| Trip to WVA from Chicago in July | |
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+6page75 bluesbass bstouffer BobT Timmi Durasmack 10 posters |
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Durasmack
Number of posts : 6 Location : Chicagoland Registration date : 2015-06-08
| Subject: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 8th 2015, 11:03 am | |
| Hey All! I'm planning a trip to the HM trails in July. There are 8 or 9 of us coming from Chicagoland. So far, we've booked a few cabins at Big Earl's which is close to the Little Coal River trail system. I see lotsa people on here recommend staying near or in Ashland due to ease of trail access. Are we going to have problems accessing other trail systems if we stay at Big Earls in Julian, WV? I picked Julian as it appears to be the norther most access to the trail system, so coming from Chicago, already a 10 hour drive, didn't want to go the extra 2.5 hours to Ashland. Thoughts from the experts? | |
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Guest Guest
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 8th 2015, 11:09 am | |
| Im not sure on this one. I haven't been that far north. Im sure some other members on here will chime in on this. You will love your time on HM though. Its the best riding area in the world |
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Timmi
Number of posts : 1623 Age : 70 Location : Christiansburg, Virginia Registration date : 2012-11-25
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 8th 2015, 12:27 pm | |
| the reason people say go to Ashland is that you can ride 3 trail systems plus outlaw trails if you know them. coal river and Ivy branch are close together but far from the other trail systems. the trails are generally tougher there than the 3 at Ashland. even the black trails down there aren't real challenging. | |
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Durasmack
Number of posts : 6 Location : Chicagoland Registration date : 2015-06-08
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 8th 2015, 2:23 pm | |
| Thanks much for the responses. Any other input would be great. I assume that we will need to cook dinner at the camp most night, planning to cook breakfast and dinner, and find somewhere to eat along the trails. | |
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BobT
Number of posts : 293 Location : Jamestown, NC Registration date : 2010-01-31
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 8th 2015, 5:24 pm | |
| I have stayed at Big Earl's with several friends. LCR only has 32 miles of ATV trails which is a half day of riding. IB has 44 miles of ATV Riding but can take a day. You can also go over and ride East Lynn which has about 110 miles of trails. EL is about 1:15 minutes from Big Earls. The next closest HM trail is Bearwallow about 40 minutes away and it has 44 miles of ATV trails. 3 of the 4 smallest systems are up north. Another popular place to stay is in Gilbert, you can ride Rockhouse from there and trailer to Buffalo Mtn or Pinnacle Creek, each of which are about 45 minutes. From Big Earl's you can go north about 20 minutes to S. Charleston which has everything, you can go south about 20 minutes to Danville and they have a couple of places to eat. Gilbert and Man have a lot of restaurants. | |
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Durasmack
Number of posts : 6 Location : Chicagoland Registration date : 2015-06-08
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 8th 2015, 5:55 pm | |
| Thank you Bob T. For the info! How was Big Earls? Decent place? | |
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BobT
Number of posts : 293 Location : Jamestown, NC Registration date : 2010-01-31
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 8th 2015, 6:06 pm | |
| It is decent but nothing more. Community shower house. Hannah did cook a big feast on Fri night that was good, we all gave her 10 bucks. No where to eat along the trails. Julian has a gas station with food that is on the way from BE's to IB.
If any of you have a Garmin GPS or Android tablet you can get a map of all these places at:
WV ATV Trails 2015 | |
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bstouffer
Number of posts : 152 Age : 59 Location : hagerstown md Registration date : 2013-03-19
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 8th 2015, 10:00 pm | |
| That area will be ok for your first time . Me personally I don't like little coal , ivy is challenging . Like they said , the Ashland area is the best place to stay . If you can download BobT maps you can really enjoy the outlaw trails. | |
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bluesbass
Number of posts : 42 Location : Flemington/Philippi, WV Registration date : 2014-08-18
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 8th 2015, 11:54 pm | |
| I will offer my only experience so far. Stayed at the Chief Logan Lodge just off 119 below Charleston (nice hotel like atmosphere with discount for HMT riders) and trailered North about 15 mins to Little Coal. Pretty easy stuff but nice. Then trailered South about 35 mins through Logan to Man, WV and road the Rock House trail from Man to Gilbert and back. Next time, I will try to stay someplace I don't have to trailer. Lots of options and worth the trip. | |
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Durasmack
Number of posts : 6 Location : Chicagoland Registration date : 2015-06-08
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 9th 2015, 9:36 am | |
| You guys are great. What a wealth of knowledge on this forum! I'm glad I found it! Now you got me wondering if we should just bite the bullet and drive the extra two hours up front as opposed to trailering during the week! | |
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Guest Guest
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 9th 2015, 11:22 am | |
| I would. You would love Ashland. Its the nicest campground in the area in my opinion. When you get there you can drive your machine everywhere. Like they said above, its already at the trail heads. You could stay there for a month and not ride it all. Good Luck on your trip wherever you go and hope you have a good time.
