Mountain Biking - So what's fun in Charleston, WV?

Hey folks,

A friend an I are meeting in Charleston this weekend for some MTBiking (from Cleveland, OH and Durham, NC). We are looking for adventurous intermediate or maybe some "advanced" thrown in, depending on how things are labeled around there and relative distance to emergency rooms. Judging by the posts by "crashedandburned" and others, it looks like Kanawha St Forest is the place to ride (http://www.kanawhastateforest.com/biking.html)? Any other recommendations?

We initially thought about camping, but decided it would probably be more fun to stay in town and rub elbows with locals in the evening, rather than to sleep in a tent at 40degF. So where's the fun? :beer:

Charleston....fun.....hmmm....... Well, there are a couple of strip clubs, a ball field, and a few decent restaraunts. Other than that there isn't a whole lot to offer. However, the mountain biking is awesome.

Here's a pretty nice route for you at Kanawha State Forest.

Park at the pool parking lot. From there you can take Davis Creek trail, you get there by crossing the little bridge at the end furthest from the pool. Take a left and ride the single track for a mile or so. Then you will come to a field and then a road. Take a right on the road. Go about 1/2 mile and you will see a fire road to the right. That is Middle Ridge Road. Take it.

You will climb that a mile or so, first trail on your right is Teaberry. Take that, there are a couple of switchbacks and some nice rocks. It is a great trail. When you get to the bottom take a left on the fire road. Most of us just call this pool hill (or pool road). Take that about 1/2 mile to Mossy Rock Trail on the left. This is a pretty tough single track climb that is about a mile long give or take. Once you get to the top take a left on Middle Ridge Road. Go about 1/4 mile or so and on the right you will see a trail marker. It will say Polecat and Ballard Trail. Take it. At the split go right on Ballard. This is a great trail with some nice rocks. Your hands should be a little sore by the time you make it to the bottom.

When you get to the bottom go right. The pavement will end and you will go past the shooting range. Keep going and keep bearing right at the split. This is a fire road climb with some gravel and it will seem like it is never going to end. It should take around 15 minutes or so but it will be worth it. When you get to the top stop and catch your breath then take a right on Middle Ridge Road. Go about 1/4 mile and Black Bear will be on your left. Be careful on this one, it's sorta nasty with some tasty rock gardens. It also has samples of every mountain bikers dna in the valley. I've got scars to prove it.

Once you make it to the bottom, if you still want to ride, go straight across the road. There is Pigeon Roost (or ridge) trail. Go up it, it's another fun climb that goes about 10 - 15 minutes. Once you get to the top go right. When you get to the split go right again. Continue on this road and you will eventually get to Pine Ridge. This is another fun trail, just keep an eye out for the drop about 1/2 mile down it. You can roll it out on the right side or drop it on the left side. Just be careful.

Unfortunately I'll be working on a house Saturday and Sunday so I can't show you around. However if you make it into town on Friday get ahold of me and I'll be happy to show you some of the trails.

Once you get to the bottom hand a right. Then keep going until you come out into a field, from there hang a left and it will take you back to the main road. From there just go left to get back to the pool.

Wow- great description, LoCel - thanks! Sounds like different turf than what we got- here it's up-down-up-down... no 15 minute climbs here! It'll be a nice change of pace. And thanks for the offer to show us around - we'll be in lateish of Fri, so it sounds like we won't cross paths. We'd be up for joining another group for a ride, if anyone else is riding Kanawha on Sat or Sun morning.

Fun in Charleston... depends upon your definition of fun, but....

there's go-karting behind the mall at SouthRidge Plaza

there's rafting at Ace Adventure Center (a little over an hour away, but reserve in advance!)

if your going to be in Chucky-town during the 3rd weekend in Oct, there's Bridge Day (a little over an hour) at the New River & all sorts of goings on in that area, plus great MTB trails in the New River National Park and at Ace Adventure (which offers campgrounds, too)

for concerts, live music & stuff like that, check wvgazette.com (local newspaper - Charleston Gazette & Daily Mail)

PM me you e-mail & I will forward it to some MTBer's who might be interested in riding with you.....

Would you be able to ride around 9:00 am? If so I may be able to squeeze a ride in before I head to Parkersburg.

You may want to go another hour or so north to Morgantown. I grew up there and can definitely vouch for the quality of trails (not to mention views!) you'll find.


Its more like 2.5 hours but Coopers Rock rocks! I havent been able to ride Kanawa St. Forest yet but my brother lives there and says its great. There are some good places to eat in the area but other than that I can't recommend anything. Good the Civic center and see if there is anything going on there though

Charleston to Morgantown in an hour?? I don't think so.

I dunno, it's been a while since I've gone "home". Maybe I'm thinking of Clarksburg?
Either way I know you can pull off Durham to Mo-town in just under 7 hours, as long as you don't stop more than maybe 3 times.

Clarksburg to Morgantown is just under an hour. Charleston to the 79/68 split is 140 miles. Coopers Rock is another 20 - 30 minutes from there.

Hey LoCel, Futurepath, Jon & John,

Thanks for showing us Flatlanders around this weekend! Can't say I was conditioned enough for the climbs, especially on Saturday. Quite humbling. Dang, you gotta have some legs to MTB in West Virginia! Not that the late nights enjoying the Charleston and S. Charleston nightlife helped any... 'Probably enjoyed Wildcat the best - a little bit of everything. If and when you guys make it to Durham/Raleigh/Chapel Hill, give a holler, and I'll show you around the official and "local" trails.

Best, "Han"

Hey LoCel, Futurepath, Jon & John,

Thanks for showing us Flatlanders around this weekend! Can't say I was conditioned enough for the climbs, especially on Saturday. Quite humbling. Dang, you gotta have some legs to MTB in West Virginia! Not that the late nights enjoying the Charleston and S. Charleston nightlife helped any... 'Probably enjoyed Wildcat the best - a little bit of everything. If and when you guys make it to Durham/Raleigh/Chapel Hill, give a holler, and I'll show you around the official and "local" trails.

Best, "Han"



Good to here you had a good time in WV. I have to say though I ride here frequently and still am not conditioned enough for most of the hills ;)

I'm glad you enjoyed your time here. I enjoyed riding with the two of you and hope to do it again sometime in the future. As for the conditioning thing, it just takes a little time to get used to the climbing. You two did a lot better than most out of towners that come to visit. :D

Only kids born in a holler are actually USED to the climbing. If they weren't you'd never see them...