Gravel & Bikepacking

This bikepacking circuit weaves together lesser-traveled forest roads through the Cranberry River Corridor and surrounding public lands for an expansive southern Mon tour. Crossing the Greenbrier River Trail corridor and linking state parks, wildlife areas, and high-elevation plateaus, the ride blends the solitude of remote forest roads with welcoming Appalachian wilderness towns.

Early miles climb steadily from Richwood into the wind-swept highlands near Manning Knob and Cold Mountain, where open ridgelines and distant views of wind turbines create a sense of scale rare in the central Appalachians. Descending toward the river brings a change in rhythm, with smooth miles along the Greenbrier River Trail and opportunities for a cooling swim — especially near the clear pools at Blue Bend Recreation Area, a beloved riverside oasis for campers and anglers. Farther east, quiet state forest roads contour the slopes of Beaver Lick Mountain before reaching Watoga State Park, where the Ann Bailey Fire Tower stands as a tribute to early forest stewardship and frontier resilience.

A stop in Marlinton offers a lively midpoint — food, lodging, and the easygoing river-town atmosphere shaped by the rail-trail economy. From there, the route drifts into the mossy, rhododendron-lined corridors near Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, one of the most ecologically unique landscapes in the state. Boardwalk trails protect fragile bog ecosystems that feel more like northern tundra than Appalachia, and the surrounding forest roads remain blissfully free of motor vehicles.

Swimming holes are plentiful in the warmer months, but be prepared for a stout opening climb out of Richwood to set the tone. Long stretches of this route have little to no cell coverage, reinforcing its backcountry character.