West Virginia Off-Road Trails

Connecting Turkey Creek Road to the far southeast reaches of the Cabwaylingo State Forest, trail 52 begins by crossing Turkey Creek and quickly climbing nearly 500 feet in just over 1 mile. The road surface along this trail is smooth and packed dirt, but the steep 28-degree pitch will require a stock 4x4 with low gearing. In wet conditions, the lack of rocks or gravel within the dirt makes the trail surface extremely slippery. Cabwaylingo has two campgrounds and multiple cabins located on-site. In addition, many home rentals can be found 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.

Cabwaylingo 68 begins on the west side of Highway 41 and follows Gourd Branch for a short distance before making a hard switchback and climbing several steep 20-plus degree slopes, and crossing a few more creek beds. The trail surface is hard-packed and two vehicles wide with no obstacles. Suitable for any stock clearance SUV with low range. Cabwaylingo has two campgrounds and multiple cabins located on-site. In addition, many home rentals can be found 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.

Located in the southeastern corner of the Cabwaylingo State Forest, trail 49 is a straight-through, 1.1-mile overlooking Turkey Creek. This smooth dirt trail is listed as blue per the park's standards, but this trail is an easy drive through the thick forest with one 15-degree decline. The trail is one to one and a half vehicles wide the entire length, with steep slopes to one side and dramatic drop-offs on the other. The narrowness of the trail could present problems passing oncoming traffic. This trail is suitable for any high clearance vehicle with low gearing. Cabwaylingo has two campgrounds and multiple cabins located on-site. In addition, many home rentals can be found 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.

Cabwaylingo 85 is one of the few challenging trails within the Cabwayling State Park trail system. The challenges along this trail include an incredibly steep hill climb with large, loose rocks, deep tire ruts, and 3-foot-tall rock ledges. This trail is best run from west to east, thus tackling the hill in the uphill direction. This trail starts out extremely easy at trail 52 and follows a narrow two-track route into the thick brush before intersecting with trail 88. At this point, the trail turns hard uphill toward trail 54, and the challenges begin. The trail is best suited for modified vehicles with larger tires. Traction aid devices would be beneficial in wet conditions. Cabwaylingo has two campgrounds and multiple cabins located on-site. In addition, many home rentals can be found 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.

Ivy Branch 20 is a unique "M" shaped trail between ridgelines in the northwest area of the Ivy Branch Trail System.  This trail is generally one to one and a half vehicles wide with a hard-packed trail surface.  The trees are dense along the drive, and ridgelines to both sides give this trail a cozy vibe.  Although easy with just a few steep inclines, be prepared for a landmine field of deep potholes.  This trail is good for any stock high clearance SUV or pickup truck.

Creating a shortcut between trails 18 and 20, Cabwaylingo 55 is an easy and short trail that crosses a gully and ascends one hill at 20 degrees of pitch. The gully between ridgelines is extremely scenic. The trail is wide enough for 1.5 vehicles the majority of the route but does have sections that are much wider in case two full-size vehicles need to pass each other. The trail surface is hard-packed soil and relatively smooth, with an occasional pothole. 55 is labeled as a blue trail per the park's standard, but in dry conditions, any stock vehicle can comfortably traverse this trail. Cabwaylingo has two campgrounds and multiple cabins located on-site. In addition, many home rentals can be found 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.