West Virginia Off-Road Trails

Bearwallow is a network of trails in the Hatfield-McCoy trail system in West Virginia. Catering to full-size vehicles, it's no wonder it is part of the Jeep Badge of Honor list of trails. The Green Outer Loop includes five different trails and offers an excellent opportunity to test your 4x4 skills through a rollercoaster landscape of hill climbs and descents. If you are looking for more, the Green Outer Loop connects to a handful of the toughest offroad trails in the state. It's a perfect route for beginners and those looking for their Badges of Honor.

Located near Thomas and Davis, Canaan Loop is situated in a wonderful area. Both towns feature a lovely atmosphere focused on outdoor recreation, with local shops, breweries, and restaurants. Blackwater Falls State Park has a wonderful selection of trails and waterfalls. Nearby, Dolly Sods contains plants and animals found nowhere else south of Canada. It truly is a nature lover's dream. Although many people experience the area by sticking to the towns and well-trod paths, being able to drive in and find a plethora of dispersed camping spots makes Canaan Loop a wonderful experience. It's easy to escape into nature while being close to amenities. From many of the campsites on the trail, Davis is less than 20 minutes away. Being able to leave a local brewery and be back at camp that quickly is a fantastic experience. The trail itself is absolutely beautiful, and weeks could be spent driving and stopping to explore the surrounding hiking trails, fishing spots, and nature viewing areas. Although it provides some measure of difficulty, it provides inexperienced drivers a beautiful place to test their skills.

Located in the Monongahela National Forest, Canyon Rim is nestled in some of the most spectacular wilderness in West Virginia. The higher elevations offer very special scenery full of unique plants and animals. Many people visit the area and stick to the state parks. While these are great, and it's nice to see the well-known places, it's even better to be away from the crowds. Canyon Rim doesn't see a lot of traffic, and it's a great escape. The area is great for the off-road community and the people they may be traveling with. The campsites are beautiful and secluded. There are hiking trails with creeks, forests, and waterfalls to explore. With few people coming through and plenty to explore, it's a great place to take your dog.

Traveling through West Virginia's only national park and the country's newest national park, McKendree Road is a cliff-hugging rough and rugged, narrow road that travels along the eastern banks of the New River Gorge, connecting the towns of Thurmond and Prince. This is a straight-through, 13-mile trek that begins along a hard-packed gravel road. Once crossing the Stonecliff Bridge, the road narrows to 1.5 vehicles wide and pounds across an untold number of potholes with spectacular views down to the river. Past the old town of Thayer, which offers awesome picnic and camping opportunities next to the river, the road becomes extremely narrow along the cliff edge with long stretches where passing is impossible, and pinstriping is guaranteed. Small creeks and shaded coves within the gorge produce picturesque waterfalls. The road conditions become rougher with small rocks, shallow mud holes, and eroded embankments until your final descent down Stretchers Neck to Highway 41.

This road is best suited for high clearance SUVs and pickup trucks and drivers with previous off-road experience.

Three primitive New River Gorge National Park campgrounds sit along McKendree Road, including Stone Cliff, Thayer, and Army Camp. Most of the sites within those campgrounds are walk-in only. Backcountry camping is allowed within the park as long as you stay more than 100 feet from state roads, parking lots, developed trails, trailheads, boat launch areas, etc.

Located one hour east of Charleston and traveling through the Gauley River National Recreation Area, Panther Mountain is a great road filled with picturesque moments that will leave your camera crying for more memory. This road is well-traveled and used by many outdoor enthusiasts. The road offers several access points to the world-renowned Gauley River, where you can partake in or watch numerous water activities. Panther Mountain also passes multiple hiking trails and astonishing waterfalls. If you are looking for an outdoor adventure, a great fall color drive, or an incredible lunch spot, Panther Mountain definitely has everything you are looking for.

Trails 23 and 25 are a nice reprieve and a hideaway from other areas of Bearwallow. They allow you to escape narrow roads and feel secluded amongst the trees and imposing rock structures while being lower on the mountain. As a bonus, these trails provide a glimpse into how auger mining takes place.

