A person wearing a helmet and backpack sits on a rock, surrounded by lush green foliage, overlooking a scenic view of rolling mountains in the distance under a clear blue sky. Bear Pen (modified) Loop mountain bike trail.
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Level: Intermediate
Length: 17 mi (27.4 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: -
Total: 17 riders
 

Mountain Biking Bear Pen (modified) Loop

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#15 of 112 mountain bike trails in West Virginia
#1,878 in the world

Take Gauley Mountain Trail off Mine Rd. and ride 1.5 miles, passing Tea Creek Connector Trail at .9 miles, and turning right on Bear Pen Ridge Trail. Take Bear Pen Ridge Trail for 3.5 miles to the bottom of the mountain. When you get to the bottom ride past Tea Creek Trail (one left and one right) and then cross Tea Creek (the stream). Continue on Bear Pen up the bank across the creek for another 1.7 miles to the intersection of Boundary Trail.
Here you need to decide if you feel like another 2 miles of tough, technical riding with a few short tough climbs. If you decide to miss that challenge, a couple beautiful places on the trail and an awesome overlook, go straight past Boundary and continue about another 1/2 mile to FR135. In a few hundred feet you will come to a steep uphill into a strip mine clear cut. Ride down through the clear cut to FR135. WARNING there is a DEEP drainage ditch across the trail in these weeds making it easy to nose dive into. Be alert. Once at FR135 go right to vehicle if you didn't drive past this intersection at the beginning.
To continue the modified, challenging and beautiful loop, take Boundary Trail, ride just over 1 mile to the top of the mountain and the next intersection. There are several signs there and the overlook is on your left. Note, Boundary Trail goes right when you arrive. Don't get confused when you leave and go down Turkey Point/Saddle Loop. After viewing the overlook and taking that much needed break continue down a fun 1/2 mile with a few switchbacks to a plateau that takes you through a tight laurel tunnel and then to a steep, 50 foot drop and hike-a-bike down it. Just a short distance you will come out on a Forest Road. Turn right, noting Bannock Shoals trail on your left. Follow this road to the next intersection and stay right on FR135 and at all major intersections till you reach your truck. About 17.5 miles total. What a blast ! Check out the pics of this trail for example.

First added by Outdoornut on Feb 20, 2008. Last updated Apr 28, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
  • Drinking water: unknown
  • Lift service: unknown
  • Night riding: unknown
  • Pump track: unknown
  • Restrooms: unknown
  • Fat bike grooming: unknown
  • E-bikes allowed: unknown
  • Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Getting there
Take US219 south of Elkins past the Snowshoe turn off, through Slatyfork about 1.6 miles south of Bechwith Lumber Company, to Mine Rd. (FR24). Take a right on Mine Rd. and go 4 miles to the Tea Creek Trail parking area. Note, you will pass Gauley Mountain Trail on your left just before reaching Tea Creek Trail Parking. This is a good place to begin if you don't mind 7 to 8 miles of slightly uphill gravel road for the end of your ride. If you would rather ride some of those road miles before the singletrack, go past Tea Creek parking, then left on FR135 and drive to a nice wide spot a couple miles down this hill, at least down the long grade. Park there and then bike back up FR135, go right on Mine Rd., ride past Tea Creek trailhead to Gauley Mountain Trail and your singletrack begins. Note, near the end of your ride on FR135 there is a awesome reflective pond on your right. Be sure to check it out. See pictures. Please don't spend any money at ERTC or Snowshoe since they now support wilderness designation which closes trails to mountain bikes.


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Open (May 22, 2010)
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