Monongahela National Forest Biking Articles

Monongahela National Forest Guide: Biking

It seems impossible that mountain bikes were not invented in West Virginia, as they now belong to the Mountain State landscape as much as a bear belongs to the woods. The forest has as much mileage as you could possibly cover on a mountain bike, including easy-to-super-hard single-track, gated dirt roads with moderate riding but no motorized vehicles, and smooth-surfaced rail trails. There's so much riding available that you could train for World Cup competitions and even the Olympics. In fact, West Virginia mountain biker Sue Haywood has done just that.
The trail and gated-road network in the Gauley Mountain and Tea Creek Mountain area, west of the Snowshoe Ski Area near Slatyfork, holds up the southern end of the Monongahela for mountain biking. Check in at the Elk River Touring Center for recommended rides to fit your needs. Area classic: Prop's Run Trail.
The northern "Mon," as the forest is often called, is where the 24 Hours Of Canaan mountain bike race originated, the first of what has become a national trend of "24 Hours Of..." races. Go to the source, Canaan Mountain, and ride trails within the Canaan Loop Road. Stop by at Blackwater Bikes in Davis for route recommendations. Area classic: Plantation Trail.

By Travel Expert: Adam Polinski