Donate

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 42
Multi-Day 6
Overnighter 25
Ride to Mon 12
Foggy landscape with overgrown railway tracks leading to a distant red brick building. Lush green trees surround the scene, creating a serene, abandoned atmosphere.
Ride to Mon

Morgantown, WV to Parsons

78.1

 MI

DISTANCE →

7899

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

43

 %

GRAVEL

Gravel bikepacking route from Morgantown along Deckers Creek Trail through Preston County, linking Kingwood, Rowlesburg, and the Cheat River valley to Parsons.
Ride Details
drone photo of river in forested mountains with historic wooden railroad bridge along trail
Day Ride

Cherry, Cranberry & Elk Tracks

50.6

 MI

DISTANCE →

3037

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

61

 %

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
A winding road cuts through lush, colorful autumn forests on rolling hills under a cloudy sky, evoking a serene and contemplative mood.
Day Ride

Triangle Rock & Smith Mountain

24.6

 MI

DISTANCE →

2824

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

42

 %

GRAVEL

Intermediate loop from Seneca Rocks along the North Fork to Triangle Rock, climbing gravel Smith Mountain Road with sweeping views back toward the quartzite fins.
Ride Details
A winding gravel path in a lush forest, with vibrant green and autumn leaves scattered on the ground. The scene evokes serenity and a sense of natural beauty.
Day Ride | Overnighter

WV–VA South Fork Traverse

61.7

 MI

DISTANCE →

7781

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

46

 %

GRAVEL

Rugged bikepacking loop from Petersburg crossing South Fork Mountain into Virginia and back, with 7,800 feet of climbing, remote backroads, and a friendly general store.
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

 MI

DISTANCE →

1728

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

66

 %

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 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

 MI

DISTANCE →

2824

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

42

 %

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 wearing a helmet rides across a narrow suspension bridge surrounded by lush green foliage, conveying a sense of adventure and focus.
Multi-Day

Mon Circuit 440

441.5

 MI

DISTANCE →

36810

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

66

 %

GRAVEL

Expansive 441-mile bikepacking loop linking 8 Mon Forest Towns through the Greenbrier Valley, Cranberry Wilderness, and Canaan Valley on remote backcountry gravel west of the divide.
Ride Details
A gravel path winds through a lush, sunlit countryside with a bicycle leaning on a wooden fence. Rolling hills and fluffy clouds fill the serene landscape.
Overnighter

Laurel and Spruce

84.1

 MI

DISTANCE →

6948

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

86

 %

GRAVEL

Intermediate bikepacking loop from Durbin through Laurel Fork Wilderness, the Sinks of Gandy, and Spruce Knob summit, West Virginia's highest point, on remote Mon Forest gravel.
Ride Details
The image shows a grand capitol building with a golden dome, surrounded by trees. A statue stands before it under a soft sunset sky, creating a serene atmosphere.
Ride to Mon

Charleston, WV to Cowen

131.2

 MI

DISTANCE →

9818

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

40

 %

GRAVEL

Paved and gravel connector from Charleston along the Kanawha River and 40-mile Elk River Trail through Gassaway and Sutton to Cowen and the western Mon Forest.
Ride Details
A winding dirt road curves through a grassy landscape with scattered bare trees leading to distant hills under a bright blue sky with light clouds.
Ride to Mon

Cumberland, MD to Petersburg

75.7

 MI

DISTANCE →

6972

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

24

 %

GRAVEL

Gravel connector from Cumberland linking the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal to Petersburg, with panoramic Twin Mountain ridgeline gravel and a fast descent into town.
Ride Details
A flowing river with rapids runs through a lush, green forest under a clear blue sky. The scene conveys a sense of natural beauty and tranquility.
Day Ride

Bishop’s Backwoods

17.2

 MI

DISTANCE →

1365

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

100

 %

GRAVEL

Beginner-friendly 100% gravel loop near Richwood climbing to Bishop Knob before descending along the Cranberry River, one of West Virginia's premier trout streams.
Ride Details
A scenic gravel forest path winds through autumn trees with green and yellow leaves. The trail is flanked by foliage, creating a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
Day Ride | Overnighter

Elk River via Webster Springs

57

 MI

DISTANCE →

4917

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

45

 %

GRAVEL

Intermediate loop linking Cowen and Webster Springs along the Elk River, with railroad history, riverside boardwalks, and scenic Camp Run gravel.
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 | Overnighter

Laurel Mountain Loop

54.3

 MI

DISTANCE →

4620

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

22

 %

GRAVEL

Advanced gravel loop linking Parsons, Elkins, and Belington across Laurel Mountain, featuring Civil War history, rail corridors, and a beloved bakery gravel hub.
Ride Details
Family riding on paved Allegheny Highlands Trail in Elkins
Day Ride

Allegheny Highlands Trail

32.6

 MI

DISTANCE →

974

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

74

 %

GRAVEL

Family-friendly rail trail from downtown Elkins through quiet forests and farmland, past historic depots and small communities toward Hendricks and the Blackwater Canyon Trail.
Ride Details
A winding gravel path leads through a dense forest with tall, lush green trees. Dappled sunlight filters through, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere.
Ride to Mon

Roanoke, VA to White Sulphur Springs

116.7

 MI

DISTANCE →

12755

 FT

ELEVATION ↑

26

 %

GRAVEL

Gravel bikepacking connector from Roanoke through Catawba Valley, Potts Mountain, and Kate's Mountain to White Sulphur Springs and the southern Mon Forest gateway.
Ride Details
Load More
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.

Newsletter Signup

Subscribe to our newsletter for partnership updates and trail tips.

Name