My dad and I are looking to take a trip next week to the Hatfield McCoy trail system with our quads, but first have a few questions.

We both have 350cc Yamaha Warriors, and therefore dont enjoy too much of the rocky trails, but also dont mind it. We are intermediate riders, but my dad especially prefers smoother trails, but we also would like to ride trails which have great views.

So my questions are;
1.) Can you suggest a good over-all area for us to ride in... We've been hearing much about the Gilbert area (which is the area we are tentitavely planning on for now). We would like an area where riding the roads is legal and also somewhere where we could feel safe leaving our quads on our trailer which is open.

2.) I am only 17 and riding the 350cc warrior and I do not have a safety class, will this prevent me from riding?

3.) Do you have to buy the permits online, or is there an office where we can buy our permits once we get down there?

4.) What is everyone's overall opinion on the Gilbert area / Browning fork Trails system? Enough good riding to keep us busy for 2 days?

 

Rode the Gilbert area a few years ago - about 200 miles of different trails over 2 days so, yes, definitely enough to keep you busy.

We stayed at a cabin just off the trail so ride on, ride off. The trail permits were sold by the cabin owners - a sticker to put on your helmet which is good for 1 week. (Thanks Marvin)

We stayed here (Thanks Marvin)

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.twinhollowcampground.com/TH_Photos.html
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Definitely worth checking out.

 

If it's just the two of you it may be more economical to camp or stay in a motel versus a cabin / lodge. Also, many of the popular lodging places book up at least several weeks in advance so you have to make reservations early. Since you plan to go next week I would recommend getting your permits down there rather than ordering them online (sometimes it only takes a few days, sometimes longer).

Since you are intermediate riders and prefer smoother trails I would recommend starting out with the Little Coal River or the Pinnacle Creek systems. Since you also would like to do a little road riding that pretty much narrows it to the Pinnacle Creek system.

I'd recommend staying at the Cow Shed motel which is just outside of Pineville on Rt 10 (Rt. 10 towards the town of Man). They have a restaurant right at the motel plus you can buy your permits there too. Then it's about a 6 or 7 mile ride to the Castle Rock trailhead from there. You can also get food and fuel at the Whistle Stop which is the closest service station to the Castle Rock trailhead (you will see it just up ahead on the right on Rt. 16 when you turn left off of it to go on the road to the trailhead.

The Browning Fork system has the most trail miles of the others with about 115 miles of trails when they are all open. The Pinnacle Creek system has about 105 miles of trails. Since it's your first time there I think you'd enjoy spending two days at any of the systems although I think you'd prefer Pinnacle Creek over Browning Fork for what you are looking for.

Now the towns of Gilbert and Man (Browning Fork trail system) will have more to offer than Pineville (Pinnacle Creek system) does in the way of food and such, however I think you will like the Pinnacle Creek trails better because they aren't quite as rough on average as what you will find at Browning Fork.

You do not need an ATV Safety course certificate but to ride on the roads you are supposed to have insurance on your quads from what I understand.

As for leaving your quads on an open trailer (or parked at the motel) I would suggest at least getting a good cable lock to secure them together or to something solid, you can never be too careful about security, no matter where you are.

Go to the Hatfield McCoy trails web site for the latest information and trail maps. Also check the board at the ranger station at the trailhead for the latest in trail information / status...

 

My first rip to HnM was back in April. We did the Pinnacle creek trail for the better part of 3 days. It was very easy, but there are a few challenges. I'd say about a quarter of the trails were closed, So the first day we pretty much seen everything. I wanted to try another system, but was overruled and we rode that trail all 3 days. Some of the sections are very fast, (if you choose), be careful beacuse theres alot of blind corners.
The warriors should be fine, just take it easy thru any rock sections, easy to bottom out.
Also, if you go on a weekend watch out for side by sides! Some sections, especially getting up the hill, are only wide enough for one of them. And watch out for kids on smaller bikes too!
We got permits/stickers that are good till the end of the year from our hotel, and we got checked 2 out of the 3 days at the trailhead.
Next time I go I want to do Browning Fork, I like the idea of riding into town and getting food and fuel.

Before we went everyone told us to ask the locals about trail conditions and such. Turned out that all the locals that we talked to never have ridden the systems because the "local" trails are so much better, and they didn't think they should have to pay to ride HnM. We did meet a guy at the gas station the last day who invited us to ride with he and his buddy for the day, he saud they'd be gone for the better part of the day, and we had a guy on a shee who couldn't carry much extra fuel. We got his number for the next time.

Good luck and have fun, I'm sure you guys will want to make a future trip!

 

Locals only have to pay $26.50 for a H/M permit that is good for an entire year of riding. You can spend more money than that just for fuel for your ATV if you put in a long day! Out of state residents fees are higher ($47) but that is still a bargain in my opinion given the quality of riding that is available for a whole year.

If you consider what it costs to maintain the parking areas, ranger stations, restrooms, mapping and development of trails and maintenance of the trails it is certainly not unreasonable at all to expect to pay a fee to have a riding area like this.

Some local residents have more to complain about besides paying the permit fee, because they used to ride (tresspass in some cases) those trails all the time before they were under Hatfield McCoy management. They didn't have to wear helmets, they could ride double (or triple), they could ride at night and they could take alcoholic beverages with them. They pretty much did whatever they wanted to anytime they wanted to. Once Hatfield McCoy came into the picture all of that went away (helmets are required, no doubling on ATVs made for a single rider, no alcohol, no firearms, no under age riders and no riding at night). Because of what they perceive as a loss of freedoms they are very much against the H/M system.

I have also heard of some local riders who pack bolt cutters with them so they can cut a lock off of a gate if they come upon one while on their ride (obviously tresspassing in this case). I'm not saying this is what all of the locals do, but these are stories I've heard from some of them, so take that into account if you choose to ride "off system" with somebody.

However the H/M system really is a good idea that benefits a lot of people. All of the trails are legal (an agreement was made with participating landowners and from what I understand insurance is provided so they are not liable for injury or damage that is caused while someone is riding on their property). All of the trails are clearly mapped and rated for difficulty. The trails are maintained to some degree. There are large parking areas at the trailheads and a large bathroom / changing room is provided at each ranger station at the trailheads. Rider permits fees help by supplementing the cost for all of this plus dollars they spend trickle down to the local business owners (of gas stations, restaurants, lodging providers, etc.). So if you play the game (pay the fees, spend your money which helps to contribute to the local economy) that encourages places like this to stay open and even expand to provide all of us with more (legal) trails to enjoy...

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>helmets are required</end quote></div>

That's a rule that is keeping me off the HM trails. I cannot find a helmet big enough even after ordering the biggest that was available. I ride a side x side with an enclosed cab and don't understand why I have to wear a helmet, but if they insist I just won't ride the trails. I don't mind the $26.50 and surely understand why they charge a fee, but I will just ride the free trails where I don't need a helmet that I can't find.

 

They would be nuts for letting people ride without helmets. Some one has to make a helmet to fit your head, I think you can even use a half helmet like they use on street bikes

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Some one has to make a helmet to fit your head</end quote></div>

Yep....you are probably right. But I gotta hook up with them to get one, and I gotta find them to hook up. Half helmets still gotta fit. Your half helmet is my quarter helmet.