Plan Your Visit

Camping

Our area only has a few camping options. We have dropped a couple of pins on our Google visitor’s map indicating what's available.

There is a USFS property 20-25 minutes North on Route 311 where there is primitive camping for our more intrepid visitors. There are no services on Wildlife Road and while a permit is not required, there is a 21-day limit.
Wilderness Adventures at Eagle Landing Located about 30 minutes from the shop North on 311 in Craig County just outside Newcastle. Convenient to back country mountain biking and tons of gravel.
Huckleberry's Hostel - they have a few spots for vans and room for tents. Its best to call ahead for reservations. 540-494-9593
Explore Park - Has a handful of cabins and yurts available. Sadly their primitive camping near the river is being removed for greenway construction and we are unsure if this option will return.

Some of Our Favorite Places

This is by no means an extensive list of all the area has to offer. Just some of our favorites from a "local" perspective.

Carvins Cove

Some say the cove is the "crown jewel" of mountain biking in our area and at 60 miles of trail it is hard to find another trail system that has so much to offer. Almost everyone will find a ride that they'll enjoy. Carvins Cove has three main entrances and most map apps will send you to the boat docks entrance. This is great for paddling and sups but you'll have a couple miles of fire road before you get to any singletrack.

Bennett Springs

This is the entrance that we recommend the most to locals and visitors alike. It is located 5 miles from our shop. A couple of singletrack trails leave from the parking lot or you have the option of riding the paved road one mile to the gate at the Happy Valley fire road. This is the only public lot for this part of the trail system and it can get busy with cars stacked into a third row in the middle of the lot. Please do not park at the red barn property or along the road. We want to be respectful of our neighbors.

This lot technically has a $7 fee for day use but there are no Water Authority guards on duty. There is a metal post over by the kiosk where you can get an envelope and deposit your cash. There is no cell service from this lot but you will get service once you start to climb. That’s something to keep in mind from anywhere in the Cove. Cell service is spotty in our ridge and valley area; you will always get a signal if you climb a trail. There is a vault toilet, a changing station, map kiosk and public bike repair stand in the parking lot but no potable water.

Sadly there have been occasional thefts from cars so please don’t leave valuables in your car or in plain sight.

Camping or overnight parking is prohibited.

Timberview

The Timberview lot is the smallest and probably least utilized of the three main entrances to the Cove. The lot is located on a dead end road with parking for about 8-10 cars. This lot also has the same $7 fee for day use but there are no Water Authority guards on duty. There is a metal post over by the kiosk where you can get an envelope and deposit your cash. There is a changing station, map kiosk and public bike repair stand in the parking lot but no potable water.

This entrance is popular with riders who climb Trough and drop in for laps on Royalty and Gauntlet. It’s also a great starting point for the ride known as the “reach around” or to do a figure 8 of the trails that drop off both sides of the ridge. It is not recommended for beginners as there are not good options for “mid-mountain” miles, you have technical climbs and descents or an out and back on Horsepen. Like the Bennett Springs lot, please guard your valuables.

It is important to obey the “No Trespassing” signs. There is a neighbor at the end of the road here who is a couple short of something and has been known to randomly yell at people.

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