West Virginia road guide
The best motorcycle roads in West Virginia
The best motorcycle roads in West Virginia are almost everywhere, because almost nothing in the state is flat. The Highland Scenic Highway, WV 39 and WV 92 wind through the Monongahela National Forest, US 33 and WV 28 meet at Seneca Rocks, and the Midland Trail and Fayette Station Road drop into the New River Gorge. Here are 12, with the region, why each is worth it, what to watch for and the best season.
- Roads listed
- 12
- Regions
- 4
- Highest point
- Spruce Knob, 4,863 ft
- Check before you go
- WV511
Before you pick
How to use this list of the best motorcycle roads in West Virginia
In West Virginia the question isn't where the curves are, it's how much time you have. Roads follow creeks, climb ridges and drop into the next valley, so even a short ride takes longer than the map says. The high country of the Potomac Highlands and the Monongahela National Forest has the biggest views and the least traffic. The New River Gorge and the southern coalfields are tighter and more rugged. The Ohio Valley and the Eastern Panhandle are gentler.
Plan for remoteness. Gas stations can be an hour apart in the national forest, and around Green Bank the National Radio Quiet Zone means weak or no cell signal, so know your route and carry a paper map. Rockfall and storm washouts happen. Check WV511 for state roads before a long ride. For regions, laws and events in one place, start at the West Virginia motorcycle rides hub.
Monongahela National Forest
The high forest: Pocahontas County and beyond
- 1. Highland Scenic Highway (WV 150)Why: A scenic byway that leaves WV 39 by the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center and rides the high ridges north to US 219 near Marlinton, with overlooks across miles of unbroken forest and almost nobody else on it. Watch for: No fuel or services, wildlife, and fog on the ridges. The road gets no winter maintenance, so it's a late spring to fall ride. Best season: Late May to October.
- 2. WV 39, Richwood to the Virginia lineWhy: From the old lumber town of Richwood, WV 39 climbs past the Cranberry Glades and the start of the Highland Scenic Highway, drops into Marlinton, then keeps going east through Huntersville and Minnehaha Springs to Virginia, where it continues as VA 39 toward Goshen Pass. Watch for: Wildlife, shaded corners that stay damp, and logging trucks. Best season: May to October.
- 3. WV 92 and WV 28 to Green BankWhy: WV 92 runs north from near White Sulphur Springs through the quiet farm valleys of Pocahontas County to Green Bank, home of the giant radio telescope at the Green Bank Observatory. Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is a short detour. Open valley riding with mountains on both sides. Watch for: Farm equipment, deer, and very weak cell signal in the Quiet Zone. Best season: May to October.
- 4. US 219, the Seneca TrailWhy: Runs north to south through the eastern mountains, from Lewisburg through Marlinton to Elkins, linking almost every high-country road on this list. Steady curves, small towns and good fuel stops. Watch for: Logging and farm trucks, and ski traffic near Snowshoe in winter. Best season: May to October.
Potomac Highlands and the east
Seneca Rocks, Canaan Valley and the Eastern Panhandle
- 5. US 33 and WV 28 at Seneca RocksWhy: US 33 climbs and drops over the ridges between Elkins and Franklin, and at Seneca Rocks it meets WV 28 under a sheer rock fin rising from the North Fork valley. Spruce Knob, the highest point in the state, sits above the area on forest roads; check conditions before taking a street bike up. Watch for: Steep grades into every valley, climbers and sightseers on weekends. Best season: May to October.
- 6. WV 32 through Canaan ValleyWhy: Runs north from Harman through Canaan Valley, a high, open valley ringed by mountains, to Davis, Thomas and Blackwater Falls State Park. Big skies and cool air in summer. Watch for: Fog on cool mornings, deer in the open meadows, and real snow in winter. Best season: June to October.
- 7. US 250 over Cheat MountainWhy: Climbs east from Huttonsville over Cheat Mountain and on across the Allegheny ridges toward Durbin and the Virginia line. Long climbs, real switchbacks and very few towns. Watch for: Weather on top that's nothing like the valley, wildlife and gravel at pullouts. Best season: May to October.
- 8. WV 9, Berkeley Springs to Paw PawWhy: In the Eastern Panhandle, WV 9 winds west from the spa town of Berkeley Springs over the ridges toward Great Cacapon and Paw Paw, with an overlook above a bend in the Potomac along the way. A good half-day from the Washington area. Watch for: Tight curves, weekend traffic from the cities and deer. Best season: April to November.
New River, the coalfields and the Ohio
The New River Gorge, the south and the Ohio Valley
- 9. Midland Trail (US 60)Why: A National Scenic Byway across southern West Virginia toward White Sulphur Springs. The best stretch follows the New River and the Kanawha past Gauley Bridge, Cathedral Falls and Hawks Nest State Park, where the overlook looks straight down into the canyon. Watch for: Slow tourist traffic at overlooks and trucks on the grades. Best season: April to October.
