ELKINS, W.Va. (WVDN) — The Mon Forest Towns Partnership (MFTP) announced the launch of its Gravel and Bikepacking Route Network, a comprehensive collection of more than 60 curated routes across eight counties in the Monongahela National Forest region. The network spans routes ranging from family-friendly day rides to intense multi-day bikepacking adventures, all accessible through the newly expanded monforesttowns.org and Ride With GPS.
One of the largest networks on the East Coast, the routes activate thousands of miles of gravel roads across the Mon Forest for visitors and local communities alike, supporting the organization’s core mission of deepening the connection between gateway towns and their public lands. Routes are organized by both length and town, allowing riders to explore the Mon from any of the twelve Mon Forest Towns — Elkins, Parsons, Thomas, Davis, Durbin, Marlinton, Richwood, Cowen, Petersburg, Franklin, Seneca Rocks, or White Sulphur Springs. The most ambitious route in the collection, the Mon Circuit 600, links all twelve towns in a single continuous journey with more than 50,000 feet of climbing.
The network extends well beyond the Mon Forest itself, connecting into Mountaineer Gravel’s north-central West Virginia route system, New River Gorge National Park, and gateway hubs in Maryland, Virginia, and the Washington, D.C. metro area. Connector routes link the Mon to nationally recognized trails such as the Great Allegheny Passage, the C&O Canal, and the Greenbrier River Trail, as well as to Amtrak stations in Charlottesville, Cumberland, and Prince.
Josh Nease, the Partnership’s Executive Director, remarked, “The launch of MFTP’s Gravel and Bikepacking Route Network marks an exciting milestone for our region and our work. By weaving together existing forest roads and historic infrastructure, we have created a world-class recreation asset that physically and symbolically connects all 12 of our mountain towns to the Monongahela National Forest—and to one another. This network is more than just a trail system; it is an engine for economic development. It invites the global cycling community to experience our rugged beauty while providing our local communities with the platform to host premier races and events, contributing to new jobs and thriving main streets for generations to come.”
The project was made possible through the ARC POWER Grant, with support from Village to Village Trails, Bikepacking Roots, and MountainRides LLC, organizations whose local expertise and national reach helped shape a route network designed to serve both everyday riders and dedicated bikepackers. The Partnership would also like to thank all the local cyclists whose contributions made this work possible.
Reflecting on the project, David Landis, of Village to Village Trails, added, “The Mon represents something rare—million-acre public lands, remote backcountry experiences, and a network of mountain towns woven together by an expansive web of gravel roads. That connectivity creates a richness of riding experiences you simply don’t find anywhere else. It’s also a place that’s become deeply personal to me, just beyond my back door in Harrisonburg and shaped by years of exploring with friends and family.”
Riders looking to experience the network firsthand can join the Bikepacking Roots Annual East Coast Summit, hosted in Marlinton from May 29 through June 1, 2026. The gathering brings together bikepacking enthusiasts from across the region for guided rides, community events, and exploration of the southern Mon Forest’s most scenic terrain.
The full route network is available at monforesttowns.org/gravel, with routes also published on Ride with GPS and featured on Bikepacking Roots.
About Mon Forest Towns Partnership: The Mon Forest Towns Partnership is a nonprofit organization supporting 12 gateway communities across 8 counties in the Monongahela National Forest region of West Virginia. MFTP works to strengthen recreation-based economic development, connect communities to the forest, and support authentic, place-rooted storytelling across the region.
