Pocahontas County, West Virginia, renowned for Snowshoe Mountain’s premier downhill and cross-country races, is expanding its biking trails with the development of the Monday Lick trail system. This new addition aims to bolster the county’s reputation, striving for Gold-Level Ride Center status from the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA).
Introducing the Monday Lick Trail System
The Monday Lick trail system, currently under construction on US Forest Service land near Marlinton, will feature 27 miles of bike-optimized singletrack. This ambitious project promises to offer a diverse array of trails, including several shuttleable downhill routes, tailored for both novice and experienced riders.
Adam Munich, Digital Marketing Coordinator for Rock Solid Trail Contracting, highlighted the significance of this development. “The Monday Lick trail system is really going to be that key piece of bicycle infrastructure to get the whole family out there on the trail,” Munich stated. Reflecting on his experience with the existing backcountry trails and Snowshoe’s downhill paths, Munich noted, “If I were a new mountain biker in the region, I probably wouldn’t want to get into mountain biking or go ride anywhere local just because of — the technical, the route, the elevation, everything is pretty rough.”
Trail Construction and Features
Rock Solid Trail Contracting and Appalachian Dirt are collaborating on the trail construction. Among the most anticipated trails are two being developed by Rock Solid, stretching from the lower loops to the top of a nearby mountain ridge. One trail will be rated blue, suitable for intermediate riders, while the other will be rated black, designed for advanced riders. Both trails, though multi-use and two-way, will have a bike-optimized design, encouraging riders to ascend via the blue trail and descend using the black trail. Additionally, a gravel forest service road offers an alternative climb to the ridge’s peak.
Munich described the black trail as a “really long descent” spanning approximately 5.5 miles. While it follows the ridgeline and incorporates some elevation changes, it remains primarily a downhill trail. “It’s going to be a black trail, but it’s still going to be a flow trail,” Munich explained. “It’s going to give that newer rider the experience of being out in the backcountry, getting comfortable with high-speed bike handling skills, but it’s not going to be just bombing down a trail and, ‘oh, here’s a 180-degree switchback’ or just something really tight. So it is really going to be that really accessible trail to the area that’s also a destination.”
With the completion of the Monday Lick trail system, Pocahontas County is set to become an even more attractive destination for mountain biking enthusiasts, providing a mix of challenging and family-friendly trails that cater to riders of all skill levels.
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