Outdoor
Adventures
written by jamie null
Off the
Beaten Path
get wild in west virginia
T
he Mountain State’s towering
mountains, steep valleys and
panoramic vistas are a major
draw for both locals and out-of-state
visitors who want to experience the
wonders of Almost Heaven. Adventure
seekers can find trails and scenic
overlooks at every turn. For a unique
taste of wild and wonderful, though,
step off the beaten path and make your
West Virginia experience unlike any other.
ATV Rides on the Hatfield-
McCoy Trail System
With more than 700 miles of trails, the
Hatfield-McCoy Trail System is one of
the largest ATV systems in the world.
The trails are open 365 days a year and
offer experiences for every skill level.
ATV riders from all over the country
come to experience the twists and
turns of the West Virginia mountains
every year. With seven trails, riders can
ride through Southern West Virginia’s
small communities, where they will find
lodging at luxury cabins, fuel for their
machines and mouth-watering meals
at local hot spots. ATVs are available to
rent for a day out on the trails—all you
have to bring is a change of clothes
and an attitude for adventure.
For many, the opportunity to explore
coal history, small towns and Mother
Nature up close and personal is what
makes this experience memorable.
“The Hatfield-McCoy Trail System
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2 0 2 0 D i sc o v e r Wes t V i rg i n i a
has some of the most scenic and
adventurous ATV trails in the country,”
says Executive Director Jeffrey Lusk.
“Riders from novice to expert can always
find an adventure on the trails, from
residents who ride nearly every weekend
to visitors who only get to experience
the trails a couple times a year.”
The trail system runs through Boone,
Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell,
Mercer, Mingo, Wayne and Wyoming
counties. Permits are $26.50 for
residents and $50 for out-of-state
guests. For more information, visit
www.trailsheaven.com.
Hiking the American
Discovery Trail
From Delaware to California, this 6,800-
plus-mile adventure is a continuous
multi-use trail that stretches across
America. The trail is the first coast-to-
coast trail that connects cities, small
towns, forests, mountains and the
desert, and West Virginia’s portion
of the trail covers 288.6 miles in the
northern part of the state. Often called
the amazement park of the trail, West
Virginia offers scenic vistas, waterfalls,
white water, kayaking, canoeing, Civil
War tunnels, cliffs, caves and more. The
trail in West Virginia is broken up into
four segments: Maryland state line to
Streby, 59 miles; Streby to Nestorville,
69.7 miles; Nestorville to Wilsonburg,
84 miles; and Wilsonburg to Ohio state
line, 75 miles.
Photo by Canaan Valley Resort.
Sharon Weekley, West Virginia’s state
coordinator for the trail, says the trail
connects people and places. The
scenery also changes, providing
glimpses of some of West Virginia’s
finest wildlife such as bear, whitetail,
chipmunks and wild turkeys.
“Crossing 10 counties in West Virginia,
the American Discovery Trail is part
pathways, part country roads, part
towns and part city sidewalks, all
connected to form one trail linking
people and places,” says Weekley.
“There is diversity in the scenery, the
people you meet and the flora and
fauna, so the trail is a microcosm of
Almost Heaven West Virginia.”
For more information on the trail,
visit www.discoverytrail.org.