Mountain Biking
Props Run
Forest Road Ride and/or "Where the f*#* is the trail head?!"
05/17/03 - by Dana Farnsworth
Props Run is the one trail that pops up again and again when biking in Slatyfork is the subject. It is supposed to be the signature trail of the area as well as one of the best downhill rides in the United States. For these reasons, this was the only trail I insisted we ride during our visit to Slatyfork. On a foggy and damp morning, Jeff, Christopher and I headed out to ride Props. Leaving from the Elk River Touring Center, we took SR 219 south to FR 24, which is where the lower mountain trails of the Gauley Mountain system are. We continued up and up on the Forest Road into the fog, eventually parking at the Tea Creek Trail trailhead. Our plan was to ride FR 24 for a couple of miles to Props Run's trailhead and ride the trail down the mountain, back to the Touring Center and then get in another car and go after the car we left at the Tea Creek trailhead. Without two cars, you have two choices. Use the shuttle service available at Elk River Touring Center to take you up the mountain or make a very long and grueling ride up a mountain and back down.
Back at Elk River Touring Center, Christopher had reviewed the map and directions to Props Run trailhead. This would later lead to a very interesting situation. After parking and readying our bikes and gear, we began riding foggy Forest Road 24 north. Christopher mentioned that it would be a mile or two to the trailhead. We soon came to a closed gate on FR 24 that Christopher remembered from the directions. As we rode around the gate, Christopher mentioned that he believed the trailhead to be a short distance from the gate. Needless to say, it wasn't. We rode up and down FR 24 several times and explored a side road looking for the trailhead. One would think that a popular ride like Props Run would have a clearly marked trailhead - one would think. After doubling back several times, we decided to ride back to the car and ride one of the many marked trails near there. The Forest Road was beautiful, but we were itching for some quality singletrack!
It began to drizzle. As we headed back, we passed an area that we had noticed the first time we passed it. It looked like an overgrown, unused and closed trailhead. There was a small piece of blue tape on a tree, a trail sign that had been torn down and was missing the key parts and a "Trail Closed" sign laying on the ground with no real trail in immediate site. I decided to give it look. What was the harm in checking it out, I thought. After riding a short distance on no real trail, I found some nice singletrack. I waited on Christopher and Jeff to catch up. We decided to give it a go and see what was down the trail. After a small stream crossing, the trail became very interesting. The trail was undulating and fun. the trail soon ran up a ridge that had steep 10 foot drop offs to each side offering a lot of excitement! I must have been energized by the fact that I was off a Forest Road, because I unknowingly dusted Jeff. I stopped at the end of the first ridge trail to see if my compadres were going to ride a technical little descent off of the ridge. Christopher was pretty close behind me, but where was Jeff? Later than sooner he loped along the ridge with his head down and a big frown on his face. He was sad and pissed that we left him. After a few choice words we worked things out, gave each other a "man hug" and all was good again!
We still didn't know what trail we were on, if it was actually open, where it went, or if it ended anywhere that wouldn't entail a major journey back to our car or the Touring Center. What we did know was that it was a fun trail and that we were finally on some sweet if not very muddy singletrack! The trail ran along a ridge and was predominately downhill. As the rain picked up we found ourselves riding several technical stream crossings and several more very fun ridge trails that were precariously positioned above the area where the trail had been. Christopher was demonstrating his ability to keep us entertained with interesting and comical crashes. We even began to name them. First was the "Mystery Wreck" one where Jeff nor I saw it happen, we rode up to Christopher standing over and staring with a certain level of anger at his then, horizontal bike. There was also the "Slo-mo Endo" an endo that looked violent but slow; the "FAA Disaster" wreck where his bike shook with the fierceness of a 747 with its wings falling off, as he crossed a very rocky creek and ended up in it. The most interesting incident, I dubbed the "Peter Pan". I had stopped at the end of another ridge trail to see if my partners were going to ride the steep but short drop at the end. What I immediately saw, as I turned, was a site I won't soon forget. With no bike in sight, I saw Christopher flying through the air off the ridge trail, legs splayed, arms out, with his feet at least 7-8 feet from the ground! Seems he had slipped on a wet root on the top of the ridge trail and had to abandon ship! It looked like he was trying to fly! He landed safely - I laughed for a long time at the visual of him flying through the air.
