Kanawha State Forest Singletrack Highlights Ride

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

This is a 17-mile loop that starts and finishes at the Pool Parking lot. The ride includes Middle Ridge Road Access, portions of Middle Ridge Trail, Teaberry Rock Trail, Mossy Rock, Black Bear Mt. Bike Trail, Pigeon Roost Trail, and Pine Ridge Trail for a fun route that showcases some of the best climbs and descents in the area.

Start at the Pool Parking area and turn downstream along the paved road to the park entrance. Turn right on Rifle Range Road and soon you'll approach the gate in front of the Middle Ridge Road Access, go around and start climbing.

At about one mile, enter the Middle Ridge Trail (Stinky Pete to Davis Creek) on the right (marked with blue star blaze). Keep climbing to the intersection with Stinky Pete and turn right. The trail ends at the top of the Teaberry Rock Trail, where you'll turn right again to complete the steep descent, tight switchbacks, and some technical sections.

At the bottom, turn left on Lower Pool Hill, then keep left to climb up Mossy Rock. This is a steep and technical climb, all but the best will have to hike-a-bike a couple sections here. Once back on the ridge, you'll get a chance to sample most of Middle Ridge Trail. The portion included on this Ride continues south and has several shortish sections that cross Middle Ridge Road.

Continue linking these sections until you arrive at the top of Black Bear Mt. Bike Trail. Get ready for a technical descent that starts in a steep boulder field before mellowing out a little with a couple switchbacks and a couple challenging drops. At the bottom, cross the paved road and climb Pigeon Roost Trail. Pigeon Roost Trail is a steep but doable climb that arrives at the West Boundary Ridge Road.

Turn right on this road and climb a short distance to an unmarked three-way intersection, take a right on Gas Road C-26, and continue past a gas well to the marked beginning of Pine Ridge Trail descent. The trail ends in a meadow, take a left to the paved road and continue downstream back to the Pool Parking lots.