12 Best West Virginia ATV Trails

If you search for AVT trail destinations in the US, West Virginia easily tops the list thanks to its extremely famous trail system, the Hatfield-McCoy. This is not only one of the best places to ride in WV, but it’s also one of the top 3 in the whole United States! This “Trail Heaven” continues to expand with many sub-systems of absolutely unique trails, and it’s also created plenty of competition within the state with other trails and offroad parks.

What are the best ATV trails in West Virginia? Here is a top 12 selection to enjoy:

1. Bearwallow Trails
2. Buffalo Mountain Trail System
3. Good Evening Ranch
4. Chaos Offroad Park
5. Little Coal River ATV Trails
6. Burning Rock Offroad Park
7. Pocahontas Trail System
8. Mountwood ATV Trails
9. Pinnacle Creek
10. Indian Ridge
11. Rockhouse Trail System
12. Warrior Trails

While many of the above are part of the Hatfield-McCoy system, each sub-system of trails maintains its uniqueness, and you will have plenty of riding to do if you stick just with one at a time. Moreover, the ATV parks in West Virginia are great for planning an all-in-one getaway complete with campsites and on-site shops and amenities.

Here’s an essential guide of where to go to ride the best ATV trails in the state.

Hatfield-McCoy Trail System – An All-Encompassing ATV Trail Heaven

Firstly, it’s worth stopping and taking a wider look at the Hatfield-McCoy trail system. This infrastructure, dedicated to ATV riding in West Virginia, was developed in 1996 by the West Virginia Legislature to provide trail recreation opportunities across nine counties. When it opened in 2000, there were already 300 miles of trails ready to ride.

The system has been developing and growing ever since. Currently sitting at six big trail systems, the eventual aim is to cover Wayne, Lincoln, Mingo, Logan, Boone, Kanawha, Wyoming, McDowell, and Mercer. Overall, the final trail system will be 2,000 miles long!

The Hatfield-McCoy trail system is conveniently developed around local towns, allowing you to have easy access to all amenities and offer great places to stay while you ride the trails. Among them, Bramwell is a favorite destination, featuring ATV dealers, tour organizers, and more. It is the headquarters of the newest trail system within Hatfield-McCoy, the Pocahontas.

Hatfield-McCoy Trails Rules

You need to buy a permit to ride the trail system, but it pays off when you consider that you can get a Hatfield-McCoy trail permit for $50 as a non-resident of West Virginia, and this gives you access to all of the sub-systems.

Rules and regulations for Trails Heaven aka Hatfield-McCoy trails include riding with another adult if you are under 16, being at least six years old as a passenger, only riding during daylight hours, and not bringing or consuming any alcohol while on the trails. Equally, there is no camping allowed on the trails. These rules can be consulted here.

Hatfield-McCoy Trail Maps

With so many ATV trails to follow, you’ll want to be aware of the extent of the trail system ahead, as well as all the options you have for connecting between systems and trails. There are excellent maps on the official website here, but you can even download an app with lots of useful information on the trails and the wider community.

Events

West Virginia ATV parks all have their own dedicated events, but there is only one National TrailFest! This offroad riding event held in Gilbert, WV, every October is set on the Hatfield-McCoy trails and includes something for every rider, for Side by Side, ATV, and dirt bike fans alike. Not only are there races and live music, but there is also a scavenger hunt, lots of demos, a parade, and lots of prizes to be won.

12 Best West Virginia ATV Trails

1. Bearwallow Trails

Bearwallow is part of the original Hatfield-McCoy trail system and opened in October 2000. It is particularly famous for single track riding and Most-Difficult rated trails, which means it attracts many experienced ATV riders. It is also a popular trail thanks to the stunning views you’ll discover on it and its convenient set-up close to ATV-friendly Logan. You’ll be within easy reach of gas, water, and food throughout, and there are lots of accommodation options.

Bearwallow trails are open to ORVs, ATVs, and off-road motorcycles. In total, the entire riding trail length here is c. 100 miles. Recently, there’s been a new track added to connect with Chapmanville, WV, another town with plenty of gas, food, and accommodation options.

2. Buffalo Mountain Trail System

Buffalo Mountain ATV trails are also included under the Hatfield-McCoy umbrella, with 95 miles of trails of which the single track trails are well-known, as well as challenging ATV riding opportunities. This is also the most historic trail system in West Virginia, relevant for being the site of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud and the Matewan Massacre.

There are mostly “More Difficult” trails, and you can connect to the Devil Anse and Rockhouse Trail Systems within the bigger network. This set of trails is also close to three towns where you can set yourself up before or after riding: Matewan, Delbarton, and Williamson, WV.

