Hatfield–McCoy Trails facts for kids
The Hatfield–McCoy Trails are a super popular trail system in West Virginia. They are best known for their awesome trails where you can ride off-highway vehicles (OHVs). These trails stretch across many counties in West Virginia, including Logan, Kanawha, Wyoming, McDowell, Mercer, Wayne, Lincoln, Mingo, and Boone.
The Hatfield–McCoy Regional Recreation Authority manages the trails. This is a special group created by the state government. It has a team of paid staff and a board of directors from different counties.
The trail system gets its name from two famous families, the Hatfields and McCoys. They had a well-known feud near the West Virginia and Kentucky border after the Civil War.
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Growing the Trails
The Hatfield–McCoy Trails officially opened in October 2000. Back then, they had about 300 miles (480 km) of trails ready to explore.
The trails kept growing!
- In 2002, another 100 miles (160 km) of trails were added in Boone County, West Virginia.
- By 2004, the system grew again by 100 miles (160 km), reaching a total of 500 miles (800 km). This made it the second largest off-highway vehicle trail system in the world, right after the Paiute ATV Trail.
Today, there are over 600 miles of OHV trails across six of the nine West Virginia counties. These counties are Wyoming, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Logan, and Boone. There are plans to expand the trail system even more, aiming for a huge 2,000 miles (3,200 km) of trails!
Some of the current trail systems have cool names like:
- Rockhouse (near Man/Gilbert)
- Bearwallow (near Logan)
- Pinnacle Creek (near Castlerock)
- Little Coal River (near Water Ways)
- Indian Ridge (near Ashland)
- Pocahontas (near Bramwell)
- Buffalo Mountain (near Delbarton)
As of October 2015, the Little Coal River and Ivy Branch trails are closed because the land changed owners.
What You Can Do on the Trails
The Hatfield–McCoy Trails are perfect for ATVs, UTVs (like side-by-sides), and dirt bikes. But they are not just for motorized vehicles! Hikers, mountain bikers, and even horse riders can also enjoy these trails.
Keeping Trails Safe and Fun
The trail staff does a lot more than just manage the trails. They work hard to:
- Tell people all over the world about the trails. Visitors now come from all 50 U.S. states and nine other countries!
- Build new trails.
- Create maps for riders.
- Keep the trails in good shape.
Law enforcement officers patrol the trails to make sure everyone follows the safety rules. For example, if you're riding a motorized vehicle, you must wear a DOT-approved helmet. Also, you can't have a passenger ("doubling") unless your vehicle is made for two people. These rules help keep everyone safe. The trail system has a great safety record, even though ATV injuries have increased in other places.
Leaders of the Trails
The Hatfield–McCoy Trails are led by an executive director. This person is chosen by the board of directors.
Leff Moore
The very first executive director was Leff Moore. He was one of the two people who first thought of creating this amazing trail system. Leff Moore passed away in 2005. But he lived to see his hard work pay off. The trails became a huge success, bringing many tourists and boosting the economy in southern West Virginia.
Early Directors: Mike and Mark Whitt
After Leff Moore, Mike Whitt took over as executive director. He was from Mingo County, West Virginia. Mike helped open the first 300 miles (480 km) of trails. His brother, Mark Whitt, then became director for a short time. In 2002, Matthew Ballard was appointed director.
Matthew Ballard
Matthew Ballard had experience in managing organizations and public policy. He helped make the trail system famous across the country and even win awards. During his time, the trails were featured on TV channels like ESPN and the Outdoor Channel. They even appeared in a Suzuki ATV commercial!
Under Matthew's leadership, the trails grew by 100 miles (160 km) into Wyoming County, West Virginia. They also expanded into towns like Pineville, Williamson, and Delbarton. He helped the trail system double its income by making smart changes and running strong marketing campaigns.
Jeffrey T. Lusk
After three years, Matthew Ballard moved on. Jeffrey T. Lusk then became the Executive Director. He still holds this position today. Jeffrey has a strong background in economic development. He worked for 11 years as the Economic Development Director for Wyoming County. He has expanded the trail system into McDowell and Mercer counties. The current Deputy Executive Director is John Fekete, from Man, West Virginia.
