Middle Ridge Trail - South

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Allowed

Features Drops/Jumps

This is the final segment of the Middle Ridge trail system on the south end of Kanawha State Forest, connecting the 4-Mile Trailhead with the bottom of Black Bear Mt. Bike Trail. New in the fall of 2022, this professionally constructed trail is a relative rarity in a park known for its miles and miles of narrow, rooty, and rocky hand-built singletrack.

The trail begins at the bottom of Black Bear Mt. Bike Trail at the small lot where Black Bear outlets and Pigeon Roost Trail begins. Follow Black Bear for a bit, and then bear right. The trail is a great climb to the top of the hill. It gets hikers and bikers off the narrow road and takes the grade out of the climb, with numerous grade reversals and areas to catch your breath. It ends very close to the 4-Mile parking lot at the top of the mountain.

Coming down, the trail is a great, flowy descent with multiple A-lines featuring rocks rolls, drops, jumps, and berms. It is a bi-directional, shared use trail, however, so be on the look out for, and be considerate of, hikers and uphill bikers when descending. If you only have a short time to ride, park at the bottom of Black Bear or at Johnson Hollow and ride up the trail, out a few sections of Middle Ridge and then back for a great, quick ride.