Riding New Trails in Trails Heaven
November
3, 2004 – WOO The Hatfield-McCoy trail
system in West Virginia, one of the premier trail-riding areas on the planet,
just keeps getting better.
The trail system already consists of some 400 miles of trails that range from easy to gnarly through the mountains and along rivers in the southern part of the state, about 60 miles south of Charleston.
Now, the stewards of the Hatfield-McCoy system have opened another 100 miles of trails, this time in Wyoming County, near the town of Pineville.
The Hatfield-McCoy people gave us a sneak peak before the area opened up, and these new trails will only enhance the area's reputation as trails heaven. After all, there's a reason that visitors from 47 states and six foreign countries have made the trek to the Hatfield-McCoy.
The
Hatfield-McCoy Recreation area is a real success story for public-private partnerships.
The Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority, a public corporation established
by the West Virginia Legislature, is responsible for developing, building and
managing the trail system, which opened in October 2000. The trails are on private
land.
Why has the trail system gained so much support from state lawmakers and local government officials? Simple: tourism dollars. Officials believe they'll sell around 20,000 trail permits this year, with most of those permits being issued to out-of-staters.
And
when those out-of-staters come to the trails, they spend money on lodging, food
and other things, boosting the area's economy. Officials estimate visitors spend
between $250 and $500 per trip, which translates into about $10 million a year
for the local economy.
New businesses also are springing up as a result of the trail system, including six outfitter businesses offering rental and guided tours, seven campgrounds, and a couple hotels.
The trail system now has more than 400 miles of trails in Logan, Mingo and Boone counties, and the new 100 miles in Wyoming County.
So the trail system consists of about 500 miles of trail, Matt Ballard, executive director of the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority, says the goal is to create 2,000 miles of trails, all interconnected.
And that, he believes, is only the first phase of a grand vision for a trail system that just maybe one day could link up to trails in Kentucky and Virginia.
On this press introduction day, Ballard and other Hatfield-McCoy officials take us on the new Pinnacle Creek trail system, which begins at the Castle Rock trailhead.
We head off in the rain and immediately hit mud holes in the gnarly lower sections of the trail, then climb up into the hills following a dry trail that features drop-offs on one side, hills on the other, and vistas.
The line of ATVs moves up hills and down on the winding virgin trail, along the river, through dense forest and onto mining roads. The trail, like others in the Hatfield-McCoy system, offers paths for riders of all skill levels, ranging from extremely easy to extremely gnarly.
Hundreds
of signs show which trails are open, what skill levels are required, and what's
off-limits.
The trail winds through reclaimed coal-mining land that continues to be used for natural gas production. In fact, Wyoming County is rich in minerals and natural gas. The principal products of this rural area are coal, natural gas, lumber, poultry, hay and grain.
Along on this trip are Johnny Adams and his Brittany Spaniel, Rusty. Adams is the mayor of nearby Gilbert and has been a quadder for some 20 years. Rusty is a relative novice, having been riding with Adams for more than four years.
But give Rusty a break. He's only 5 years old.
Adams says local towns welcome ATVers and some have even passed laws allowing ATVs to use city roads. In his town, Adams says, you can ride your ATV through the drive-thru at the McDonalds if you want to.
Now
that's ATV friendly!
Hatfield-McCoy officials stress that providing a safe riding environment is their primary concern, and they're very proud of their safety record. In the three years since the Hatfield-McCoy trail system opened, there have been no deaths. And only seven of the reported accidents required that an injured person be admitted to the hospital.
To ride the Hatfield-McCoy you must wear a DOT/Snell-approved helmet, protective eyewear, and over-the-ankle footwear. Also, you can't ride double, and your machine must be equipped with a muffler and spark arrestor.
Annual out-of-state permits for the entire system, including tax, cost $79.50 and are good from the day they are purchased. West Virginians pay $26.50 for an annual permit.
You can get a three-to-seven day permit for $37.10, or a one-day permit for $19.08.
The
trails are open year-round from sunrise to sunset.
Hatfield-McCoy is now open in four areas: The Dingess Rum Trail near Logan, the Browning Fork Trail that runs between the towns of Man and Gilbert, the Buffalo Mountain Trail between Williamson and Matewan, the Little Coal River in Boone County near the Danville/Madison area, and the Pinnacle Creek Trail near Pineville.
Learn more about the trail system, nearby lodging, ATV rental and more at www.trailsheaven.com, by calling (800) 592-2217, or by writing to: Hatfield-McCoy Trails, PO Box 539, Lyburn, WV 25632.
And remember, as Hatfield-McCoy Executive Director Matt Ballard says, "Hatfield-McCoy Country is Trails Heaven."