Upper Thunderstruck

Dogs No Dogs

E-Bikes Allowed

Features Drops/Jumps · Views

There is an 800' unfinished section near the top of the trail that requires riders to dismount and push through. Completion targeted for September 1, 2022.

This trail has challenging sections that require advanced skills and does not have bail-out options until the half way point of the trail. It becomes narrow, steep and very rocky. The trail is exposed in sections and a crash can send you down the hill and lead to injuries. Also, there is limited mobile service on the upper section, so do NOT ride alone. This is not an easy trail, it requires significant pedaling and control... you'll be tired when you finish, but will have a big smile on your face!

BIG thanks to WV DOT for the RTP grant, and thanks to IMBA for the partnership in the build. There were 4 lead trail builders from IMBA who built this trail... can you see / feel the different sections? Each has a bit of the personality of these amazing builders: Josh Collins, Joey Klein, Chris Orr, and Tylor Brackett and Diddy.

The trail starts at the Overlook at the top of the mountain and currently finishes near the Batt Shelter on the trail Get Down near Boy Scout. Thunderstruck will soon extend all the way down to the Batt Shelter for an additional 100' of descent!

There are two access points for Thunderstruck: From the top of the mountain at the overlook and a second access point halfway down from the gravel road.

Thunderstruck rides as two different trails. Upper Thunderstruck is an advanced black diamond trail that starts at the overlook at the top of the mountain and ends at the gravel road. The entrance is a good representation of the difficulty of this trail... take a look and decide if you have the skills and desire to get onto this trail because there is not a way out until the half way point... no bail outs. It starts with a bang with a rocky drop in to a machine-built section with drops and chunk built in. Until September 1, 2022, where this section ends, you must walk your bike ~800' through an unfinished section... just follow the flags.

Once you are back on the trail, you'll notice a very different character, it is now hand built by IMBA and the Appalachain Conservation Corps (ACC). From here, the trail narrows and becomes much more technical. There are several mandatory drops, loads of chunk, steep slab rolls, and tight spots. After another drop onto a hand built rock berm, the trail then transitions back to machine built with two sections that are 100% rock.

When you come to the first intersection, you can continue straight to the less technical Lower Thunderstruck, but you'll miss one of the best built drops in the area on the last section of Upper Thunderstruck. To hit this drop, turn right at the intersection and flow down the steep drop in to the rock drop and hip. Continue on to the end of Upper Thunderstruck where it intersects with the road. Stop, catch your breath and either ride back up the road for another lap, or turn left on Girl Scout and ride back up the short, easy climb to Lower Thunderstruck.

Lower Thunderstruck is all machine built and is intermediate level. It has two rock gardens at the top, but then transitions to an amazing and flowy trail with loads of jumps, drops and an S turn berm that you can rail that rockets you into the finish. This trail is worth lapping. At the end, turn right and go back to the road for laps!

This trail is the result of an RTP grant and partnership between the Cacapon State Park Foundation and IMBA.