Plantation Trail

Plantation, Son of Plantation and all the trails within the bounds (more or less) of Canaan Loop Road in Davis, WV are worthy destinations for those seeking epic MTB trails that will challenge intermediate and expert riders. Stop by Blackwater Bikes and get a map and pack plenty of food and water and spend the day between 3000' and 4000' rolling across a wide variety of terrain, features, and plant life. Rhododendrons have been seen from spring time to Labor Day in this high-altitude plateau. Davis is a MTB destination and favorite of many riders in WV and beyond. Check out all the other trails in the area too.

There are several trail heads that branch off of plantation. Very technical and usually muddy. Tons, I mean tons of rocks surrounded by thick mountain laurel . It's one of the toughest 8 miles of riding in WV.

Omg!! Nice trail but if you are looking for a piece of cake this is not it. I am a pretty k rider and i found myself walking lots of it. ;) have fun. It takes a couple of tries before you can stay on the bike for the most of it.

Very technical all the way through. A decent ride, and delicious eats in davis makes for a fun day. Watch for bears.

I read about this trail in the book "Mtn biking in West Virginia." I rode down plantation trail to Lindy Run and took a left, and out to Canaan Loop road and up to Davis Trail (marked as tr 701) and took a left, and then back to plantation, and took a right and back up to the car. The author described it as one of the most technical trails in the state, and that it would hammer you, and about 12.6 miles, which took me 2.5 hrs. I was whipped at the end. It was probably the most consistently technical trail I have ever ridden. Rocks, roots, and mud were everywhere. The rock gardens were very challenging, but very fun if you enjoy slow speed rock crawling trials-esque riding.
I am a recent transplant from SC, and thus have only ridden Cooper's rock, Big Bear Campground, and some Slaty Fork. But I will definitely come back, especially now that I got a map from Blackwater Bikes. Also while in the area, I would check out Mountain State Brewing Company in Thomas, WV on 32. They have 3 dollar pints of good beer. We also had pizza at Sirriana's in downtown Davis which was great for a post ride gorge.

Wow, rode Plantation, several of the connecting trails and some of Canaan Loop Rd. on Oct. 5th, 08.
The colors in the area are really brilliant right now. Get out there before the leaves fall. The trails are in the best shape I've seen them for years and drier that ever. However we are seeing some rain today. See new pictures.

Just rode Plantation and many of the connectors last week, Sept. 21 and it's drier than I've ever seen it, making it a great ride right now. Get out there and enjoy while you can. Join the Ride-at-five local group ride that begins at Blackwater Bikes on Thursday evening to learn some of the unmarked trails so you can make some awesome rideable loops that don't include highway miles. We found an awesome loop, up son of Plantation (gotta have a local or someone who knows this one show you), out Plantation to Fire Trail # 6, up 6 to Canaan Loop Road, left on Canaan Loop Rd. for a couple miles then left on Allegheny/Davis Trail and ride it across Plantation (interseciton you've already passed) and down to Blackwater Falls State Park. Watch for trail sign, and turn right on Yellow Birch just before reaching the blacktop road in the park. Follow this technical trail to where it comes out on the maintenance road. Cross it onto a gravel road (wide path known to many as STP road) and ride it back to Davis at the bridge over the blackwater river near the Shop N Save. This loop is right at 14 miles. You can add a different route off Plantation to include more trails and get many more miles. Davis Trail in that direction is just plain awesome, rocky, rooty, chain rattling joy, then to be challenged by Yellow Birch. WOW !

wild, 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 line finding skills and come ride the real stuff the area has to offer

recommend riding to Plantation from Davis on allegheny/davis trail from blackwater falls state park. that way, when you finally get to plantation it will seem a bit more tame than what you just rode to get there :) bike shop has maps.

Just rode Plantation May 30, 2008 and they have cut back the laurel so it's not so darn tight and tearing your arms up. The trail is washed out in a couple places making it nearly impossible to climb a couple spots however the trails is a blast regardless. We rode it for the first time all the way from one end (Rt.32) to the other (Canaan Loop Rd.). The section past Lindy Run pretty much sucks. It is in bad shape so I would recommend going left on Lindy out to Canaan Loop Rd. that way. Note: there is a new sign stating Lindy, to the right, is no longer maintained so you may not want to venture there. Hit the other trails out or do the loop I mention in the trail description. We rode from Camp 70 Rd., across the swinging bridge, up the fire road to Canaan Heights, crossed onto Plantation to the end, took a right on Canaan Loop and rode back to Blackwater Falls SP, took a right at the falls overlook into maintenance building and then immediate left (nearly straight through) on old railroad grade that takes you back to the Rt.32 bridge at Davis. Then rode Camp70 road back to camp, of course after a stop at Hellbenders for an awesome burito and beer... 26.2 miles total.