Mountain Biking
Moncove Lake State Park
Gap Mills, West Virginia
Early season riding makes for some tough obstacles
by Jeff Cobb, Outdoor Travels
Moncove Lake contains 250 acres designated as a state park as well as an adjoining 500 acre Wildlife Management Area and 144 acre lake. Originally created in 1960, the Moncove Lake area was managed as Moncove Lake Hunting and Fishing Area until 1990, when 250 acres was set aside as a state park. The remainder of the land continues to be managed as a Wildlife Management Area.
The park is tucked away among the hills of Monroe County in the southeastern portion of West Virginia. It's not a widely known location. However, local groups and individuals have been using the park for years as a location for social outdoor gatherings, a place to do some quiet reading, take a stroll, or to put a fishing line in the water. In more recent years, campers have discovered the quiet, easypaced life in this area and have been returning on a regular basis.
The park gets quite busy in the summer months, so the spring and fall seasons present the best opportunities for total quiet and solitude. I was there in late March and saw very few people. Only one RV was in the camping lot and I saw a handful of fisherman and a mother and child at the playground. Not a soul was seen on the trails.
Trail review:
Roxalia Springs, Diamond Hollow, Grouse Knoll - 3/25/03
Moncove Lake State Park is located in a really beautiful part of the state. I had a pleasant drive through rolling fields surrounded by picturesque farms and rugged mountains in the distance. It's no coincidence that the locals call it "God's country."
That said, it's really in the middle of nowhere. I live in Lewisburg, only about 45 miles from the park. However, it took me about an hour to get there. It's not a quick, convenient mid-week biking destination. You can't really ride Moncove on the spur of the moment; you have to commit to driving there and spending a good portion of your day. Nor are there any nearby places to stay if you are not from the area, aside from the on-site camping, of course. About 15 miles away is the town of Union where you can find several affordable Bed & Breakfasts. The city is also an interesting little place full of Civil War history.
The park itself is very nice, carved around a lake rumored to be the best bass fishing lake in West Virginia. The amenities were very nice as well: boat launches, docks, picnic shelters, numerous playgrounds, and a very nice pool. The trails themselves, however, left a lot to be desired. I should preface this statement by noting that my visit took place in late March. The active season is April - October. So for all I know, the park staff goes in and clears the trails prior to the busiest time. But at least in early Spring, they were not well maintained.
There were very few stretches that were clear of obstacles. I came across impassible fallen trees every 25 yards or so in some sections. I got tired of dismounting and dabbing across the logs. I could never get a good head of steam going, or any continuity whatsoever. Although not overwhelmingly mountainous, there were plenty of little hills and climbs to get your heart pumping, although the opportunities to actually ride the hills was short-circuited by the obstacles in the way.
The trails, although relatively short and not well marked within the confines of the wooded area, have great potential. The trailheads are all well marked and easily accessed at three major points in the park. The sections that were free of fallen debris were fun to ride. There were several stream crossings as well as a couple of narrow plank bridges across especially sloppy sections or deep ravines that were fun to ride. I also like log hopping, and there were opportunities to do that (I just don't like the huge trees that are 2 feet in the air! That's not fun at all).
All four trails interconnect so the opportunity for loops exist, as well as out-and-backs if you don't want to go the distance. I parked my car near the pool and started out along the road, crossing the dam and accessing Roxalia Springs Trail directly off the road. About halfway in, the trail petered out with what appeared to be branches going to the left and also straight ahead. Being a first time visitor and not familiar with the trails, I couldn't tell if there were really trails here or if I would be bushwacking if I took them. I ended up turning around and doubling back.
I then rode back up the road past my car and continued up the road behind the park office to the Grouse Knoll Trail access. You'll find it just beyond the last campsite. After a steep initial climb, I came to a junction with Diamond Hollow Trail. After a short venture onto Diamond Hollow, I again was turned back by numerous fallen trees that made the ride unenjoyable. My explorations thus far had been unsuccessful, and I was getting very frustrated at this point. I decided to try one more route, so I rode back to the previous junction and continued on Grouse Knoll. The trail was not clearly marked but it was short, so I did manage to ride it to the end, coming out on the park service road just above the superintendent's residence. It was then just a matter of a short ride back to my car near the pool.
As it stands, I probably won't be going back. If you could eliminate the fallen debris littering the trails, the subsequent dismounts and dabbings, and some clearer trails markings, Moncove would be a nice little place for a fun day of Mountain Biking. It's certainly a beautiful spot.
Trail Snapshot
Trail(s): A combined 5 miles of intermediate and advanced riding is available for mountain bikers. Surface is leaf-strewn packed dirt with rocks, roots, limbs, and fallen trees.
Difficulty: Some difficult climbs and a few sections of narrow, technical single track make this an overall intermediate ride. Several stream crossings, both through the water and over it via narrow planks.
Outdoor Travels Rating: 3 out of 5 bikes
Thumbs Up
- Very beautiful, idyllic setting.
- Challenging sections of single track and technical stream crossings.
- Very remote and uncrowded.
- Nice amenities if you also want to swim, camp, boat, or fish.
Thumbs Down
- Numerous fallen trees across trails; not well maintained overall.
- Relatively short trail system.
- Not well marked once in the woods.
Nuts & Bolts
Location: Gap Mills, West Virginia
Directions: From I-64, take the Lewisburg, WV exit and follow Rt. 219 South to Union. In Union, take WV Route 3 to Gap Mills. Look for the "Moncove Lake State Park" road sign and make a left onto County Route 8 for approximately 6 miles to the park entrance. From US 460, exit at Rich Creek and take Rt. 219 North to Union. In Union, take WV Route 3 to Gap Mills. Look for the "Moncove Lake State Park" roadsign and make a left onto County Route 8 for approximately 6 miles to the park entrance.
Activities: Camping, Biking, Hiking, Fishing, Boating, Swimming, Picnicking, and Birding.
Camping: 25 sites with electric hook-ups and 23 non-electric sites. All sites are suitable for either tent or trailer and feature picnic tables and grills. Firewood and ice are available for purchase. All sites are available on a first-come first-served basis.
Admission: none
Contact: Moncove Lake State Park, Rt. 4 Box 73A, Gap Mills, WV 24941
Maps & Stuff
Trail Photos
Lots of great photos to give you a good idea of what riding here is like!
