Ride Guide
This relatively flat gravel out-and-back begins in downtown Davis and rolls quietly through the wide-open landscapes of the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge before reaching the Camp 70 trail system. Almost entirely on peaceful gravel roads, the ride offers a relaxed way to explore the valley floor while providing easy access to miles of singletrack for mountain bikers looking to extend the adventure.
Along the way, the route passes through a landscape shaped by conservation, science, and early Appalachian history. The historic Fairfax Line, surveyed in the 18th century to settle competing land claims between Lord Fairfax and the Virginia colony, once marked the western edge of some of the earliest mapped lands in the Alleghenies. Today the corridor threads through protected areas including Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Little Canaan Wildlife Management Area, where wetlands, open meadows, and forested ridges support migratory birds, black bear, and rare high-elevation plant communities unique to the valley basin. Nearby, Yellow Creek Natural Area protects cold mountain streams flowing through spruce forest, while the National Youth Science Academy reflects the valley’s ongoing role in environmental education and research. Even the Davis water treatment infrastructure highlights the importance of careful watershed stewardship in this headwaters region that feeds the Blackwater and Cheat River systems.
Camp 70 Road is generally well-maintained, though sections of gravel can be loose since road repairs often involve spreading larger stones that gradually smooth out with light traffic. The eastern end of the route can also be wet and boggy in places, though it offers excellent views across the wildlife refuge. If conditions are too soft, it’s easy to turn around where motor vehicle access ends and return the same way.
