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Gravel & Bikepacking

Mon Forest Towns Route Network

West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest region offers gravel routes for every rider, from short rail-trail loops to multi-day backcountry circuits. Browse all 60+ routes below and filter by towns and ride types to find the right ride for your next trip!

All
Day Ride 41
Multi-Day 6
Overnighter 25
Ride to Mon 12
A bicycle lies on a dirt path in a lush, green landscape with tall trees and a prominent tree in the center. The scene conveys tranquility and solitude.
Day Ride

Buffalo Hills Backroads

44.1

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

4693

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

12

ย %

GRAVEL

Rolling farm country loop from Franklin between North Fork Mountain and the Virginia state line, with a trout hatchery, Appalachian spirits, and a small-town finish.
Ride Details
A winding path covered with fallen leaves meanders through a dense, green forest. Sunlight filters through the trees, creating a peaceful, serene atmosphere.
Day Ride | Overnighter

Big Bend to Smoke Hole Spine

22.3

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

2824

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

42

ย %

GRAVEL

Technical singletrack on North Fork Mountain Trail, a 2,000-foot gravel climb, and quiet Smoke Hole Valley riding from Big Bend Campground near Seneca Rocks.
Ride Details
A cyclist with a long beard rides a mountain bike on a gravel path through lush, green forest. Sunlight filters through the trees, creating a serene atmosphere.
Multi-Day

Middle Mountain Mower

159.8

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

14889

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

73

ย %

GRAVEL

Epic 3-4 day bikepacking loop from Elkins through remote western Mon gravel, linking Mower Basin, Bald Knob, and Civil War earthworks at Cheat Summit Fort.
Ride Details
Photo Credit Jonny Ramirez
Day Ride

Camp 70 Gravel

9.8

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

289

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

100

ย %

GRAVEL

Flat gravel out-and-back from Davis through Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge to Camp 70, with open valley views, wildlife habitat, and singletrack access.
Ride Details
A winding road curves through a lush, green forest with hints of yellow autumn leaves. The scene feels serene and inviting, with dappled sunlight.
Day Ride

Thorn Creek Lolli

28.8

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

2561

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

7

ย %

GRAVEL

Gentle lollipop loop from Franklin along Thorn Creek and quiet farm lanes, with a worthwhile detour to Dry Run Spirits Distillery and frontier history at Dahmer.
Ride Details
Two cyclists ride on a gravel path through a lush green landscape with rolling hills. The overcast sky creates a calm, serene atmosphere.
Day Ride

Pleasant Pheasant

31.7

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

2239

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

28

ย %

GRAVEL

Peaceful 32-mile gravel loop from Elkins along Shavers Fork, through forest and farmland with excellent birdwatching and a car-free rail trail option back into town.
Ride Details
Cyclist in orange attire and red helmet rides on a gravel path through lush forest. Another cyclist follows in the distance. Mood is focused and determined.
Day Ride | Overnighter

Buffalo Smoke Camp

34.3

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

3018

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

72

ย %

GRAVEL

Intermediate gravel loop east of Durbin through spruce and hardwood forest, past Civil War history at Bartow, Lake Buffalo, and views from Smoke Camp Knob.
Ride Details
A group of cyclists, including children, ride on a scenic paved trail beside a pond with fountains, surrounded by lush greenery and distant hills, on a sunny summer day in Parsons, West Virgina
Day Ride

Shavers Fork Explorer

26.5

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

1728

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

66

ย %

GRAVEL

Beginner-friendly gravel loop along Shavers Fork from Parsons, passing Civil War history, riverside preserves, and quiet forest roads with manageable climbing.
Ride Details
A winding gravel path cuts through a serene forest, bordered by lush green grass and tall trees. Sunlight filters through, creating a peaceful ambiance.
Ride to Mon

Confluence, PA to Parsons

82.5

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

8718

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

41

ย %

GRAVEL

Gravel bikepacking connector from Confluence, PA linking the Great Allegheny Passage to the Mon Forest via Preston County, Terra Alta, and Stemple Ridge into Parsons.
Ride Details
Two cyclists ride along a scenic mountain road atop Spruce Knob, surrounded by lush greenery and rolling hills under a partly cloudy sky, evoking tranquility and adventure.
Day Ride | Overnighter

Spruce Knob & Germany Valley

67.5

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

5971

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

27

ย %

GRAVEL

Epic Potomac Highlands loop from Seneca Rocks to Spruce Knob summit, with a 15-mile descent, karst valleys, and the best views in West Virginia.
Ride Details
A weathered sign on a forest trail reads "Entering George Washington National Forest." Sunlight filters through tall trees, creating a serene atmosphere.
Day Ride | Overnighter

Sweet Reddish Sugar

67.9

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

8478

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

43

ย %

GRAVEL

Challenging gravel loop from Franklin climbing to Reddish Knob on the WV/VA border, with sweeping Appalachian views, stream crossings, and Cold War history along the way.
Ride Details
Cyclist in red rides uphill on a rural road, surrounded by lush green hills and a distant farmhouse under a partly cloudy sky, evoking serenity.
Ride to Mon

Harrisonburg, VA to Franklin

51.5

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

6044

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

50

ย %

GRAVEL

Gravel connector from Harrisonburg through Shenandoah Valley farmland and the Allegheny Front, climbing Long Run Road to the Virginia state line before descending into Franklin.
Ride Details
A winding gravel path leads through a dense, green forest under a misty sky, evoking a serene and tranquil atmosphere. A cyclist can be seen in the distance.
Overnighter

Bickle Blackwater

84.8

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

7278

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

62

ย %

GRAVEL

Epic northern Mon overnighter from Davis linking Blackwater Canyon, Bickle Knob Fire Tower, Shavers Fork, and Parsons through high-country gravel and bikepacking terrain.
Ride Details
A bicycle with red handlebars rests on a wooden bridge surrounded by lush green forest and gravel trails. The scene conveys a peaceful, adventurous outdoor vibe.
Day Ride | Overnighter

Cranberry Glades Yew

24.3

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

1660

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

87

ย %

GRAVEL

Car-free forest road loop from Cranberry Mountain Nature Center along the Cranberry River, with trout streams, rare bog ecosystems, and a gentle first bikepacking option.
Ride Details
drone photo of river in forested mountains with historic wooden railroad bridge along trail
Day Ride

Cherry, Cranberry & Elk Tracks

50.6

ย MI

DISTANCE โ†’

3037

ย FT

ELEVATION โ†‘

61

ย %

GRAVEL

Intermediate loop linking Richwood and Cowen over forested ridges, with rail-trail return along the developing Cranberry Tri-Rivers Trail through Webster County timber country.
Ride Details
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Disclaimer and Terms of Use: User assumes all risk and liability for any action in relation to usage of information and routes on RideWithGPS, monforesttowns.org, and bikepackingroots.org, including if actions result in injury, death, loss or damage of personal property or other complications. The Mon Forest Towns Partnership, Bikepacking Roots, MountainRides WV, Village to Village Press, LLC, its partners, associates, and contributors accept no liability. Route information and advice is provided as a planning resource only, and is not guaranteed to be accurate or complete, and in no way should replace your own due diligence, research, and safety precautions. All users are advised to check current conditions before embarking on any route, including weather, surface conditions and closures. Users should obey all laws including public and private land usage restrictions and guidelines and carry adequate safety and navigational equipment.

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