Dog walking
Thunderstorms in today's forecast — dogs panic and trails become dangerous.
Score breakdown
- − 79°F air — Above trail running's comfort zone (28–78°F)
- − Thunderstorms — Get off exposed ridges before they arrive
- ✓ Trail: prime — No meaningful rain in the last 48 hours. Trail surface is dry and tacky — prime traction.
Trail facts
- Distance
- 0.43 mi
- Elevation gain
- 44 ft
- Difficulty
- moderate
Trailhead
Coordinates
37.9817, -80.9454 — WV.
Park
Part of Babcock State Park.
Peak nymphal tick activity — check yourself within 2 hours of leaving the trail.
Nearby Trails
Frequently Asked
How long is Island in the Sky Trail?
Island in the Sky Trail is a 0.43-mile route with 44 feet of elevation gain — moderate — some sustained climbing or technical sections; expect to work for it but no specialized skills required. The trail facts panel on this page lists distance, surface, and access tags as they appear in OpenStreetMap.
Who manages Island in the Sky Trail, and where do closure alerts come from?
Island in the Sky Trail is in Babcock State Park, which is managed by the managing agency. Closure and advisory data on this page comes from the agency. Always confirm against the park's own page before driving — emergency closures can post faster than scrapers refresh.