Located in central Fayette County, Beury Mountain Road is a twisting and winding gravel road that weaves through oak and hickory forests in the highlands east of New River Gorge. This road passes through the Buery Mountain Wildlife Management Area, connecting the towns of Maplewood and Thurmond. The road is an easy gravel road, one to two vehicles wide the entire way, with plenty of passing opportunities. The road's western end descends down the hillside rather quickly, losing 860' of elevation in 3 miles. You'll make your way through three tight switchbacks before ending at the historic coal town of Thurmond, which boasts only 5 year-round residents. Camping is prohibited in the management area but can be found nearby in the Babcock State Park and the national river area. This road is suitable for any stock SUV or pickup truck.

Winding through the heart of Cabwaylingo State Forest, Trail 29 is a short but rugged backway to Tick Ridge Campground that packs in more scenery than many longer rides. Don’t let its “green” Hatfield-McCoy rating fool you. This is a narrow, rocky climb with sandstone-lined corridors that demand a slower pace, giving you time to soak in towering rock formations, mossy ledges, and some of the best views in the trail system. For campers or explorers looking for a quick yet adventurous route, this little stretch delivers big rewards.

Perhaps the "coolest" trail in the entire state of West Virginia. The Cooler gets its name from a natural vent that blows cold air out into the open. Its blast is potent enough to call it the most powerful air conditioner you have ever witnessed. The vent is right where the fun begins on the trail, just before you tackle obstacle after obstacle to reach the top.

Located just east of Swiss, in Nicholas County, Bowls Creek is a hard-core rock crawling trail with endless obstacles and options suitable for any type of build. You'll traverse large boulders, waterfalls, downed timber, and deep water holes while trying your best to stay in the creek as much as possible. With many entry and exit points, this trail makes for a great group run where everyone can decide how much they want to push their limits.

Crossing between Clay County and Nicholas County, this off-road trail is a must-do if you enjoy water crossings. The trail is a straight-through, 17-mile-long trip that begins on Dundon Road just east of Clay, next to Buffalo Creek. The trail is rough and rugged with many cobble rock sections as it snakes its way through the hollows and begins following Lilly Fork. Around 5 miles in, the trail starts the first of nearly two-dozen water crossings, with several crossings being long stretches of driving up the creek. As you enter Nicholas County and begin following Beech Fork, the trail surface becomes very sandy outside the creek bed. Eventually, it becomes Twenty Mile Creek Road before intersecting with County Road 19/8.

Lodging and camping are available at the J.G. Bradley Campground & Lodge on the west end, just outside Clay. No camping along the trail exists, but this is an excellent overland alternative to the paved county roads between Clay and Summersville. The road is suitable for any high clearance SUV or pickup truck. Take caution during heavy rain events, as water levels can rise to several feet deep.

Deadfall in Bearwallow is an aptly named most difficult double trail. The trail wraps around and through a gully with dead and fallen timber overhead, down on the ground, and all around you. If you enjoy driving under timber that once stood tall, this is your kind of trail. The short but steep loose hill climb will surely give you a moment to remember!

Bearwallow 73, within the Hatfield-McCoy Trails System, is a hardcore rock crawler's dream trail. The first two hundred yards of this trail appear to be just another boulder-filled ravine, but that is only a tease of what lies ahead. As you make your way up a narrow ravine between trails 44 and 26, the rocks and boulders slowly increase in size until you finally encounter a formidable obstacle with car-sized boulders sure to challenge even the biggest 4x4s. After weaving through these enormous rock features, you will next encounter an extremely steep, loose, and dugout hill climb determined to keep you from conquering this obstacle, by adding a surprise 3-foot ledge midway up the hill. Hatfield-McCoy Trails are open 365 days a year, from sunup to sundown. Permits are required for all operators and passengers. Additionally, all drivers and passengers must wear a helmet on the trails. This includes full-size vehicles such as Jeeps.