If you don't have a shuttle, start at Canaan Valley Resort (parking lot at the lodge). Ride out of the parking lot and go right toward the golf course. About 2/3 the way down the hill you will see Middle Ridge Trail on the left. Take it to the first intersection and then go right. Follow this loop trail to the next intersection, near a bridge and go right again. (Middle Ridge goes left there and back to the first intersection. After taking the right ride to the next intersecton (Allegheny Trail) and take another right. You are on your way to Canaan Loop Road now. Once you reach Canaan Loop Rd. go right and ride for a ways. If you want you can take Allegheny (Davis Trail) at the next trail head or continue to Fire Trail # 3 which is my favorite route. Go left on Fire Trail 3, ride to Plantation Tr. and go left. Ride that trail back past Allegheny (Davis Trail) till you reach Fire Trail 6. Go left on 6, back to Canaan Loop Rd., go left and ride a short distance to the intersection with Allegheny on your right which will backtrack you to Canaan Valley Resort. When you get back to the next intersection remember to stay left, across a wooden bridge and to change it up go right on Middle Ridge Trail after the next bridge. This will take you on the other part of Middle Ridge Loop. Go right when you get back to the place you started and come out again below the Lodge.
This is an awesome loop. Of course there are so many options once you get to Canaan Loop Rd., you make the choice. If you have a shuttle (two vehicles) you may choose to ride from one park to the other. Just follow Allegheny / Davis Trail all the way through.
The locals have made huge improvements to this trail dealing with the wet bog areas. They have installed nice bridges and elevated rock crossings. It is quite the climb from Cannan towards Blackwater , much better riding the other direction. It has a screaming fast downhill towards Cannan Valley. It can be rode as an out and back or you can shuttle if you prefer.
| ThankRode this on 8/24/09 as an out-an-back from Canaan Valley State Park to the Loop Road and back. Clocked at 9.3 miles - but took me about 1 hr, 40 minutes to complete. This is a tough and technical climb from the park to Loop road with many steep uphill rock gardens - yeah! The last mile or so to the Loop Road is the most challenging IMO. It becomes a mix of rocks and bog through here. Once you hit Loop, turn-around and ride this back. It's much easier heading back to the park - mostly downhill. Those cruel uphill rock gardens are a technical blast on the way down! Trail was in great shape when I rode it. Enjoy.
| ThankThe trail is in great shape. Just rode it with oldnoob on the 16th of august, 2008. We rode a different loop than I described from last year. We still rode from Canaan Valley to Canaan Loop Rd., then took a right and rode to the large right of way. There we dove into the right of way to a hidden trail (Fire Lane) on the right off that right of way and took that awesome trail over to Fire Trail # 3 which is still technical as usual. Take a left on Plantation trail and this time instead of going all the way to Fire Trail # 6 we took a left on Allegheny Trail and rode it back up to Canaan Loop Rd. Took a right on Canaan Loop Rd. and rode back to where Allegheny Trail takes off to the left the way we came in. We did a return trip on that portion of Allegheny and had a blast. You've got to try this one if you like technical stuff. Total length of this loop was right around 18 miles. * Review edited 8/20/2008* Review edited 8/20/2008* Review edited 8/27/2008
| Thankwild, wonderful and untamed WV mountain biking at its best. relentless rock gardens, roots, root-rock gardens, bogs, ruts, sand, creeks... not for the faint of heart, but the adventurous mountain biker will be grinning from ear to ear. sorry, no buffed suburban single track to see here. Bring your lunch pail and come ride the real stuff. * Review edited 8/18/2008
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