Your Ultimate Riding Buddy's Guide to the Hatfield McCoy Trails
So you've heard about the Hatfield McCoy Trails and you're ready to send it in West Virginia? Good call. With over 1,000 miles of trails spread across 11 trail systems in the mountains of southern West Virginia, this is hands-down one of the best off-road riding destinations in North America. Whether you're a first-timer on a quad or a seasoned ripper looking for gnarly terrain, there's something here for you.
Here's everything you need to plan your trip — where to stay, where to fuel up, where to grab parts if something breaks, and which trails to hit based on your skill level.
Getting Your Permit
First things first: everyone on the trails needs a permit — and yes, that includes your passengers. Non-resident permits run $65 for the year, and WV residents pay $26.50. You can grab your permit online before you go, or pick one up at any of the 180+ authorized vendors and trailhead facilities once you arrive. Permits are valid through December 31st of the purchase year, so if you're going back for seconds (and you will), that permit's still good.
Check the official Hatfield-McCoy Trails site for the latest info and trail conditions before you head out.
Where to Stay
The trail system is surrounded by ride-in, ride-out lodging — meaning you can roll out of bed, fire up the machine, and hit dirt without loading a trailer. Here are some top picks:
Devil's Backbone Adventure Resort in Matewan sits right on Devil Anse Trail 59 and offers one- to four-bedroom cabins (some with hot tubs), deluxe tents, and RV sites. It's perfectly positioned for accessing the Devil Anse, Buffalo Mountain, and Rockhouse trail systems.
Ashland ATV Resort is an award-winning campground with plush lodges, rustic cottages, camping cabins, and RV sites — all with direct trail access.
Twin Hollow Campground near Gilbert has 11 mountaintop cabins and on-site SXS rentals through Mountaintop Adventures, so you can ride even if you didn't bring your own machine.
For a more traditional hotel vibe, Chief Logan Lodge near Logan has 75 rooms with an indoor pool and fitness center. And if you want the full state park experience, Twin Falls Resort State Park has a 47-room lodge and secluded cottages.
Browse the full Hatfield-McCoy lodging directory for more options.
Fuel, Food, and Getting Around
You won't need to haul jerry cans. Most trail systems have community connectors that link directly into nearby towns where you can gas up, grab a bite, and resupply. The Rockhouse system connects to Man and Gilbert, Buffalo Mountain links to Matewan, Delbarton, and Williamson, and the Devil Anse and Bearwallow systems have direct access to fuel and food. That said, pack some snacks and water — you can easily spend several hours between trailheads.
Parts, Repairs, and Gear
Stuff breaks. It's off-roading. When it does, you've got options:
Wild Willy's ATV Rezort in Northfork is open 7 days a week with a full repair shop and large parts inventory. Walk-in service, no appointment needed.
McCoy Motorsports in Eastern Kentucky carries the largest in-stock basic parts selection for most ATVs and SXSs in the region, including Polaris and Can-Am.
If you want to order ahead, Rocky Mountain ATV/MC and SuperATV ship fast and carry just about everything you'd need.
Don't Have a Machine? Rent One.
No quad? No problem. Several outfits rent current-model machines right at the trailheads:
Mountaintop Adventures in Gilbert rents Can-Am Maverick X3s and even delivers to multiple trail systems. Tryn' Something New Adventures in Matewan has Polaris and Kawasaki sport machines with direct Devil Anse access. Eagle ATV Rental & Guided Tours is southern WV's only Destination Yamaha facility and offers guided tours — great if it's your first time and you want a local showing you the good lines.
Check the full machine rentals directory for more options.
Picking Your Trails by Skill Level
The trails use a ski-run style rating system: green circle (easiest), blue square (more difficult), black diamond (advanced), and double black diamond (expert only).
If you're a beginner or riding with the family, start with the Pocahontas Trail System near historic Bramwell. It's about 50 miles of mostly novice and intermediate terrain — scenic, fun, and forgiving. The Indian Ridge Trail System (63 miles near Ashland) is another solid choice with varied terrain for all levels.
Intermediate riders should check out Bearwallow near Logan — roughly 100 miles split evenly between novice, intermediate, and difficult trails. Pinnacle Creek near Pineville is another great intermediate option at about 80 miles.
Advanced and expert riders, you want Rockhouse between Man and Gilbert. Over 100 miles of technical terrain that'll test you. The Devil Anse Trail System near Matewan is the big one — 300+ miles ranging from moderate to extreme. This is where you go when you want to push your limits.
Download the onX Offroad app before your trip. It has color-coded trail maps, difficulty ratings, trailhead locations, and even local business listings.
Plan Your Trip
The West Virginia Tourism office has a dedicated ATV section with trip planning resources, and the Hatfield-McCoy Convention & Visitors Bureau is a goldmine for regional info on lodging, dining, and activities beyond the trails.
West Virginia didn't earn the "Almost Heaven" tagline by accident. Load up the truck, grab your crew, and come see what 1,000 miles of mountain trails feels like under your wheels. You're not going to regret it.
Have you ridden the Hatfield McCoy Trails? Drop us a comment and tell us your favorite trail system!
