Full disclosure, I used to live in Morgantown, West Virginia. However, I can say objectively that Morgantown is an up-and-coming cycling mecca. If you like endless miles of gravel roads with gorgeous scenic views, challenging ascents, and raucous descents, Morgantown has you covered. You’re going to have to bring your mountain bike, too, because there are several excellent trail systems within 45 minutes of town. In this post I’ll share some of my favorite riding destinations and some good ideas of what to do off the bike as well.
Since its inception, West Virginia mountain biking has struggled to flourish because of the difficult terrain. It is a steep learning curve to begin your mountain biking career here. However, that same difficult terrain makes for some of the best, technical riding on the east coast. Recently, I am happy to report, efforts have been made to ease the entry for newcomers to the sport. I’ll break down a few of the closest areas you need to check out.
Big Bear Lake Trail Center
Difficulty
Moderate – Difficult
Description
Home to Bike Bash Mountain Biking Festival every summer, this privately owned trail system has some of the best technical singletrack in West Virgina. If you are an experienced rider Big Bear should be at the top of your list. The trails are well-marked with difficulty ratings so there is something for less confident riders too. The terrain here is challenging with trails that are often rocky and slick so beginner riders may want to work up to this one.
Coopers Rock State Forest
Difficulty
Moderate – Difficult
Description
Cooper’s Rock, a yearly stop on the West Virginia Mountain Bike Association racing circuit when it hosts the Henry Clay 30K, boasts beautiful trails all year long. The geology of this area is really cool with giant bolders breaking up and leaning down the hillside forming corridors you can ride and hike through. Check out the “Rock City” trail for a look. The trails here are multi-use trails and the elevation change can be difficult for those not used to riding in the mountains.
West Run Woods
Difficulty
Moderate
Description
West Run Woods Trail System is a machine-built trail network that brings fast and flowy riding to Morgantown. If you’re looking for jumps and flow this is the place to check out. These trails are not technically difficult but the presence of jumps and significant elevation change earn them their moderate difficulty rating. Many of these trails are directional and they should not be ridden when wet, if you can see your tire tracks don’t ride this trail system.
White Park
Difficulty
Easy – Moderate
Description
White Park is a city park that hosts a dense network of trails. When I say dense, I mean too dense. You have to make a decision about which way to turn every few hundred feet. To simplify this, look for the blue diamond markers and follow them. This is a ~4 mile loop that hits most of the park. The elevation change here is minimal and for a long time this was the easiest place to mountain bike in town. The trails are just a shade too technical to call this a beginner-friendly area. However, you are never more than a mile or so from the parking lot so there’s no real harm in challenging a beginner rider here. If you’re a skilled rider the previously mentioned areas will entertain you more than White Park. If you’re staying in town, this could be a cool spot to do an after-dinner ride.
Westover Park
Difficulty
Beginner – Easy
Description
Morgantown finally has a trail for beginner riders. This <2 mile loop is a great place to introduce a beginner rider to the sport. There is not much here for more advanced riders but if you're staying in Westover then you should stop by and do a couple hot laps.