- 10. Fayette Station RoadWhy: The old way across the New River Gorge, from before the big bridge was built. It twists down from Fayetteville through hairpins to a small bridge at river level, where the New River Gorge Bridge arches 876 feet overhead, then climbs the far wall. Mostly one-way and very narrow. Watch for: Bicycles, drivers stopping for photos, and closures; check the national park for status. Best season: April to October.
- 11. Coal Heritage Trail (US 52 and WV 16)Why: US 52 and WV 16 wind through the heart of the southern coalfields, linking Bluefield, the old millionaires' town of Bramwell and Welch, with company houses and rail lines along the creeks. Tight valley roads with real history. Watch for: Narrow bridges, coal trucks in tight turns and slow going through every town. Best season: April to October.
- 12. WV 2 along the Ohio RiverWhy: Follows the Ohio through river towns like Sistersville, Parkersburg and Point Pleasant, with barges on the water and lunch stops on the way. Gentler than the mountains and good in shoulder season. Watch for: Morning river fog, truck traffic near the industrial stretches, and slow traffic in town. Best season: April to November.
Summary
West Virginia motorcycle roads at a glance
| Road | Region | Character | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highland Scenic Highway (WV 150) | Monongahela NF | High sweepers, no services | Late May to Oct |
| WV 39, Richwood to Virginia | Monongahela NF | Long, wooded, varied | May to Oct |
| WV 92 and WV 28 to Green Bank | Pocahontas County | Open valleys | May to Oct |
| US 219, the Seneca Trail | Eastern mountains | Connector, steady curves | May to Oct |
| US 33 and WV 28, Seneca Rocks | Potomac Highlands | Steep grades, big scenery | May to Oct |
| WV 32, Canaan Valley | Potomac Highlands | High, open, cool | Jun to Oct |
| US 250, Cheat Mountain | Alleghenies | Long climbs, switchbacks | May to Oct |
| WV 9, Berkeley Springs to Paw Paw | Eastern Panhandle | Tight, ridge and river | Apr to Nov |
| Midland Trail (US 60) | New River | Canyon views | Apr to Oct |
| Fayette Station Road | New River Gorge | Steep hairpins, one-way | Apr to Oct |
| Coal Heritage Trail | Southern coalfields | Tight valleys, history | Apr to Oct |
| WV 2 along the Ohio | Ohio Valley | River towns | Apr to Nov |
Seasons are general patterns. For month-by-month timing, see the best time to ride a motorcycle in West Virginia.
In the app
West Virginia roads riders added in Rippin'
Right below this section is the live list of West Virginia roads that riders have added to Rippin' and a person on our team has checked. Rippin' started in Southern California, and West Virginia is about as open as the map gets, so most of these 12 roads are waiting for a rider to add them.
Ride one with Rippin' recording, then open Segments and tap Create a Segment: set a start gate and a finish gate and trace the line. Once it's approved it goes live with your name on it, riders who ride through it land on its board, and a crown goes to the rider who owns the road. Rippin' never rewards speed on public roads. More on segments and leaderboards.
Loops claim turf. Ride WV 39 from Richwood to Marlinton, take US 219 north, and come back along the Highland Scenic Highway, and the loop closes around a big piece of the Monongahela. The land inside becomes your turf on the live map. See how Turf Wars works.
Live from the app
West Virginia on Rippin' right now.
3 upcoming events and 0 rider-added roads in West Virginia on the map today. This list updates whenever the site is rebuilt; the app always has the latest.
- Sat Nov 72026 Buckwheat 100 GNCCThornton
- Sun Nov 29Harrison County Area Annual Toy RunLost Creek
- Wed Aug 4East Coast Sturgis Rally 2027Oldtown
No West Virginia roads are in the app yet. Add the one you love from Segments and a person on our team checks it before it goes live. How roads get added.
FAQ
Questions riders ask.
What is the best motorcycle road in West Virginia?
Many riders pick the Highland Scenic Highway (WV 150) for its high ridge riding and empty miles. For tighter roads, Fayette Station Road in the New River Gorge and the climbs around Seneca Rocks on US 33 are favorites.
Is the Highland Scenic Highway open in winter?
No. It gets no winter maintenance, so plan on riding it from late spring to fall, and check conditions first.
Can you ride under the New River Gorge Bridge?
Yes. Fayette Station Road drops into the gorge and crosses the river on a low bridge beneath it. It's steep, narrow and largely one-way, so check the national park for its status.
Is there cell service on West Virginia mountain roads?
Often not. Coverage is thin in the national forest, and the National Radio Quiet Zone around Green Bank limits signal. Know your route and carry a paper map.
Where should I base a West Virginia motorcycle trip?
Marlinton or Elkins for the high country, Fayetteville for the New River Gorge, and Davis for Canaan Valley and Seneca Rocks.
Can I add a West Virginia road to Rippin'?
Yes. Any rider can add a road with Create a Segment. A person on the Rippin' team checks it before it goes live, and your name stays on it.
Put a West Virginia road on the map.
Download Rippin' free, ride one of these roads with it recording and add it. Your name stays on it.
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