Road	Length	High point
Canyon Rim Visitor CenterStop The NPS Canyon Rim Visitor Center (162 Visitor Center Rd, Lansing) is the premier above-deck vantage point for the New River Gorge Bridge — the longest single-arch steel bridge in the Western Hemisphere at 3,030 ft and 876 ft above the river. Two overlook tiers: a panoramic upper platform and an arch-level lower boardwalk. The visitor center has ranger exhibits, restrooms, and a bookshop. Open 9 am–5 pm. Bridge Day, held every third Saturday in October, draws 100,000+ visitors including a huge motorcycle contingent.	—	—
Coal Heritage Trail (US-52 / WV-16) The Coal Heritage Trail National Scenic Byway follows US-52 from Bluefield north to Welch along Elkhorn Creek, then transitions to WV-16 north through McDowell and Raleigh counties for a total of 187 rugged miles across 13 counties to Ansted. The ride alternates between tight creek-valley two-lanes with switchbacks up and over ridges and sweeping valley stretches through former coal-camp communities. Pinnacle Rock State Park, the Bramwell National Historic District, and a concentration of surviving company stores and miners' housing make this WV's most historically distinctive motorcycle route.	112 mi	—
Harper's Old Country StoreStop West Virginia's oldest continuously operated store in its original building (est. 1902, fifth-generation Harper family) sits at the junction of Routes 28, 33, and 55 directly in front of Seneca Rocks. The oiled hardwood floors and pressed-tin ceiling are unchanged; upstairs the Front Porch Restaurant serves hand-tossed pizzas, calzones, sandwiches, and local WV beers. The store owner describes motorcyclists as 'probably the fastest growing part of the tourism business.' Open Wednesday–Sunday.	—	—
Hawks Nest State Park OverlookStop Built by the CCC in the mid-1930s from local sandstone, the Hawks Nest clifftop overlook sits directly on US-60 in Ansted and delivers a 750-foot vertical drop to the New River below. The horseshoe-shaped paved walkway is 80 yards with a handicap-accessible viewing station aimed at the dam and the New River's dry gorge. The park lodge, aerial tramway to the gorge floor, and small gift shop are all steps away. Easy roadside pull-off with no hiking required.	—	—
Highland Scenic Highway A 43-mile National Scenic Byway on WV-39 and WV-150 from Richwood to US-219 north of Marlinton, climbing to 4,545 feet through the Monongahela National Forest — long sweepers, excellent pavement, four developed overlooks, and almost no traffic, often called a "mini Cherohala," with Cranberry Glades and the Falls of Hills Creek along the way. WV-150 is not maintained in winter and riding is discouraged November through March.	48 mi	—
Midland Trail (US-60) US-60, designated the Midland Trail National Scenic Byway, crosses West Virginia for 117 miles from Kenova (Kentucky border) east through Charleston to White Sulphur Springs (Virginia border). The route combines Kanawha River valley riding with dramatic mountain terrain: the section through the New River Gorge area delivers hairpin after hairpin with views of Cathedral Falls, Kanawha Falls, and Hawks Nest State Park directly off the roadway. A well-documented motorcycle destination featured in Rider Magazine, it alternates between gentle river stretches and technical Appalachian switchbacks.	91 mi	—
Pinnacle Rock State ParkStop A 3,100-ft sandstone formation rising from the southern WV coalfields, Pinnacle Rock is the gateway landmark of the Coal Heritage Trail (US-52, Mercer County). The 396-acre park features a dramatic fin of exposed rock, a short overlook trail, a fishing lake, and picnic areas. Local tradition holds that the rock marks the entrance to Mercer County's coalfield — riders continuing south on Coal Heritage Road pass through National Historic Districts of former coal-camp communities and company stores.	—	—
Seneca Rocks Discovery CenterStop The USFS Discovery Center sits at the base of Seneca Rocks — the most iconic rock formation in the East. The center offers exhibits on geology and climbing history, a gift shop, and a telescope-equipped deck aimed at climbers on the 900-ft quartzite fin above. A 1.5-mile trail climbs to an observation platform with summit-level views. The junction of US-33, WV-28, and WV-55 right outside is one of the most famous motorcycle crossroads in Appalachia, with gas, food, and lodging all within walking distance.	—	—
Spruce Knob Observation TowerStop At 4,863 ft Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia and accessible by paved road. The two-story stone observation tower adds additional elevation; the surrounding Whispering Spruce Trail (0.5 mi loop) provides 360-degree views of the Allegheny ridges — on clear days the panorama stretches across multiple states. The approach via Seneca Creek Road (FR-112) adds an unpaved stretch but is passable by street bikes in dry conditions. No fee, open year-round weather permitting.	—	—
US-250 — Staunton, VA to Elkins, WV ~115 mi. Tight technical switchbacks through the historic Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike; Highland County ("VA's Little Switzerland"); Monterey, "the most rider-friendly town."	151 mi	—
US-33 — Harrisonburg, VA to Elkins, WV ~80 mi. Among the top-rated motorcycle roads in the East. 120-degree switchbacks with 8–9% grades, Germany Valley overlook, Seneca Rocks (900-ft Tuscarora sandstone fins).	154 mi	—
US-33 + Smoke Hole Road — Seneca Rocks switchbacks Franklin to Seneca Rocks with a side loop on Smoke Hole Rd, ~35 mi combined. 180-degree switchbacks with 9% grades on US-33 climbing North Mountain. Smoke Hole Road is more challenging — narrow, no centerline, continuous blind curves and elevation changes.	154 mi	—
WV-28 Potomac Highlands WV-28 runs 151 miles north-south through the Potomac Highlands from its southern terminus at WV-39 in Huntersville (Pocahontas County) to the Maryland state line at Wiley Ford (Mineral County), passing the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank, the Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, and the confluence of the North Fork South Branch Potomac River. The middle section north of Seneca Rocks through Smoke Hole Canyon hugs the South Branch Potomac River through a dramatic limestone gorge with tight turns between cliff walls — one of the most celebrated canyon-road experiences in the mid-Atlantic.	151 mi	—
WV-39 Gauley Mountain WV-39 runs 106 miles east-west across Fayette, Nicholas, Greenbrier, and Pocahontas counties, climbing over Gauley Mountain from Gauley Bridge (junction with US-60) through Summersville and Marlinton to the Virginia state line near Minnehaha Springs. The road traverses deep Monongahela National Forest, crosses multiple Appalachian ridges with sustained elevation changes, and passes near the Cranberry Wilderness. The western terminus at Gauley Bridge puts riders immediately adjacent to Hawks Nest State Park and the New River Gorge.	105 mi	—
WV-55 Wardensville to Seneca Rocks WV-55 runs 228 miles east-west from US-19 at Muddlety to the Virginia state line east of Wardensville, passing through Richwood, Elkins, Seneca Rocks, and Moorefield. The eastern section from Wardensville to Seneca Rocks is the standout stretch for motorcyclists: perfectly-banked rapid-fire curves crossing multiple Appalachian ridges with minimal traffic through Pendleton County. The road terminates at the famous US-33/WV-28/WV-55 junction at Seneca Rocks — the geographic heart of WV motorcycle country.	220 mi	—

