Jump into Spring

West Virginia is the rustic jewel of the mid-Atlantic states: easily reached from the metropolitan areas in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio. The state's famous hills are perfect for mountain biking. And the forgotten-by-time rural areas are made to order for inn-to-inn road biking. Pick your preference. Or not—why not try both?

Tucked in amidst the deep forests of the Allegheny Mountains in eastern West Virginia, just beside the Elk River, the tiny town of Slatyfork is the center for some of the East's best biking. The little town is surrounded by the huge Monongahela National Forest, which is loaded with terrific bike trails. Expert or beginner: You can pick your poison. Technical singletrack lies just minutes away from a more gentle rails-to-trails route. A couple of resorts, the Elk River Touring Center and Snowshoe Mountain, offer guided tours and shuttles uphill. (See also the report on West Virginia MTB from our partners at Away.com.)

If you prefer to stay on the blacktop, we recommend following the Greenbrier River. You'll pass through old logging villages and the sleepy town of Marlington. A quick shuttle up to Elk Mountain and lunch delivers all the energy you need to pedal across the Gauley Mountain Ridge and descend to the Elk River Inn, where you can relax in a hot tub under the stars.