This is a full day mountain biking trip along West Virginia's New River Gorge stopping at several historic sites.

Trip Description

Tour De Gorge Mountain Biking Trip along West Virginia's scenic New River Gorge

Challenging, but by far this is the best mountain bike trip to experience what the "Grand Canyon of the East" has to offer. We will drop you and your guide off at Kaymoor Top, once the site of one of the biggest coal operations in the gorge, near the New River Gorge Bridge.  From here you will take the National Park Kaymoor-Cunard Trail.  This trail is considered a moderate 6.6 mile trail that starts off on top of the gorge and works its way out to the edge where you will drop almost 300' in less than a mile down to the main trail.  From here there are two options - you can turn left and go to the Kaymoor Mines (an additional 3.5 miles round trip) or like most, turn right towards Cunard.  The trail sits high above the New River, running between 500' and 700', following the contours of the gorge, winding up and down as you work your way to Cunard.  This trail offers some spectacular views with something new to see around every bend.

Once you reach the Cunard Access Road (paved), you will have an awesome downhill ride to the river - it drops almost 600' in 1.4 miles - what a ride! At the bottom we will take a short break for lunch before we continue.

After lunch we will jump onto the National Park Southside Junction Trail, another moderate trail that stays about 50' above the river, paralleling it all the way back to ACE Beach - just under 6 miles away.  This trail becomes a single-track that passes through the old mining towns of Brooklyn, Red Ash, Rush Run and Erskine.  There will be plenty of opportunities to see parts of the old ruins and hear the guides tails of the bygone era when coal was king.  At the end of the trip we will be waiting with cold drinks to take you back up the mountain to the resort.

The trails on this trip are a gamut of forest service roads and single-track dirt trails that range from 18" to 36" wide.  No single trail on this trip is rated above moderate, but at 15 plus miles long, this trip is considered challenging and may not be for everyone.  It requires intermediate riding skills, a reasonable level of physical fitnesse, and a willingness to challenge oneself.  If you are up to the challenge... it is well worth the effort.  If you want an easier mountain bike adventure you should consider trying the New River Scenic 1/2 day Tour.

This trip departs at 8:45 am.  Please be at the Big Top Tent a 1/2 hour before the departure time.  Trip length is 15 to 18.5 miles long.  Trip includes a guide(s), shuttle, lunch, mountain bike and helmet.