//Rallies & events

Rally

Rally · May, ~4 days

MSTA Canaan Valley Rally

West Virginia

The Motorcycle Sport Touring Association's annual West Virginia gathering held at Canaan Valley Resort State Park (3,300 ft elevation) in Davis, WV. The rally offers planned riding routes across WV's northern highlands for both street and adventure bikes, plus lodge accommodations, cabin camping, fire pits, and group meals. Multi-year history confirmed: 2023 and 2026 editions documented. Organized rides explore Canaan Valley, Dolly Sods, and the German Valley roads. Coordinator: Chris Shoop, 304-488-9128.

NextNext edition TBA

Official site ↗

By Switchback · Updated 2026-07-08

Best season

Mid-May through mid-October

Helmet law

Universal — all riders required

Lane splitting

Not legal

Signature terrain

Appalachian ridges, river gorges

West Virginia earns its nickname the Mountain State on two wheels more than any other way. Nearly every numbered road outside the interstates threads through ridge-and-valley terrain shaped by the Appalachians — tight creek-bottom two-lanes that climb suddenly onto open ridges, river gorges with sheer sandstone walls, and high-elevation plateaus where pavement runs through spruce forest with almost no traffic. The state packs an extraordinary density of riding into a compact geography: you can reach US-33's switchbacks above the Germany Valley, the canyon walls of Smoke Hole Road, the Highland Scenic Highway, and Seneca Rocks all within a single long day's loop. Add a 187-mile coal-heritage byway through southern WV's former mining towns, the Midland Trail across the state's midsection, and a handful of well-known motorcycle-friendly stops, and West Virginia rewards careful route planning more than almost any state in the East.

