Ride Guide
This epic western Mon loop is best experienced over 3–4 days, linking Elkins to some of the most remote gravel roads in the high backcountry. At the route’s far southwestern edge, three worthy detours await: Mower Basin, Bald Knob, and Cheat Summit Fort, inviting deeper exploration along the Eastern Continental Divide. These high ridgelines carry both sweeping views and layered history: remnants of timber and rail eras, Civil War-era fortifications, and quiet forest corridors that feel far removed from modern life.
Mower Basin, Bald Knob, and Cheat Summit Fort each represent a distinct layer of the Mon’s natural and human history. Mower Basin sits deep in former timber and rail country, where traces of logging infrastructure and industrial mining remnants still shape the landscape in stark contrast to the quiet forest that has reclaimed it. Bald Knob, at 4,813 feet, is one of the highest peaks along the Western Allegheny Front and the third-highest point in West Virginia (just 21 feet lower than Spruce Knob). It offers expansive, high-elevation views and a strong sense of Appalachian remoteness along the Eastern Continental Divide.
Nearby, atop White Top on Cheat Mountain, sits Cheat Summit Fort, the location of the highest Union encampment of the Civil War. The preserved earthworks mark a strategic fortification built to protect the vital turnpike and rail corridor crossing these mountains, adding a powerful historical dimension to the ride. This area is also known for the first documented sighting of the Cheat Mountain Salamander, a rare species found only in these high-elevation forests and adjacent ridges.
The return follows gentle creek grades along the West Fork of the Greenbrier River and through Little River Wildlife Management Area, passing the historic Middle Mountain USFS cabins — a quiet reminder of the region’s long tradition of public land stewardship and rustic recreation. From there, extended gravel ridge roads trace the edge of the Laurel Fork Wilderness before a fitting final climb to the Bickle Knob fire tower. A long descent drops to Shavers Fork, leading back toward Elkins to complete the loop.
Ride Tips
- Backcountry camping is abundant throughout, but services are limited. Durbin (around mile 90) provides the only reliable mid-route resupply, with restaurants, lodging, and camping options.
- Because of historic industrial activity in the Mower Basin area, locals advise against drinking water from route miles 34–41 (even if filtered) so plan water accordingly.
- With roughly 60 miles at or above 4,000 feet elevation, expect cooler temperatures and the potential for lingering snow during shoulder seasons.
