Bicycling at New River Gorge

A colored photograph of four bikers, wearing helmets, standing on the trail, next to their bikes.
Bikers join a Get Active in the Park Intro to Mountain Biking program.

Get Active in the Park

 

The beautiful landscapes and the variety of difficult to less challenging bike routes make the New River Gorge among the most popular destinations for mountain biking trips in the eastern U.S. Bike shops, mountain biking trails, outfitters and companies offering guided biking tours of the New River Gorge and nearby areas may be found throughout the region.

The park currently allows traditional bicycles on the following trails within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. E-bikes are ONLY permitted on the Stonecliff Trail.

Bicycles are also permitted on the Bluestone Turnpike Trail at Bluestone National Scenic River.

More bicycle trails may be added to the park trail system in the future.

Mountain biking trails are also found at nearby Summersville Lake and Little Beaver State Park.

 
A colored photograph of a woman wearing a helmet, riding her bike on the trail.
A visitor enjoying a bike ride on a trail.

Cycling Rules & Guidelines

  • Only ride on trails open to bicycles.
  • Leave no trace - pack it in, pack it out.
  • Control your bicycle!
  • Do not disturb or scare birds or animals.
  • Plan ahead.
  • Be considerate of other trail users. All bicyclists must yield to other trail users in the following manner:
  • A bicyclist must yield to an equestrian
  • A bicyclist must yield to a pedestrian
  • A bicyclist travelling downhill must yield to a bicyclist travelling uphill.
  • Yielding the right of way requires slowing down to a safe speed, being prepared to stop, establishing communication and passing safely.
  • Failure to yield is prohibited.
 

Arrowhead Trails

Total Length: 12.8 miles
Trail Difficulty Rating: Easy to intermediate

More than 1,000 members of the Order of the Arrow (OA), Boy Scouts of America's national honor society, created this stacked loop trail system in the Craig's Branch area. Four mountain bike loops, rated from moderate to difficult, await adventuresome riders. In one of the largest youth service projects in National Park Service history, the scouts provided 78,544 volunteer hours, valued at $1.6 million, to build the trails in 2011.

The Arrowhead Trails Map below shows the Clovis Trail, Adena Trail, Dalton Trail, and LeCroy Trail. The numbers on the map correspond to the trail listed below the map.

 
Map of the Biking trails in the Arrowhead System
Map of the Arrowhead Bicycling Trails. The numbers correspond to the trails listed below.
 

Arrowhead Trails

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    E-bikes

    The use of e-bikes, in compliance with applicable adopted state law, will be allowed on park roads opened to motor vehicle use (classes 1, 2, and 3). E-bikes will now be allowed the Stone Cliff Trail (classes 1 and 2 only). Due to public safety concerns, e-bikes will not be allowed on other trails where traditional bikes are currently allowed. The bikes shall be labeled showing the class of e-bike, or the operator shall carry documentation of the class of e-bike while operating within park boundaries. Class 1 e-bikes have a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the e-bike reaches 20 mph. Class 2 e-bikes have a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the e-bike reaches 20 mph. Class 3 e-bikes have a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the e-bike reaches 28 mph.

     
    river and trees
    Bluestone Turnpike Trail

    Ride the Bluestone Turnpike Trail at Bluestone National Scenic River.

    hands gripping the handlebars of a mountain bike on a trail
    Biking Safety

    Find out what you need to know to have a safe ride in the park.

     

    Trail Maps

     

    Last updated: September 16, 2022

    Contact Info

    Mailing Address:

    P.O. Box 246, 104 Main Street
    Glen Jean, WV 25846

    Phone:

    304-465-0508

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