Mountain Biking Canaan Valley State Park

The Canaan Valley and nearby Davis, West Virginia have been popular mountain biking destinations since the sport took off in its early days. While more trails have been built over time, most of the riding in the area hasn't change much. For the most part, the trails in the region is pretty rough and tumble with technical riding and no shortage of rocky terrain. While these trails are fun to explore now and then, I have come to enjoy faster trails with better flow.

Around 2019, a new trail opened in Canaan Valley State Park called Promised Land. Unlike most of the riding in the region that utilizes old hiking trails, Promised Land was a machine built trail geared specifically toward mountain bikers. After riding some newer West Virginia trail systems this spring, I wanted to check it out. I headed to Canaan Valley State Park on the last full day of spring.

While there are a few places to park, I started at the Balsam Swamp Overlook, which seems to be the main parking area for mountain biking. It has a map kiosk, bike repair station, and even a bike wash station. As the name implies, the trailhead overlooks Balsam Swamp with a nice view.

Balsam Swamp Overlook 

Wild pond in Balsam Swamp

The Promised Land Trail forms a loop running six miles around the park. Looking at the map, I couldn't tell which way would ride best, so I just went counterclockwise. I soon passed a few people heading the opposite direction. I talked to a pair of riders, one that was wearing a jersey of the local bike shop. He said it can be ridden either way but the opposite direction seems to ride a little nicer. Since the trail is only six miles, I figured I'd keep riding it counterclockwise, then ride a second lap in the opposite direction. My photos are riding clockwise.

At the end of my counterclockwise loop, I came upon a pair of hikers watching something. As I slowed down, I saw movement off the trail and realized what they were watching, A doe with a young spotted fawn were browsing just off the trail. As I approached the hikers left and I decided to watch the pair of deer. Although they briefly took a look toward me, they didn't seem to concerned by my presence. This is a state park after all and they are pretty safe with no hunting in the park. Just like nearby Blackwater Falls State Park, deer are abundant and pretty easy to spot. Although I was a little surprised at the mother's nonchalance with such a young fawn. I was on short strip of trail between the park road and the park's pool area by a busy parking lot. The Highlands Sky 40K ultramarathon was run that day and the finish line was at this parking lot with quite a few people less than a 1/4 mile away.

Fawn curious what I'm doing

Now the mother is curious

Mother and fawn

After watching the duo for a few minutes, I got an extra reward. The fawn wandered up to its mother and started nursing. I've seen plenty of spotted fawns over the years, but this was the first time I got to enjoy watching one nurse.

Fawn nursing

Nursing fawn

After watching the doe with her fawn for a while, I started riding Promised Land in the clockwise direction. The trail passed another parking lot by the state park's pool. I then dropped into a large field of tall grass. This was really the only overgrown part of the Promised Land Trail and it only lasted a couple hundred feet at the most.

Riding through dense grass

From the field, you are rewarded of nice views over the valley. The slopes of the Canaan Valley Ski Area stand out on the mountains across the valley. Although you couldn't see the trails, White Grass Cross Country Ski Area and Timberline Resort also sit along the same ridge.

View toward the ski areas

Panned out view over the valley

The first mile or so heading clockwise past the pool is probably the most rugged part of the entire Promised Land loop. Although not too technical, the tread rides a little rougher with more rocks on the trail. A couple of tight switchbacks negotiate what might be the steepest climb on the loop as well. Although punchy, the climb is pretty short, and the rocky tread is more bumpy than it is challenging.

Typical section of Promised Land

After crossing the park road, the terrain becomes less bumpy with nice flow. The trail pops out of the woods for a short stretch and rides through an open meadow with good views of the surrounding forests. The trail through here is wider than standard singletrack. The trail snakes through this meadow on easy rolling terrain. A few rollers and sharp turns thrown in add fun to the meadow. All of the sharp turns have steep berms that allow you to fly through here if you like.

Entering the meadow

Continuing in the meadow with some roller ahead

Leaving the meadow, the trail heads back into the forest. Although there are few short sections of rocks and roots, Promised Land generally rides over smooth tread that allows for good speed most of its length. The trail loses some elevation that needs to be regained, but the transitions are never too steep and pretty short. 

Back in the forest

Can't beat six miles of this

The trail travels through a mix of hardwood forests, spruce, and carpets of ferns and grasses. The terrain rolls in such a way that you can take advantage of naturals rollers and get some air as you fly down the singletrack. I soon found myself back at the trailhead. Now having ridden Promised Land both directions, I agree that the trail has better flow riding clockwise. I had so much fun, I decided to take a third lap. My only complaint about Promised Land is that six miles isn't long enough.

