Mountain Biking
Greebrier State Forest
Caldwell, West Viginia
Biking Log
November 10, 2002: 6-mile loop consisting of Old Roads Trail, Black Bear, Old Fields, and paved Forest Road.
By Jeff Cobb
It's early November in West Virginia. Normally, you'd expect temps in the high 40s with a cold rain. But instead, I was greeted by a windy and warm day with highs around 70 - perfect mountain biking weather. My ride started at the check-in office area of the Greenbrier State Forest. I parked my car in the gravel lot across the road from the swimming pool. After mounting my Trek, I turned south on the paved road for about 30 yards before making a left turn into a gravel area adjacent to the park office. There are several maintenance buildings located in this area, and it might look like you shouldn't be there, but this is actually the trail access for the Old Roads Trail.
The trail starts as double track and meanders alongside an archery and muzzle rifle range. It's a gradual uphill climb, but nothing severe. I splashed through several creek crossings as I passed the ranges. The trail soon forks with Rocky Ridge trail breaking to the left. I stayed right and continued on Old Roads Trail.
Eventually the trail narrows down to single track. The gradual climb turns a little steeper until you eventually top a ridge and start an exhilarating downhill that empties out into a Wildlife area. I skirted the field to the right and found the trail again in a steep downhill that ends with a short rise to the next trail intersection. At this point, you can continue right on Old Roads trail back to the paved road. My loop took me to the left and a calf-burning climb up Black Bear Trail. It had rained that morning, so the wet leaves and roots made for a difficult climb. Halfway up, my wheel spun out and I had to hop off. On a more gradual rise, I clamped down on my hand brake with one hand, steadied myself on a small tree with the other, got my feet back in the toe clamps, and I was off again.
A few hundred yards after the initial climb up Black Bear came another, more difficult climb. The hill here is about 45 degrees at its steepest. I made it about 1/3 the way up before my tire spun out yet again. I huffed and puffed as I pushed my bike the rest of the way up the hill before pausing at the top to catch my breath and gulp some water. The climb definitely kicked my butt.
After my brief pit stop, it was back on the bike for another adrenaline pumping downhill. At this point, the trail becomes very technical single track with no margin for error. It travels along the hillside with a steep embankment on the left and a sharp drop-off to the right. Riders must circumnavigate several technical switchbacks and narrow trails. There is no margin for error on this portion of Black Bear: a mistake will send you sailing over the hill where you're liable to slide several hundred feet before getting lodged against the side of a tree.
After riding along several ridges, I eventually climbed my way to a final crest before beginning a steep downhill with two severe switchbacks, one of which caused me to slide head on into a tree before sprawling onto the forest floor. The downhill eventually levels out and winds its way to a final plunge through a creek bed and up the other side. At this point, a dry creek bed basically doubles for the trail. It's a very bumpy ride so make sure you have your shocks tuned up and a good pair of padded shorts to cushion your butt. As you head down Black Bear, you are faced with three options: You can take a left at the first trail junction you come to (Young's Nature Trail); a left at the second trail junction you come to (Old Fields Trail); or continue on to the paved road and back to the car.
I recommend Old Fields Trail. After a short but intense climb, the single track turns into an old forest road: an undulating, roller coaster of a trail with a grass surface with some areas of packed rock and gravel. There are several down hills and climbs before a final downhill portion that empties into one of the beautiful mountain meadows that West Virginia is noted for. The flat portion of the meadow is utilized every summer as the location for a Civil War re-enactment with cannons, canvas tents, and period costumes. Old Fields trail ends at the paved forest road. There is a gravel parking area here at the terminus, so the possibility exists to ride this loop in reverse if one cares to.
At this point, I made a right and headed north back toward my car. I rode past the campground, several picnic areas, and the cabin area. After the bumps and jolts of the trail, the road felt incredibly smooth and soothing. I took the opportunity to gulp water and cool down before arriving back at the car. All in all, very good days ride. It will challenge even the most experienced riders, and is a good ride for moderate bikers. If you're willing to push your bike through some portions, it's not out of the question even for beginners.
Elapsed Riding Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
October 5, 2003 Greenbrier State Forest Visitor’s Log:
By Christopher Burk
I recently had a chance to visit Jeff in Lewisburg and get in a short Sunday morning ride while I was there. Because I brought the whole family and we didn’t want to abandon them and Jeff’s wife for a long a period of time, we had to limit our ride to someplace nearby. Greenbrier State Forest fit the bill.
Riding around Greenbrier State Forest can be summed up in two words: controlled danger. Just kidding, Jeff. When Jeff stopped rafting, his excuse to us was that rafting was too scary; he was more into “controlled danger.” Ever since then, we have used that term to describe activities or places that Jeff likes. Anyway, Greenbrier State Forest may not be as technical as Red Run Loop or as wild as Tea Creek Mountain but if you looking for a place to ride that’s close to Lewisburg, it’s perfect.
The loop we rode consisted of Old Roads Trail, Black Bear Trail and Old Field Trail. It offered a little bit of everything. Some long gradual climbs, a couple thigh burning steep climbs, as well as various extremely narrow, downhill single-track sections.
Along the way we also encountered several sharp switchbacks, two of which are of particular note. The first one because in my attempt to ride through it, I totally lost it and ended up surfing the bike into a ravine, and the other because of the couple sitting on a log nearby. They were like NASCAR fans (minus the Budweiser) waiting to see a wreck in turn 8.
Overall, I enjoyed my ride with Jeff. Sure, I had to ride one of Jeff's bikes that was different than what I'm use to on an unfamiliar trail, but once I put air in the tires and taught myself to pull my feet back out of his toe cages rather than twist them out of clips like my bike, I was fine. And the trails offered exactly what I was looking for; a nice ride providing some challenges and requiring some stamina. Would I consider it as challenging and varied as Mountwood? Probably not. But if you're in Lewisburg and you're looking for a nice ride nearby, you can't beat it. It’s controlled danger at its finest.
