Introduction

Picture yourself riding a trail through the Monongahela National Forest in Pocahontas County on a clear October morning — the extraordinary high Appalachian mixed hardwood and red spruce wilderness above you in the full peak of its most celebrated fall color, brilliant scarlet red maple and deep gold yellow birch and copper American beech visible in every direction from the elevated ridgeline trail above Gaudineer Scenic Area’s extraordinary old-growth red spruce forest. Or imagine a May morning ride through the New River Gorge National Park in Fayette County — the New River, one of the oldest rivers in the world, cutting through the most dramatically geological single gorge landscape in the eastern Appalachian system below the canyon rim trail.

West Virginia’s riding landscape rewards every rider who discovers what the Mountain State preserves: the Monongahela National Forest’s world-class high Appalachian wilderness, the New River Gorge National Park’s most dramatically geological national park terrain, the Greenbrier River Trail’s 78-mile linear equestrian corridor, the Dolly Sods Wilderness’s most nationally celebrated single eastern wilderness landscape, and the extraordinary network of state forests and state parks that makes the Mountain State the most deeply and most continuously forested single-state equestrian destination in the eastern nation.

Where to Ride: Regions and Terrain

The Monongahela National Forest — High Appalachian Wilderness

The most extensively developed public land equestrian trail system in West Virginia (~920,000 acres in eastern West Virginia). The Spruce Knob summit at 4,863 feet is the highest point in West Virginia. The Dolly Sods Wilderness (~17,371 acres in Tucker and Grant counties) preserves the most nationally celebrated open heath and blueberry bald and wind-flagged red spruce terrain of any eastern wilderness area — terrain that more closely resembles boreal heath than any other landscape in the eastern United States. The Seneca Creek backcountry, Cranberry Wilderness, and Gaudineer Knob’s rare old-growth red spruce collectively create the most rewarding and most specifically high Appalachian-character single public land equestrian destination in the eastern national forest system. Intermediate Advanced Late Sep–Oct fall color

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

Designated as West Virginia’s first national park in December 2020 (~70,000 acres in Fayette, Raleigh, Summers, and Nicholas counties). The New River — one of the oldest rivers in the world, predating the Appalachian Mountains themselves — has carved the most dramatically vertical single gorge canyon in the eastern Appalachian system through extraordinary resistant sandstone. Equestrian access is concentrated in the Grandview area and the accessible plateau and gorge approach terrain. Contact the park directly for current equestrian trail sections — as the most recently designated major national park in the eastern United States, equestrian access protocols continue to develop. All levels Spring/Fall

The Greenbrier Valley — Resort Heritage and the Greenbrier River Trail

The Greenbrier River Trail is a 78-mile designated multi-use trail converting the former C&O Railway Greenbrier branch right-of-way from Cass in Pocahontas County to Caldwell in Greenbrier County — the most extensively linear and most historically layered single equestrian trail corridor in the West Virginia state trail system. The accessible crushed limestone and packed earth railroad grade, multiple historic railroad station sites, covered bridge crossings, and the extraordinary Greenbrier River valley mixed hardwood and agricultural heritage terrain create the most rewarding and most historically layered single equestrian trail corridor in West Virginia. The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs — in continuous operation since 1778 — provides resort-adjacent equestrian programming. Contact The Greenbrier for current equestrian program availability. All levels Multi-day linear trail

Kanawha Valley and Central West Virginia — State Forests and the Charleston Corridor

The Kanawha State Forest in Kanawha County (~9,000 acres immediately adjacent to the Charleston metropolitan community) provides the most urban-adjacent single state forest equestrian system in West Virginia — designated horse trail corridors, accessible staging area, and equestrian campground facilities within reach of the state capital. Beech Fork State Park in Wayne County adjacent to Huntington provides equestrian trail access and equestrian campground facilities in the western West Virginia corridor. All levels Charleston/Huntington accessible

The Eastern Panhandle — Potomac Highlands and Mid-Atlantic Access

The most accessible equestrian trail system for the Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia metropolitan market. Cacapon State Park in Morgan County (~6,000 acres) provides equestrian trail access and equestrian campground facilities in the accessible mixed hardwood and Cacapon Mountain terrain — the most Northern Virginia and Maryland metropolitan community-adjacent single state park equestrian destination in West Virginia. The George Washington National Forest’s West Virginia sections provide additional equestrian trail access in the Eastern Panhandle’s Potomac Highland terrain. All levels DC/NoVA accessible

