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By: Tim Donaldson
Hatfield-McCoy Trails – Pinnacle Creek
(Part of
ATVSource.com’s Feature Coverage of the
Hatfield-McCoy Trails)
My wife says that I’m full of useless
information. She mistakenly confuses
so-called trivial facts as being mundane and
boring. Frankly, it doesn’t matter what
she thinks. By the way, I hope she’s not
reading this. But, don’t you think it’s
possible that the marginal, inconsequential, and
frivolous details are really what spices things
up? Few can deny the flavor-adding tastes
gained from using a dash of salt or two.
Yet, salt alone is fairly uninteresting.
To me, it’s all about perspective and depends on
your point-of-view. So, at risk of
begetting further judgment from my wife, here’s
another piece of trivia. The state flower
of West Virginia is the rhododendron.
So what, you ask? Well, being the heart
of ATVing in West Virginia, the Hatfield-McCoy
Trails are a source of state pride, and it is
only fitting that one of the trails,
Hatfield-McCoy’s Pinnacle Creek Trail System,
features the blossoming rhododendron.
Lined with miles of this flowering plant, the
trails at Pinnacle Creek are commonly considered
the most scenic and breathtaking of the
Hatfield-McCoy Trails. After visiting
Pinnacle Creek, I would have to agree.
Pinnacle Creek is the “spice” of the
Hatfield-McCoy Trails, and I now know why they
are referred to as Trails Heaven.
Visitors to Pinnacle Creek are greeted by all
that nature has to offer – with majestic
mountain views, trout-filled streams, colorful
flora, deciduous and evergreen trees, and a
plethora of wildlife. Springtime brings a
flower-scented aroma that fills the air.
Everything about the scenery is surreal, almost
like something that would only be seen in the
movies. With turkeys, squirrels, and deer
around almost every corner, Pinnacle Creek is a
nature paradise. Just watch out for those
mating bucks during rut. Those boys only
have one thing on their mind!
Located near Pineville, West Virginia, the
Pinnacle Creek Trail System claims approximately
70 miles of trails. Trail breakdowns
consist of 41% green (easiest), 43% blue (more
difficult), 12% black (most difficult), and 3%
orange (single-track only). For the first
time this year, Pinnacle Creek added 5 miles of
extreme difficult trails for those seeking an
extra challenge. As with all of the
Hatfield-McCoy Trails, trails at Pinnacle Creek
are clearly marked and easy to follow.
The Castle Rock Trailhead/Ranger station
serves as the primary point of entry onto the
trails and is situated near Pineville with
direct access to food, fuel, and lodging.
Another legal community connector, representing
the easternmost point of trail, is the town of
Mullens. Situated near the historic, New
River Gorge National Park, Pinnacle Creek offers
vacationers the opportunity to do more than just
ATV. Adventure enthusiasts can couple
their ATV excursions with rafting on the premier
rapids of the east coast.
As we have trekked through the Hatfield-McCoy
Trails (Little
Coal River,
Indian Ridge,
Bearwallow,
Buffalo Mountain, and now Pinnacle Creek),
it is abundantly clear that this is a
world-class trail system with something for
everyone. With 2009 quickly passing by,
take time to enjoy the autumn splendor of West
Virginia’s mountains at Pinnacle Creek and the
Hatfield-McCoy Trails. For 2009,
Hatfield-McCoy Trail permits are $26.50 (WV
residents) and $50 (non-WV residents) and are
good for all of 2009. Remember,
Hatfield-McCoy Trail permits allow entry onto
each of Hatfield-McCoy’s Trail Systems.
Stay tuned to ATVSource.com, as we continue
our in-depth coverage of the individual trail
systems that make up the Hatfield-McCoy Trails.
Next, we will be covering our final destination,
the Rockhouse Trail System–which we consider the
granddaddy of them all and host of the 2009
Trail Fest.
For more information about the Pinnacle Creek
Trail System and the Hatfield-McCoy Trails,
visit
www.trailsheaven.com.
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