Logan Area (Bearwallow)

The Logan Area is home to the Bearwallow Trail System, one of the original three trail systems that launched the Hatfield-McCoy network and the only one connected directly to a major West Virginia town. Based near the city of Logan in the southern coalfields, Bearwallow operates as a standalone system with no trail connections to other Hatfield-McCoy systems, which means riders should plan dedicated trips here rather than expecting to connect to the Western or Southern Clusters. What Bearwallow lacks in connectivity it makes up for in town amenities, unique terrain, and the distinction of being the only Hatfield-McCoy trail system open to full-size ORVs including Jeeps.

The trail system offers roughly 100 miles of trails with an even distribution across difficulty levels, equal portions of novice, intermediate, and expert terrain. About 37 percent of the system is rated difficult or above, giving Bearwallow more technical riding than most Southern Cluster trails while remaining accessible to intermediate riders on the easier routes. The main staging area features two acres of parking, restrooms, and a visitor center where permits and merchandise are available. From the trailhead, community connectors provide direct ATV access to the towns of Logan, Chapmanville, West Logan, and the Fountain Place Mall area for fuel, food, and supplies.

The terrain on Bearwallow is distinctly different from the other Hatfield-McCoy systems. The trails are true mountainside paths, narrow, shelved into the hillside with limited bypass spots and hairpin turns that demand attention. Rocky, rough terrain is the norm rather than the exception, and the elevation changes are constant. Riders describe the experience as being on the edge of the mountain with little room for error on the more technical sections. The system has a solid network of single-track trails that are popular with dirt bike riders, while the wider main routes accommodate UTVs and ATVs comfortably. Jeeps and full-size four-wheel-drive vehicles are permitted on Bearwallow, the only Hatfield-McCoy system with this allowance, though riders in larger vehicles should be aware that many trails were originally designed for ATV-width machines and can feel tight in a full-size rig.

One of Bearwallow's standout features is direct hotel-to-trail access. The Holiday Inn Express and Candlewood Suites near the trailhead offer trail connectors from their parking lots, meaning riders can literally ride from their hotel room onto the trail system without loading a trailer. This convenience is unmatched anywhere else in the Hatfield-McCoy network and makes Bearwallow particularly appealing for riders who prefer hotel accommodations over campgrounds or cabins.

The city of Logan provides a full range of town amenities that most Hatfield-McCoy trailheads cannot match. Restaurants, grocery stores, auto parts shops, fuel stations, and hardware stores are all within riding distance. Logan's roots run deep in West Virginia's coal mining heritage, the county sits in the heart of the southern coalfields and played a central role in the state's mining history. The area gained national attention during the West Virginia mine wars of the early 1920s, and the Hatfield-McCoy feud unfolded across the surrounding valleys and ridgelines.

Chief Logan State Park, located just minutes from the trailhead, offers additional activities for families and groups extending their stay. The park features a 75-room lodge, cabins, a campground with full hookups, a swimming pool with water slide, miniature golf, a fishing lake, and a coal and history museum. The park grounds include the ruins of coal mines and relics from the Hatfield-McCoy feud era, plus a native wildlife exhibit and pioneer homestead. For riders bringing families who want more than just trail time, the combination of Bearwallow riding and Chief Logan State Park makes this area a strong multi-day destination.

The Logan Area accommodates UTVs, ATVs, Jeeps, and dirt bikes. Full-size vehicles should scout the wider main trails first before venturing onto narrower single-track sections, as some trails can be tight for anything wider than a standard ATV.

Booking a local guide for Bearwallow is especially valuable because the standalone system requires different route planning than the connected clusters. A guide who knows the terrain can build a loop that matches your skill level and vehicle width, point out the best technical challenges and scenic overlooks, and help you navigate the mountainside trails where the margin for error is smaller than on other Hatfield-McCoy systems.