Northern West Virginia — Coopers Rock State Forest

Coopers Rock State Forest in Monongalia and Preston counties (~12,700 acres adjacent to the WVU community in Morgantown) provides equestrian trail access in the mixed hardwood and Chestnut Ridge sandstone outcrop terrain above the Cheat River gorge — the most Morgantown metropolitan community-adjacent single overnight equestrian camping destination in the northern West Virginia state forest system. All levels Morgantown/WVU accessible

Best Parks and Public Lands

When to Ride: Seasons in West Virginia

What to Wear and Pack

• ASTM/SEI-certified riding helmet — essential for every ride
• Boots with one-inch heel; waterproof or quick-drying for Monongahela National Forest creek crossings
• Permethrin-treated clothing + maximum-strength DEET (late March–November) — Lyme disease and RMSF prevention
• Copperhead and timber rattlesnake awareness in rocky woodland terrain (April–October)
• Layered clothing including waterproof shell for any Monongahela National Forest or Dolly Sods ride given the regions’ high annual precipitation and rapidly developing weather systems
• At least 2 liters of water per rider for any ride over an hour
• Downloaded offline trail maps for Monongahela National Forest backcountry and Dolly Sods Wilderness remote terrain
• Weed-free certified hay for any national forest equestrian camping stay
• Blaze orange for any Monongahela National Forest or wildlife management area ride during deer firearms season (fall)

Beginner Ride Ideas

Equestrian Events in West Virginia

West Virginia State Fair (Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, late August) — Open horse show competition, 4-H and FFA youth horsemanship, draft horse competitions, and agricultural programming in the most specifically and most atmospherically Greenbrier Valley-character single agricultural fair in the Mountain State. Check current dates and programming directly with the fair.

Mountain State Forest Festival (Elkins, Randolph County, early October) — The most specifically and most continuously Monongahela National Forest heritage-identified single annual community celebration in West Virginia, with horse show programming and equestrian parade traditions in the most specifically Elkins and Randolph County-identified equestrian cultural heritage of the Monongahela National Forest gateway community. Check current dates directly with the festival organization.

Charles Town Races (Charles Town, Jefferson County) — One of the most consistently active year-round thoroughbred racing venues in the mid-Atlantic region and the most nationally recognized single horse racing program in the West Virginia annual equestrian calendar. Check current racing meet schedules directly with the track before planning any visit.

Backcountry Horsemen of West Virginia — Provides trail stewardship and organized group ride programming for the backcountry equestrian community throughout the Monongahela National Forest, the New River Gorge, and the West Virginia state forest trail systems. Contact the Backcountry Horsemen of WV for current trail stewardship events and organized group ride scheduling.

Cost of Horseback Riding in West Virginia

West Virginia’s horseback riding costs are among the most accessible in the eastern United States, reflecting the Mountain State’s lower cost of living and the most affordable equestrian community serving the rural Appalachian equestrian market.

Beginner lessons typically run $45–$80 per hour for private lessons. The Charleston, Huntington, and Morgantown metropolitan area facilities toward the higher end; rural Greenbrier Valley and Monongahela National Forest gateway community operations at the most accessible lower end.

Guided trail rides typically run $45–$90 per rider for a standard one- to two-hour ride. New River Gorge gateway area outfitters and Greenbrier resort corridor operations toward the higher end; working farm guest, rural Monongahela gateway, and state forest adjacent operations in the most accessible lower range.

Monongahela National Forest equestrian campground stays at accessible nightly rates through Recreation.gov — making a multi-day Monongahela equestrian camping expedition one of the most affordable quality overnight equestrian experiences in the eastern national forest system. The Greenbrier River Trail’s equestrian camping facilities are accessible at nominal or no fee for most sections.

Ways to save: Book Dolly Sods and Spruce Knob campground reservations well in advance for the late September and early October fall color peak, connect with the West Virginia Horse Council and Backcountry Horsemen of West Virginia for organized group ride events at accessible rates.

Frequently Asked Questions