West Virginia Off-Road Trails

Shavers Fork Road mostly follows its namesake, the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River. You can include this scenic route in a more extended overland trip, but the road weaves in and out of public land, and dispersed camping is very limited. A good swath where it goes through public land is listed as day use only. The road is almost entirely gravel with a few potholes and narrow sections, suitable for any street-legal vehicle.

County Road 60/12, located just west of Babcock, is an easy and short gravel road to a stunning waterfall and an old railroad bridge. You could drive along the bridge at one time, but it has been recently closed to motorized traffic. You can still walk along the bridge and get spectacular views of the waterfall. Hike down a short distance to the water for a nice reprieve from the summer heat. The road can be combined with County Road 41/3 to make an easy loop connecting Highway 60 and Highway 41.

The road is well-maintained and suitable for any passenger vehicle.

If you are looking for the Charleston version of "Top of the World," this is it! Starting at Hughes Creek, on the north side of the Kanawha River, Cob Hollow runs northwest past numerous gas wells. The road is hard-packed dirt with a few gravel and muddy sections. The trail twists and turn for nearly 7 miles, following the ridgelines to the southwest and passing Rubes Hollow. After a large steel tank, you'll come to a large parking area at the base of a chewed-up, rocky hill climb. This hill is not as challenging as it may appear from the bottom, and any high-clearance 4-wheel drive vehicle should not have any problems. After the hill, the trail shoots west, following the power lines leading to a wide section of the ridgeline booby-trapped with deep, bottomless mud holes. Sneaking between the mud holes is extremely tight and very dangerous if the soil is wet in any way. Full-size vehicles should consider stopping at this point. Thirty yards beyond the mud, the ridge drops off at a fantastic overlook known as the Devil's Tea Table. This overlook provides astonishing views of the Kanawha River and US 60 below. Return the way you came, or take Rubes Hollow down to Kelly's Creek Road.

Fort Seybert, also known as Rough Run Road, is a mountain road that crosses the George Washington National Forest and connects West Virginia to Virginia. The road climbs 1700 feet to the state line and then descends 1500 feet to Little Dry River Road. It is suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, is comprised of dirt, and has minor water crossings. There is one campsite on the West Virginia side.

Middle Mountain is a longer north-south running gravel road suitable for any vehicle. It can be combined with other areas' roads for an overland-style trip. Most of the road is under tree canopy, but there are a few distinct areas where logging has taken place, opening up unparalleled views. There are four designated dispersed campsites and a dozen dispersed sites on Little River Road. Alternately, the Middle Mountain Cabins are popular, and the Laurel Fork Campground is not far from the road.

When you drive Old Mine, you will quickly forget you are in West Virginia. Built on an old mine site and logging area, the road offers expansive views reminiscent of the western United States. Directly from its northern start, the road begins to tell a story of mining and logging activity from years ago and the subsequent restoration of the area in recent years. It offers over 20 plus well-spaced dispersed campsites, all with variety, from ones with ponds to others with 360-degree views or even a handful nestled in the pines

As you drive the road, there are two forks. The first fork in the north takes you sharply uphill to an overlook. The second fork towards the southern end takes you to several wooded and non-wooded campsites and hiking trails. Both forks are worth taking simply for the views.

There is no trash service, and as always, please pack out more than you packed in.

Mill Creek Road is an easy dirt road used mainly to access hunting grounds between Mill Creek and Fivemile Fork. The road connects Campbells Creek to Indian Creek and passes several gas and oil pads. The road is generally 1-1.5 vehicles wide and is graded dirt/gravel nearly the entire way. There is one short, 30-yard-long incline out of Right Fork Mill Creek with several loose rocks that could present a traction challenge to a slow-moving vehicle, but otherwise, this road is suitable for any stock SUV or pickup truck.

At each end of the road, a sign greets you and offers you a choice. It reads, "Two historic pathways await you — it's your choice! You are about to travel through a forest landscape steeped in logging and railroad history. Over a century ago, the West Fork was unspoiled and inaccessible. Thick forests of spruce and hemlock reigned supreme. The coming of the railroad and the woodsman's axe in the early 1900s transformed and reshaped this now-tranquil land."

Glady Durbin, Forest Road 44, was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and US Forest Service in the 1930s and 1950s. It is a 20-mile scenic mountain drive that parallels areas of the West Fork Rail Trail. The road is entirely gravel and suitable for any high-clearance vehicle. It crosses Lynn Divide, which is a natural dividing line between the headwaters of two major water systems in the Monongahela National Forest. Precipitation falling a few feet to the north, towards Glady, Is destined for the Cheat River. Precipitation falling to the south, towards Durbin, flows into the Greenbrier River.