Why West Virginia Rewards Deliberate Planning

West Virginia has no filler miles. The interstate system barely touches the riding country — once you leave I-64 or I-79, almost every road climbs, drops, or bends through terrain shaped by the Allegheny Front and the New River drainage. That density of options is the state's strength and its planning challenge: routes connect to each other in ways that can make a two-day loop feel half-finished.

Thinking in Regions

The Potomac Highlands — the eastern wedge anchored by Elkins, Seneca Rocks, and Spruce Knob — holds the highest concentration of technically demanding pavement. US-33, WV-28 through Smoke Hole Canyon, WV-55 from Wardensville, and US-250 all converge here. If you have one weekend in West Virginia, this is the region to base from.

The New River Gorge corridor along US-60 (Midland Trail) connects the state's center east to west. Hawks Nest State Park and the Canyon Rim overlook both sit directly on or just off the pavement, making them genuine riding destinations rather than detours.

Southern WV is slower, historically richer, and less visited. The Coal Heritage Trail (US-52 / WV-16) runs 187 miles through former coal-camp communities — a different kind of riding than the Highlands, and worth a dedicated day.

The northern highlands around Canaan Valley and Davis sit at 3,300 feet and provide a base for the Highland Scenic Highway and Dolly Sods-area roads organized through events like the MSTA Canaan Valley Rally.

Practical Considerations

Fuel gaps are real on the Highlands routes — Smoke Hole Road and WV-150 have no services. Top off at every opportunity.
Road surface quality varies significantly by county. Secondary routes like WV-28 north of Seneca Rocks and forest approach roads can have patched pavement, gravel runoff, and unmarked frost heaves after winter.
Rain gear is not optional. West Virginia is one of the rainier states in the eastern US, and mountain afternoon storms can develop quickly in summer.
Elevation changes mean temperature swings. A 25-degree drop from valley to ridge is common — layer accordingly, especially on early-season and late-season rides.
Eye protection is legally required unless your bike has a DOT-compliant windscreen (WV Code § 17C-15-44).

The routes on this page span the full range from paved National Scenic Byways to narrow canyon roads. Match the road to your experience level before you go, and build extra time — West Virginia's overlooks and historic stops are worth stopping for.

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// Frequently asked

Yes. West Virginia has a universal helmet law: all operators and passengers must wear a DOT-certified helmet, securely fastened with a neck or chin strap, regardless of age or experience level. Eye protection — shatter-resistant glasses, goggles, or a face shield — is also required unless the bike is equipped with a compliant windscreen. (Source: WV Code § 17C-15-44)

No. Lane splitting and lane filtering are not permitted in West Virginia. WV Code § 17C-7-9 requires all vehicles to stay entirely within a single lane. The state DMV's Motorcycle Operator Manual explicitly discourages the practice.

Mid-May through mid-October is the most reliable window. June and September offer mild temperatures and lower humidity. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, especially in the mountains — check forecasts before heading out. Spring brings mud and road debris from winter frost heaves on secondary routes.

Yes. WV-150, the upper section of the Highland Scenic Highway through Monongahela National Forest, is not maintained in winter and riding is discouraged from November through March. High-elevation unpaved approach roads — such as the forest road to Spruce Knob — can also be impassable after wet weather or early snowfall.

Gravel and debris wash across mountain two-lanes after rain. Blind curves and elevation changes are the norm on roads like Smoke Hole Road and the upper sections of US-33 — downhill grades can run 8–9%. Coal trucks operate on some southern WV roads, particularly near the Coal Heritage Trail. Deer crossings are common at dawn and dusk throughout the highlands. Wet leaves on shaded pavement are hazardous from October onward.

A mid-size to full-size street bike handles the vast majority of paved routes well. Adventure bikes and dual-sports open additional options: the forest road approach to Spruce Knob and the West Virginia sections of the Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route (MABDR) include gravel and unpaved ridge roads. Smoke Hole Road's narrow, centerline-free pavement rewards riders comfortable on tighter, lower-speed terrain regardless of bike type.

//Sources & references

WV Code § 17C-15-44 — Safety equipment for motorcyclists ↗Is Motorcycle Lane Splitting Legal in West Virginia? — WV Attorneys ↗5 Incredible Motorcycle Rides in West Virginia — West Virginia Tourism ↗Motorcycle Ride Guide — Visit Southern West Virginia ↗Best Motorcycle Rides in West Virginia — GreatMotorcycleRoads.com ↗