It REALLY began to rain soon after we did a little trail maintenance by fixing the log "steps" that helped with riding up and over a large tree that was laying over the trail. Did I mention that it REALLY started raining? It did. If it wasn't muddy enough already, it was getting worse. The mud actually made the ride that much more fun! As we continued down, I mentioned that if Props Run was this good, it would be a great trail! I tried to ride through a small tree that covered the trail. I thought it looked small enough to crumble when I hit it. I was wrong, the tree won. It grabbed my bike and yanked it out from under me. Somehow I landed on my feet and continued running!
Rain, rain, rain it just kept coming! After riding through a picturesque canyon area we saw the first signs of civilization when we passed a guy walking up the trail with a fishing pole and then a very nice bridge over a beautiful creek falling down the mountain. We stopped on the bridge in the rain to take a few "look how muddy we are" photos. A short distance later we found ourselves at a noticeably lower elevation as we skirted a pretty field to our left. Finally an end of some sort was in site, a sign in the distance marked the end of our mystery ride. We took bets as we rode up to it as to what trail we had been on. It was Props Run after all! It still is a mystery to me as to why the trailhead of the signature run in Slatyfork is in shambles and disarray.
We still had one interesting obstacle to overcome before riding the short distance back down 219 to Elk River Touring Center - crossing the Elk River. We hoisted our bikes and crossed the thigh-deep waters to the other side. This was a first for all of us and I have to say, it was quite a cool ending to our interesting ride! We rode past a lumber-yard and turned right onto 219. Back at ERTC a warm shower, a "sort-of hot" tub that I sat in for all of 5 chilling seconds, and several cold beers awaited!
Trail Snapshot
Trail(s): Props Run is 8 downhill miles in length. Mud, rocks, streams and ridge trails give this ride a distinctive personality. Additional mileage can be added by riding Forest Road 24, which is the access road for Props Run Trailhead.
Difficulty: Locals rate this ride as an Advanced ride; Outdoor Travels rates it as an Advanced Intermediate and up ride. Riding it fast can create a higher level of difficulty. Rocky stream crossings also add to the difficulty.
Outdoor Travels Rating: 4 out of 5 bikes
Thumbs Up
- 99.5% downhill, which can be ridden at either a feverish pace or at your leisure
- Scenery is beautiful
- Ridge trails are a highlight of the run
- If it's wet the trail will be MUDDY! (good or bad depending on your tolerance for dirt)
- The signature trail in the Slatyfork area
- Ends very close to the Elk River Touring Center
Thumbs Down
- Trailhead off Forest Road 24 is in shambles and doesn't look like an active trailhead. It has no signage and is easy to ride right by.
- The trail stays muddy most of the time - especially when it's rained. You may or may not like muddy conditions.
- Unless you REALLY want to pedal several miles uphill on a forest road, you'll need to arrange a ride up Forest Road 24, start your ride near the trailhead (see log below) and return to Elk River Touring Center and/or a waiting vehicle.
- This is fun to some (i.e. me), but crossing the Elk River at the end, with a bike slung over your shoulder may not please everyone.
Lessons Learned
- Make sure you know EXACTLY where the trailhead is. It's not marked and easy to miss.
- Rain + Props Run = A LOT of mud!
- A MUST ride trail in Slatyfork
Maps & Stuff
Trail Video
Trail Photos
Lots of great photos to give you a good idea of what riding here is like!
Help Keep Outdoor Travels A Free Informational Source!
By clicking through the links of these great outfitters when you want to purchase new gear, you'll not only receive the best pricing, you'll also be helping Outdoor Travels pay the bills. We certainly appreciate this simple gesture!
