Traveling WV: The Greenbrier Goat


Coleman and his goats have become a common sight along the Greenbrier River Trail. (WCHS)

You're probably familiar with the Norwegian fairy tale The Three Billy Goats Gruff, however there's a man in Greenbrier County who's taken his three American Alpine goats and created something that's far from make believe.

Aaron Coleman along with his goats Ragnar, Floki and Athelstan, will literally carry your gear along the Greenbrier River Trail so you don't have to.

His new business venture, The Greenbrier Goat, offers guests a brand new way to traverse the popular trail. The goats, all named after Vikings, are brothers that Coleman bottle fed and raised on his farm.

"We offer a chance for you to immerse yourself in nature on the Greenbrier River Trail, meet a pack goat, and come out and have an adventure like no other in West Virginia," Coleman said.

Pack goat tours have been available for years in the western United States, but it's never been an option in eastern states until now.

The Greenbrier Goat offers the only pack goat tours available east of the Mississippi River. It's easy to see how much of a difference using pack goats can be.

"They carry everything we need," Coleman said. "They carry base camp essentials, first aid kit, tarps and tents, fresh water, you couldn't ask for more."

If more is what you're after, The Greenbrier Goat offers that as well in the form of their Cowboy Breakfast, a delicious and fresh made from scratch meal using local ingredients such as farm fresh eggs, bacon, fresh bagels and locally produced coffee, all made right by the trail.

"We have the breakfast for hikers and cyclists who just want to stop, meet a pack goat, and have a slice of bacon," Coleman said.

The Greenbrier Goat offers several tours and packages of various lengths and days. Coleman will also customize a tour if the guest requires.

"Check out our website (thegreenbriergoat.com) it shows you our different guided goat tours," Coleman said. "That's our booking website we developed to tell our story about pack goats and our pack goating adventures."

You can also follow The Greenbrier Goat on Facebook and Instagram.