West Virginia Off-Road Trails

Trail 47 is listed as a black trail per the Park's measurement. Although listed as black, it is a fairly straightforward drive where you only need to contend with steep pitches, which the south end is very steep. Traveling uphill in wet weather could be a chore. Suitable for any stock SUV with low gearing.

The Gauley River is one of the natural jewels of the Central Appalachians, and its tributaries are just as spectacular. Mason Branch is a popular river access point with several small waterfalls to view on the way down to a large parking area. The road down to the river is an easy, wide gravel road suitable for any vehicle. Once at the parking area, Panther Creek Falls is located just a short hike to the north, along with a grotto fall nicknamed "Jannie Hole" just a bit farther up the foot trail. Bring your camera and bathing suit and enjoy a magical picnic lunch in the Gauley River National Recreation Area.

Rubes Hollow is a short and relatively easy trail that starts at Kelly's Creek Road in a small neighborhood and slithers its way up the holler connecting with Cob Hollow. You'll follow a small creek, driving in the creekbed most of the way. The holler is very narrow and tight, leaving the road only wide enough for one full-size vehicle most of the way. However, there are plenty of pull-out opportunities to pass oncoming traffic. There are small rocks along the way and one short but slick ledge climb. This road is suitable for any stock 4x4 vehicle.

Cranberry follows the Cranberry River. It is popular for its 14 dispersed camping sites scattered along the edge of the river. The sites are first come, first served and cost a fee. Sites 7 and 12 are double sites and double the fee. The fee stations are sporadically placed along the road. In addition, the Big Rock and Cranberry improved campgrounds are accessed via this road. The road is suitable for any vehicle.

Residing in the Monongahela National Forest, Stuarts Drive connects the Alleghany Parkway to Shavers Fork Road. It quickly gains elevation, with its high points being Stuarts and Bickle Knobs, and is suitable for any vehicle. Dispersed Camping is limited to two hidden sites, but near the middle of the route lays the Bear Heaven Campground, which is seasonal and on a first-come, first-served basis with eight sites. The road is mostly under a tree canopy, with a few open areas where it passes through grazing allotments.

Located within the Gauley River National Recreational Area, Wood's Ferry leads to a popular put-in and take-out site for the Gauley River and is home to the namesake rapid Wood's Ferry, which is the first major rapid along the Lower Gauley Canyon. The road is an easy gravel road, suitable for any vehicle. The road is wide, thus passing oncoming traffic is not a problem. There are two large parking lots and two restrooms/changing areas at the river put-in. There is also a large beach where you can stop, relax, and enjoy watching rafters and kayakers paddle through the rapids.

Located right next to Laurel Creek near the town of Swiss, Waterfall Trail is a 0.6-mile long trail that can take several hours. The trail starts with a large, 7-foot, double ledge climb and then follows a narrow holler with numerous large boulders, off-camber leans, and steep hillsides. The biggest obstacle is the waterfall, marked with a sign at the beginning. Many people come just to attempt the obstacle at the beginning and then turn around, but the entire length of the trail is a continuous challenge good for any modified vehicle with large tires, traction aid devices, and heavy skid plate armor.

Upper Williams sits directly off the famous Highland Scenic Highway and connects to the now-paved Williams River Road and its numerous designated dispersed campsites. It is entirely gravel and has five picturesque designated campsites south of the improved Day Run Campground. It is suitable for any vehicle; however, warning signs stand that the area is subject to flash flooding.

Directly in the middle of the Fernow Experimental Forest, Elklick is the perfect road for rare breeds interested in forestry and ecology. The Fernow Experimental Forest was established in 1934 to address water quantity and water and timber quality issues. As you drive the road, interpretive signage tells a story of various timber regrowth methods used, each showing different results in the health of the forest. As bland as the topic sounds, it is pretty interesting to see the results for your eyes in a side by side comparison. There is no camping along this road.

Ivy Branch 45 is a bumpy and rutty trail with steep 22-degree declines that snakes its way through a thickly wooded forest before parallelling the railroad tracks on the west side of the Little Coal River. This trail makes a great loop when combined with trail 46. This trail is suitable for any high clearance vehicle with low gearing.

There is no camping onsite, but there are many cabin rentals nearby.

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.

River Road provides access into and/or out of Old Mine and connects to US Highway 250. It travels alongside the Shaver Fork and is typically lined with thick rhododendrons. Maps show this road as a forest service road, but it appears to be used mostly for local access. Hard-packed gravel makes the road suitable for high-clearance vehicles. Camping is limited to just two pre-disturbed sites, and do note that a rail line next to the road could disrupt your night of sleep.

On the northern end, towards Highway 250, a spur takes you to Cheat Summit Fort, where a fort was built by Union forces to protect the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad during the Civil War. In 1861, the Confederates attempted to take control of the fort and failed. The failure is believed to be one of the main reasons General Robert E. Lee's west Virginia campaign failed. The fort has little left to see, but it is worth the quick side trip to walk the grounds.

Located in the northeast corner of the Ivy Branch Trail System, Ivy Branch 97 hides a monster hill climb deep within the thick trees, fit for only the bravest wheelers. This trail is best run starting from trail 37 and traversing the climbs in the uphill direction, traveling south towards trail 38. The trail is marked as a double black diamond trail, and rightfully so. Beginning immediately, the trail climbs a small series of rocks, making its way up a steep, 24-degree hill with a peppering of loose rock and shallow tire ruts. This first hill climb is a bit deceptive because it is only a taste of the real challenge coming along the last 400 feet of trail at the second hill climb. The final climb of the trail is a daunting 35-degree pitch with deep, 18" tire ruts and large, flat, moving rocks scattered across the hillside. Lockers, big tires, and a heavy throttle will be needed to conquer this hill successfully.

There is no camping onsite, but there are many cabin rentals nearby.

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.

Allegheny is a maintained gravel road that connects Buffalo Fork and Smoke Camp and is suitable for any high-clearance vehicle. There is no camping along the drive, but the road does pass several hiking trailheads. Views are limited to the hardwood forest you are driving through.

Ivy Branch 46 is a slow-going, easy trail that is extremely bumpy, rutty, and rough, with an endless number of potholes. This trail slowly climbs the ridgeline to the west above trail 45 but only reaches a 12-degree pitch. This trail is best when combined with trail 45, making a nice loop in the southeast corner of the Ivy Branch Trail System. Trail 46 is suitable for any vehicle.

There is no camping onsite, but there are many cabin rentals nearby.

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.

Buffalo Fork is known for Lake Buffalo and its designated dispersed camping. The 22-acre lake is regularly stocked with trout by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The half-dozen sites are numbered, and most are directly on the side of the road. The road surface is gravel and is suitable for any street-legal vehicle. Near the lake, there is room for additional parking and a vault toilet.

Ivy Branch 59 is a difficult hill climb shortcut between trails 45 and 46. The 1,000-foot-long trail is best run east to west, in the uphill direction. This trail is only wide enough for a single vehicle, with large berms or drop-offs on both sides. Passing oncoming traffic would be extremely difficult. Starting at the railroad tracks along trail 45, 59 climbs sharply at 25 degrees of pitch as you traverse large loose rocks and small boulders. Deep ruts along the route will create traction issues for stock vehicles. This trail is best suited for modified 4x4s with larger tires and skid plate protection.

There is no camping onsite, but there are many cabin rentals nearby.

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.