3. Good Evening Ranch

This family-friendly offroad park in Canvas, WV, extends over 400 acres of varied terrain, including ponds, green pastures, and of course, well-maintained ATV trails. You can rent rustic cabins or campsite spots, and there are horse stables, playgrounds, opportunities for hiking and biking, as well as a bar and restaurant on the premises.

This is an excellent place for the whole family to get involved in the outdoors. While specifically for ATV enthusiasts, it offers trails of all levels and a good degree of variety.

4. Chaos Offroad Park

This offroad park in Capon Bridge, WV, caters specifically to 4×4 driving, and it’s a welcoming, family-friendly environment. They manage 400 acres of great riding and offer training courses and run a shop for ATV and Jeep parts.

The trails here range from mud pits to rocky sections, with several miles of challenging mountain trails. It is more restricted, as you have to book ahead and can only access the park on specific weekends (mostly due to the organized courses and tours that take place on-site).

5. Little Coal River ATV Trails

This set of trails used to be part of the Hatfield-McCoy system and is still listed on some resources; however, it’s now privately owned. Despite this, there is still access to ATVs and other off-road vehicles to the trails, and there are no fees to ride here. The 41 miles of trails are near Danville and Madison.

This is a great place to head to for beginners, as most trails are “green” or easy level.

6. Burning Rock Offroad Park

Burning Rock is an impressive ATV park in West Virginia, only 3.5 miles from Sophia, and offering 100 miles of riding on anything from easy to advanced difficulty trails. ATVs, UTVs, Jeeps, and off-road bikes are all welcome here.

This is also one of the great WV ATV rental places, and you can get some great Polaris RZR to ride around the park in.

The park has a good selection of on-site accommodation options, as well as an on-site general store. They also organize annual events, which are worth checking out.

7. Pocahontas Trail System

This is the newest trail system in the Hatfield-McCoy range, located near the lovely town of Bramwell. Its location allows you to connect easily to three other systems: the Pinnacle Creek, Indian Ridge, and Warrior trail systems are all within reach, which can really enhance your ATV experience. In fact, this is the most continuous miles of trails east of the Mississippi!

Almost half of the trails here are in the Most Difficult range, but it’s worth it for the incredible views and the diversity of the scenery you’ll encounter… as well as the adventure.

8. Mountwood ATV Trails

Another West Virginia offroad park, Mountwood, has about 23 miles of rated ATV trails open every day. The ATV-ing itself is part of a wider network of horseback riding, hiking, biking, and other activities that can be enjoyed here. You will find incredible views, the option to camp on-site, and a range of services too.

9. Pinnacle Creek

Back to the Hatfield-McCoy, Pinnacle Creek connects to Indian Ridge, Warrior, and Pocahontas trails for a unique, long trail system that you can keep riding. It is close to Mullens and Pineville and best known for great scenic views. On Pinnacle Creek trails, you’ll also be close to places where you can go whitewater rafting and also to ski slopes. This means you can combine your outdoor pursuits, and the weather could even allow you to ride the trails and ski on the same day! There are many more easy trails on this system (up to a third), which makes it great for all types of riders.

10. Indian Ridge

Located near Ashland, WV, the Indian Ridge trail system is a good mix of trails of all difficulty levels. It is ideal for connecting to the other routes too.

11. Rockhouse Trail System

The third one in the original Hatfield-McCoy trail systems, Rockhouse welcomes all levels of ATV riders, with an almost perfect mix of 31% easy trails, 29% moderately difficult, and the rest more challenging. It has also built a reputation for “extreme” riding with more advanced off-road enthusiasts.

12. Warrior Trails

Head to West Virginia’s most southern city, City of Wars, to find this set of trails, which are excellent for easy riding with great scenic views. This trail system also leads you to the ATV-friendly City of Gary and connects to Pinnacle Creek, Pocahontas, and Indian Ridge.

Conclusion: Enjoy the Hatfield-McCoy Trails of West Virginia, and More!

So, what are the 12 best West Virginia ATV trails? To summarize, here they are once more:

1. Bearwallow Trails
2. Buffalo Mountain Trail System
3. Good Evening Ranch
4. Chaos Offroad Park
5. Little Coal River ATV Trails
6. Burning Rock Offroad Park
7. Pocahontas Trail System
8. Mountwood ATV Trails
9. Pinnacle Creek
10. Indian Ridge
11. Rockhouse Trail System
12. Warrior Trails

There you have it: West Virginia is dominated by the Hatfield-McCoy trail system when it comes to ATVs, around which numerous ATV dealers, WV ATV rentals, and other services have developed. The ATV-friendly towns all around this trail network make it a great place to spend a few days exploring a historic feud, exciting riding, and some fantastic scenery.

But there’s more to West Virginia than just Hatfield-McCoy, as you can find out in some of the dedicated ATV parks around the state. Wherever you choose to go, you’ll definitely be well catered for in your offroad adventures.