Due to the route's historical significance, a few ghost townsites remain following logging and rail activity, although no original buildings can be seen. In these townsite areas, interpretive signs will be visible for those curious about what became of the towns. These areas are also filled with summer wildflowers.

The road has 15 designated dispersed campsites, with sites 7-10 being the premier locations.

The Little River dispersed camping area offers 14 designated dispersed campsites and a group area with five sites. Most sites, minus the group sites and site 13, are directly on the road. Caution: Due to mud, site 13 will require 4WD access in wet weather. Sites 7-9 are near or next to the Little River. Due to size limitations, travel trailers and camper trucks can fit into about half of the sites.

The road is gravel and suitable for high-clearance vehicles, but it can flood during heavy rain. It is a great road to include when overlanding around the area for camping and a quick crossover between Glady Durbin and Middle Mountain.

Big Ten Mile Road is an easy, hard-packed dirt road that connects Campbell's Creek and Kelly's Creek. The road is two vehicles wide most of the way and offers no challenges. There is one short section along the road where small protruding rocks will cause you to reduce your speed, but the rocks are not large enough to damage a vehicle. Various maps label this road as Big Hollow Bench Road as it approaches Kelly's Creek. Views are minimal due to thick tree coverage. There is no camping along this road, but it is a popular OHV riding area for locals. Cell service is very spotty along this trail, so come prepared with pre-downloaded maps since utility companies own many spur roads, and it is very easy to get lost in this area. This road is suitable for any high-clearance SUV or pickup truck.

Spruce Knob and the highest point of "The Mountain State" stands at an elevation of 4,863 feet. The portion of the road to the north of the knob is paved, and everything else is gravel and suitable for any vehicle. At the top, you can walk to the Spruce Knob Tower; the hiking trail is approximately 1/2 mile long. The only camping is just off the main road and on Forest Road 1, at the Spruce Knob Lake Campground. Many of the sites in the campground are first-come, first-served, while others require a reservation.

County Road 41/3 is an easy, short gravel trail just west of Russellville and Babcock. The road passes several ranches and churches and makes for a nice country drive. The road can be combined with County Road 60/12 to make an easy loop connecting Highway 60 and Highway 41.

The road is well-maintained, with occasional potholes and very narrow erosion ruts. It is suitable for any passenger vehicle.

Peters Creek Ridge is an easy dirt road that travels a ridgeline along the northern boundary of the Gauley River National Recreation Area. The road starts at Laurel Creek and runs nearly 5 miles before reaching a closed gate at a private property near Stillhouse Branch. The landowners of this property do allow public access through their property, but you must call or visit them for egress. The gate has a waiver you must sign and contact information for the landowners. If you receive permission to travel the remaining 0.6 miles, the road ends at Peters Creek, directly across from Panther Mountain Road. This road provides several viewpoints of the Gauley River and is generally one to one and a half vehicles wide. It is suitable for any high clearance vehicle, but 4-wheel drive might be needed during wet conditions.

A gentle road crosses the Cheat Wildlife Management Area. Cheat Mountain provides lush forested views and, in select spots, views off into the distance. The road surface is entirely gravel and suitable for any high clearance vehicle. The non-gated side roads lead to Shavers Fork and fishing opportunities. The road does cross a few patches of private land, and there are no pre-disturbed dispersed campsites along the way. However, if you are looking for spectacular camping, combine this road with Old Mine Road, which is a continuation of this route on its southern end. It would make for a good overland-style trip.

Stoney Run parallels Reddish Knob as it meanders its way past a half dozen or more sizeable dispersed campsites. It is primarily a gravel road with sections of baseball-sized rocks, a few ruts, and minor water crossings. During wet weather, many of the side runs could be quite scenic as they begin to flow with water. There is evidence of a forest fire or two, so pay attention to local restrictions. This trail is suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, but airing down will aid in comfort.

Mountaineer Drive is a short and scenic forest road through the hills of Kanawha County, north of Charleston. The road is one vehicle wide and travels through thick foliage as it parallels a small creek. There are numerous slippery mud holes along the road, many of which never dry out. The mud is shallow in most cases, and a stock high clearance 4x4 will do just fine traversing these obstacles.