Passing through ferns

The occasional rocks

Through the spruce forest

Promised Land interests several trails. On my third lap, I decided to check out Club Run Loop. Club Run intersects Promised Land several times as it travels just over a mile on a loop. On the map it was listed as an intermediate trail. Since it's a loop, I figured I'd leave Promised Land and head onto Club Run at the first crossing, then rejoin Promised Land where I left it.

Having seen Club Run several times where it intersects Promised Land, I thought I'd have better luck riding it clockwise. Unlike Promised Land, which is singletrack throughout, Club Run is a mix of singletrack, doubletrack and old roads. While some sections were pretty nice singletrack, other spots were overtaken by the ferns. I also encountered a couple brief muddy sections. It has a more wild feel.

Club Run gets a little wild at times

Boggy area on Club Run

Much of the Canaan Valley looks like this

I started on Club Run with a somewhat steep climb on an old dirt road. This was quickly followed with an equally steep descent. Part of the descent was on a section of washed out singletrack covered in leaves that was somewhat technical. This dumped me out along a stream and boggy pond. I could see a deer further downstream along the pond. The remainder of the trail followed a mix of mellow double and singletrack. With the short technical downhill stretch, riding this trail clockwise was the right choice.

Ferns on Club Run

Nicer singletrack on Club Run

Drop into a washed out technical section

After riding Club Run and finishing up my third lap of Promised Land, I found myself back at the trailhead, just shy of 20 miles of riding. l browsed the map and decided to add another short loop up Club Moss, Bottleneck, and down Middle Ridge Trail back to the trailhead. This would add another mile to my ride and let me check out a few more trails. Club Moss and Bottleneck are both short and easy trails running 1/4-1/2 mile on easy singletrack. Connecting to the Middle Ridge Trail for another 1/2-3/4 mile would bring me back to the trailhead.

The short stretch I rode on the Middle Ridge Trail was pretty fun. It began with a steep descent on tight singletrack that transitioned into a technical doubletrack. The last few hundred yards took me through a meadow that's part Balsam Swamp at my trailhead.

Part of Balsam Swamp on the 
Middle Ridge Trail

View at the start of the Middle Ridge Trail

By the time I reached the trailhead I was getting tired and hungry. I enjoyed that last stretch on the Middle Ridge Trail though. Before wrapping up my day, I decided to ride the full Middle Ridge Trail. The Middle Ridge Trail runs about 2 1/2 miles in a loop and starts and begins at the Balsam Swamp Overlook. It crosses Promised Land several times and is rated as an intermediate trail. Based on the steep downhill I had just ridden and looking at the map, it looked like riding clockwise was the best option.

Buck in the meadow 
(he had small antlers starting to show)

Cruising along the Middle Ridge Trail

Old road on the Middle Ridge Trail

Ferny singletrack

Dropping into a meadow

Generally the Middle Ridge Trail felt more like a backcountry trail compared to the more manicured Promised Land. Similar to the Club Run Trail, Middle Ridge followed a mix of singletrack, doubletrack, and old road. It was surprisingly pretty rock-free. A few short sections were a little obscured by grass and ferns. I encountered some brief muddy spots as well. There is a short section that travels along a creek hidden by dense vegetation.

Grassy section of Middle Ridge
along a creek

Nice riding section of wider trail

Good stretch of singletrack

Back in the ferns

Overall, I enjoyed the Middle Ridge Trail. It packs a lot of variety in 2 1/2 miles. It rides pretty well with  modest climbs and good tread for the most part. The steep downhill near the end, where the trail drops off its namesake ridge, was probably the most challenging part of my entire ride and a great way to wrap up my day with a fun little descent that keeps you on your toes.

Covering over 23 miles, I had a good time riding these trails at Canaan Valley State Park. Promised Land is listed as an beginner-intermediate level trail. If you've been riding for years, don't let that keep you from riding it. I thought it was a really fun trail to ride. After years of mountain biking, I have come to appreciate flow trails that let me fly down the trail and have fun without having my body jarred for hours. Promised Land does just that. For less experienced riders, Promised Land is the perfect place to get a feel for singletrack without feeling overwhelmed by continuous technical terrain.  

Club Run and Middle Ridge are both fairly short trails that are worth checking out if you are already riding Promised Land. They both offer a little more challenge and a more wild feel than Promised Land while still riding fairly nicely. There are other trails in the park as well. Although I never ridden it, I have hiked Railroad Grade, (part of the Allegheny Trail) which allows you to connect to the more rugged terrain of the Canaan Mountain Backcountry Trails. The Back Hollow Trail runs along the southern part of the park, though I'm told most of it is through grassy fields. Several other shorter trail connect between sections of Promised Land and the Middle Ridge Trails. All the trails in the park can be seen on this map.

Bonus photo of the Beaver Creek Trail near
Davis, the day before

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