Ridge Top Trail

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

This trial starts with what can only be described as a grueling climb straight up the mountain. While a fairly wide singletrack, there was a lot of loose debris in the trailbed which coupled with the steepness made climbing somewhat difficult. A short, recent (2021) reroute at the beginning of the trail bypasses a particularly washed out section, but at the time of this ride the reroute was more aspirational than trail. (Only the flags and new blazes gave any evidence of the "trail").

After the initial climb, the trail does indeed follow the ridgeline for about a quarter mile before beginning a long descent down to the terminus at the park road where it joins with Twin Hollow Trail. Unfortunately, large portions of the descent are washboarded with a periodicity, amplitude, and thickness consistent with decaying railroad ties, and while many of the trails in this part of West Virginia are former railbeds (some still with remnants of ties and/or rails), I do not believe this to be the case for these trails. However this coupled with the large quantity of loose debris in the trailbed made the descent less fun than it should have been.

On paper, this makes a convenient but short loop with Twin Hollow Trail and Old Pond Trail. Those who enjoy the technical and generally ornery nature of these trails will likely find the loops too short. Those who don't enjoy the technical and generally ornery nature of these trails are likely to take one of the many bail options (Shortcut Trail, etc). Because it is there, you can also take North Slope Trail which makes an even longer loop with Narrow Gauge Trail (which is a former railbed), but North Slope Trail is in such poor condition it is probably better to use the paved park road as an alternate.