Here is ashland website by the way. atvresort.com |
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page75
Number of posts : 42 Age : 52 Location : Charleston,WV Registration date : 2013-03-31
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 9th 2015, 1:44 pm | |
| I would agree with TBone. The others you have to trailer just to get to other trail heads. The little bit of distance is worth it. | |
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bstouffer
Number of posts : 152 Age : 59 Location : hagerstown md Registration date : 2013-03-19
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 9th 2015, 3:03 pm | |
| I try and make the trip twice a year and I have stayed at different places and have rode all of the Hatfield trails except two of them. The Ashland area is the heart of it all, I like Black Dog Ranch because it suites my group better but we do spend $$$ at Ashland Resort. | |
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whitey2
Number of posts : 5 Age : 58 Location : Pa. Registration date : 2014-11-15
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 9th 2015, 6:57 pm | |
| I have rode all of the HM trails and Buffalo Mt. is one of my favorites.But since I have been to Ashland it sure is nice to ride 3 or 4 days and not have to trailer. I'm going this weekend and plan on riding some outlaw trails for the first time. | |
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pushrod
Number of posts : 122 Age : 73 Location : donnellson IA. Registration date : 2009-02-12
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 9th 2015, 11:17 pm | |
| we live in iowa, 850 miles to Ashland. you wont be sorry for another 2hr. driveing time !! | |
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Durasmack
Number of posts : 6 Location : Chicagoland Registration date : 2015-06-08
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 9th 2015, 11:30 pm | |
| wow, great comments on ashland! thanks much for the input! i know this is a WV trail site, but anyone of you guys ever Ride Royal Blue? just wondering... 10 hours vs 8 hours for us. | |
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keeter
Number of posts : 933 Age : 70 Location : Winston Salem, NC</>Hilltop Escape, WV Registration date : 2010-06-02
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 10th 2015, 12:01 am | |
| Somewhere on here is a list of all the local lodgings in the Ashland/welch/Bramwell areas and the 3 H/M trail systems | |
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My 800
Number of posts : 875 Age : 71 Location : Spoonville, South Carolina Registration date : 2014-06-11
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 10th 2015, 1:45 am | |
| Another thought. You can make this trip a two stop tour. The Ashland area gives you Indian Ridge out of the drive, Pocahontas, and Pinnacle Creek with them all 3 being connected by official H/M Connectors. Ride this area 2 or three days. THEN, pack lightly, load up and ride up US 52 to Gilbert and ride the Rockhouse, Trailer to Bearwallow (30 mins), and Trailer to Buffalo Mountain(45 mins). This will give you the most exposure to the best of the H/M Trails. If Twin Hollow Campgrounds and Cabins have what you need, it won't get any better than that. I do believe all of this has already been said, but here it is all in one post. Ride safe where ever you decide to go...MD | |
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Timmi
Number of posts : 1623 Age : 70 Location : Christiansburg, Virginia Registration date : 2012-11-25
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 10th 2015, 7:37 am | |
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pushrod
Number of posts : 122 Age : 73 Location : donnellson IA. Registration date : 2009-02-12
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 12th 2015, 1:36 pm | |
| going to a big ride at RB july 19 | |
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Durasmack
Number of posts : 6 Location : Chicagoland Registration date : 2015-06-08
| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July June 15th 2015, 9:27 am | |
| we booked at the Ashland Resort. Thanks for all the comments and help. Cant wait to get out there! | |
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| Subject: Re: Trip to WVA from Chicago in July | |
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| Trip to WVA from Chicago in July | |
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