May 9, 2025

Gear Up For The Monday Lick Trail System Grand Opening

Save the date for the grand opening of the Monday Lick Trail System on May 17, 2025. This brand-new addition to the Snowshoe Highlands Ride Center in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, provides nearly 30 miles of purpose-built singletrack trails winding through the Monongahela National Forest. 

Join The Celebration

Festivities run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Stillwell Park. Located less than three miles south of Marlinton, the Monday Lick Trail System is easily accessible via the Greenbrier River Trail.

This all-day community event will feature live music, guided hikes, group bike rides, kids’ bike races, local vendors and exclusive Monday Lick Trail System merchandise. Representatives from Pocahontas Trails, Snowshoe Highlands Area Recreation Collaborative (SHARC) and the U.S. Forest Service will be on-site throughout the trail system to welcome visitors and help guide the experience. 

Select trail stations will offer refreshments, snacks and a limited number of trail tokens redeemable for special offers from area businesses. Be sure to stop by the Nature’s Mountain Playground tent to pick up a trail map showing the token station locations. Featured token rewards include:

Pop-up vendors will include Mountain Echo Souvenir & Gift Shop, Seneca State Forest, Handmade WV, The Ski Barn and Real Whirled Ice Cream Truck.

A mountain biker riding a trail through a forest in autumn, navigating over fallen leaves and roots.

The Significance of the Monday Lick Trail System 

The construction of the Monday Lick Trail System marks a major step forward in SHARC’s efforts to earn a Gold-Level Ride Center designation from the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA). This designation would make the Snowshoe Highlands Ride Center the first IMBA Gold Ride Center on the East Coast, putting Pocahontas County — and West Virginia — on the global map for mountain biking!

But Monday Lick is more than just a trail system. It’s a testament to what can be accomplished through partnership, collaboration and visionary thinking. As the first trail construction project ever funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission, it brought together dozens of organizations, donors, volunteers and contractors. The result is a world-class trail network that boosts the rural economy and supports the state’s fast-growing outdoor recreation industry.

This project also reflects a broader transformation happening across the state. Many of the Monday Lick trails follow the same rugged paths once used by early timber workers — connecting past and present. These trails are not just places to ride; they’re part of a larger story of renewal. They embody a new era of diverse, resilient and sustainable growth, where outdoor tourism and responsible land use coexist with modern resource development. The Monday Lick Trail System honors the region’s heritage while paving the way for a bright and promising future for Appalachia.

Make It A Full Weekend

Camping at Stillwell Park is available on a limited, first-come, first-served basis. Campsites are not designated, so please be respectful of others when setting up. View our lodging partners for additional options in Marlinton and throughout Pocahontas County. Check our events calendar to see what else is happening in the area over the weekend, including nature workshops, archaeological digs and more! 

Parking at Stillwell Park is limited and should be reserved for individuals with accessibility needs. For convenient access, attendees are encouraged to park in Marlinton and bike or hike to Stillwell Park (one mile south on the Greenbrier River Trail). 

Please note: The NICA Cheat Salamanders Kid’s Bike Race will take place from 1-2 p.m. and will temporarily block part of the road into Stillwell Park. Plan accordingly to avoid closures and help ensure the safety of our young racers.

Load up your bikes and bring the whole family to Nature’s Mountain Playground for a weekend full of celebration, trails and community fun.