Hatfield-McCoy Trails to Offer a Free Day on the Trails to WV Residents on WV Day!

West Virginia’s state slogan proudly proclaims: “Mountaineers Are Always Free.” This West Virginia Day, those words take on a new meaning for riders on the Hatfield-McCoy Trails.

WV State Residents can ride for free on West Virginia Day, June 20, 2024. West Virginia Day Trail Passes will be available to state residents who present a valid West Virginia driver’s license or West Virginia state-issued I.D. at any HMT trailhead location, HMT Welcome Center and Country Roads Visitors Center.

“This is our way of saying ‘Thank You’ for the support to the residents of WV,” said Marketing Manager, Chris Zeto. “We hope folks will get outside, explore in the mountains and visit an ATV-friendly town along the way!”

HMT officials caution all riders that Hatfield-McCoy Trails regulations apply to all riders and note that West Virginia Department of Natural Resources Police Officers will be out on the trails checking for rider permits.

West Virginia Day passes are NOT available at local retailers and are only valid on Thursday, June 20, 2024.

All Hatfield-McCoy Trails Rules & Regulations apply.

“WV Day” passes are only available on June 20, 2024, at the Hatfield-McCoy Trails trailheads & facilities listed below.

Bearwallow Trailhead – Open 9:00am to 2:00pm

Buffalo Mountain Trailhead – Open 9:00am to 2:00pm

Cabwaylingo Trailhead – Open 9:00am to 5:00pm

Country Roads Visitors Center – Open 9:00am to 5:00pm

Devil Anse Trailhead – Open 9:00am to 2:00pm

Hatfield McCoy Welcome Center – Open 9:00am to 5:00pm

Ivy Branch Trailhead – Open 9:00am to 5:00pm

Pinnacle Creek Trailhead – Open 9:00am to 2:00pm

Pocahontas Trailhead – Open 9:00am to 5:00pm

Rockhouse Trailhead – Open 9:00am to 2:00pm

Warrior Trailhead – Open 9:00am to 2:00pm

Monday, October 16, 2023

The Braveheart Trail System will be temporarily closed until further notice to address a couple of safety concerns. This temporary closure will allow our Field Operations Crew time to continue working on the expansion of this trail system. As we move forward on this project, updates will be available on our website. We hope to have the Braveheart Trail System reopened in Spring of 2024! We appreciate the feedback that we have received regarding this trail system and will work diligently on the development of the Braveheart Trail System.

Thank you,

Hatfield McCoy Trails Staff

Hatfield-Mccoy Trails to Partner with Navigation Application Developer to Provide Mapping Solutions for Riders

The Hatfield-McCoy Trail (HMT) System is partnering with navigation application developer onX Offroad to provide a new way to safely navigate the trails in real-time.

“The maps application currently on your phone may be useful for highway driving and finding an address, but these apps aren’t much help when it comes to off-roading on our trails,” said HMT Executive Director Jeffrey Lusk. “Quite a few of our trails are in areas with little or no cell service, which makes traditional navigation impossible. The onX Offroad Application will change all that.”

The onX Offroad app currently provides over 600,000 miles of mapping data that will soon include the Hatfield-McCoy Trails. The app allows riders to download maps for offline use and use their phone’s GPS while on the trails to pinpoint their location and explore the HMT system.

John Fekete, Deputy Executive Director of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails, is impressed with the app’s offline capabilities. “For years, we have provided downloadable trail maps for offline use, but this app provides a simplified, directional navigation view of the trail while driving. That’s a real game changer,” said Fekete.

Trail riders will find all the information they need to safely navigate the Hatfield-McCoy Trails, including trail difficulty ratings, different map views, vehicle allowance, open and closure information, and recreation point details for lodging, river access, trailheads and local businesses. What’s more, riders can use the built-in tracker to add custom waypoints for campsites, obstacles, parking, and anything else they might want to save.

“We are proud to become the official navigation partner, combining the East Coast’s preeminent trail system, the Hatfield-McCoy Trails, and onX Offroad’s GPS App technology,” stated onX Offroad General Manager, Rory Edwards. “Providing HMT users with easily accessible and up-to-date trail navigation, so they can make the most of their time out there, enjoying routes and exploring the largest trail system in the world.”

The Hatfield-McCoy Trails constantly change as land use agreements on existing trails are renegotiated, and new tracks are established. HMT personnel are actively involved with onX Offroad’s dedicated geospatial team to review all HMT trail data to ensure accuracy. As the official mapping application for the HMT, riders can be sure the information they are receiving from onX Offroad is current and proven.

“Riders can be misled by user-generated and unverified mapping information,” said HMT’s Marketing Consultant, Chris Zeto. “Right now, folks are selling unsanctioned trail maps and even pre-loaded tablets that can contain unreliable and outdated mapping information. These maps can get you lost or, in some situations, lead you to private and posted lands as an unwelcome visitor. Now riders have an app they can depend on.”

For more information regarding onX Offroad applications, visit onxmaps.com.

We now offer two new mapping data files to make planning your next trip to HMT easier!

• Master Trail Inventory- Shape File. This file was created to assist our local 911 dispatch units and first responders. Opening this Shapefile (.shp) requires compatible GIS mapping software.
• Google Earth Total Inventory- KMZ File. This file was created to show all HMT assets in one user-friendly location. All HMT trail systems, trailhead facilities and community connectors can be accessed on this interactive map! To open and read this file, you will need mapping software compatible with the KMZ (.kmz) file format, such as Google Earth.

To access these files, please visit link- https://trailsheaven.com/trail-maps/

To access these files, you must register for an account. Once you create an account, you will receive an email when these files are updated. Please note that these files are frequently updated due to activity on the property such as natural resource extraction and maintenance.

Beginning July 1, 2021, all Hatfield-McCoy Trails (HMT) trailhead facilities, HMT Welcome Center and Country Roads Visitor Center will transition to credit/debit card only transactions. Cash will no longer be accepted or available onsite at any of these locations. We truly appreciate your patience during this transition and apologize for any inconvenience.

Thank you,

HMT Staff

For a list of other authorized permit retailers and locations, see link below!

https://trailsheaven.com/?page_id=170443

For the safety of anyone traveling along the Hatfield-McCoy Trails, please make sure you are using the most current, updated trail maps. All updated maps can be found either on our website (each trail page has a link to view/download the map for that trail) or at one of our Trailhead facilities/Welcome Centers. If you pick up a map from a local business, please check the date with the map that is posted on our website to ensure you are using the correct map. If you are using a map or GPS tablet from another source, please know that these maps could be outdated or incorrect and could be sending you to unsafe areas that are currently off-limits or private property. We ask that everyone respects any and all “Temporarily Closed” or “No Entry” signs along our trail systems.

Thank you,

— HMT Staff