WEST VIRGINIA TACOMAS

Also, down at her place near Cedar Lakes the other day. Love it down there.

 

The top of the mountain in the pic is like 4500’, it should peak in the next 2 weeks there barring any crazy weather. There should still be some great foliage when you come thru even if you have to go a lil lower

 

I was literally coming to this thread to ask if anyone has been on the Canaan Loop Road lately and how is it? Last time I was around it was close to 20 years ago.

Last year, I saw where it comes out in Blackwater State Park (near the ski slope) where it was posted you need a high clearance vehicle. We were in a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk and didn't attempt the tall rocks.

I am thinking of taking my KTM 250 behind the Tacoma, parking the Tacoma and riding and camping on the loop soon.

 

Got a lil frost 2 nights ago

 

Colors are popping in the higher Randolph County elevations. We had a great family mtb trip up there yesterday.

 

This was up above Davis yesterday

 

Planning to bring my Wife down next weekend.

 

its totally doable in stock form. Only a few spots you would want a spotter.

 

Another excellent weekend in the Mountain State.

 

Spent a three day weekend with my GF in WVa, beautiful state. No pics of the truck but I did take these

 

Did anyone make it to bridge day this year? I really wanted to but life happened.

 

Last minute decision to head 2+ hours to Davis and drive the Canaan Loop Road yesterday with the dog. Crappy cell phone pics ahead, so beware. lol

First steps out of the cabin, saw how nice it was outside, the decision was made. Sun glare ruining the shot of the mountain in the background...



Took some nice back roads from Augusta to almost Moorefield, where I popped out on the mega corridor. Made me reminisce the sport bike days when we'd ride 48 just after it opened, doing 100-150 to get to the good twisty roads in the back country. Ah, the younger years and questionable decisions... Here I'm doing 4 over the limit. lol



I think the last time I was on the Loop Road was roughly 20 years ago. It was mainly dirt and lots of potholes and puddles back then. I was surprised at how maintained it is now. (booooo!) It looked recently gravelled and graded. I used to race mountain bikes and have ridden the loop and Plantation trail for training. I liked it better when it was rougher. I guess they are trying to draw more people out to hike, camp and explore with all the work they've done.



Driving back further to about a mile from where the road goes wild (unmaintained), I saw 4 or 5 vehicles (Tacomas and Jeep) pulled off around a circle, out with their dogs and talking. Was that anyone here??? Nice trucks, set up for overlanding

I should've stopped and talked to them, but Ember (my cattle dog) probably would have barked up a scene at their dogs. So I kept on moving. Got into the unmaintained area and went in a quarter mile or so. Wasn't crazy about how tight the road was, being solo and having Michelin Defender tires, so I decided to turn around and save this section for a return on the KTM.



After getting back on the maintained road, I was going to stop and talk to the guys I had seen 10 minutes prior. Unfortunately, by the time I got back, they were in their trucks and ready to pull out so I kept moving.

Question: there are at least 2 roads that spur off the Loop Road heading outward. Both have big gates blocking vehicles from passing, but have no signage stating hiking, biking allowed, or no trespassing, nothing. Anyone know if these are seasonal gates or anything about them?

Decided to take dog on some trails by foot, so off we went.





Colorful moss shots...











We headed back out to Davis, got a burrito in town and headed home. Was nice for a day trip to scout things out for a moto camp trip in the future. Wish I had time to camp with Ember, she loves these trips.



Maybe next time...

 

Glad u got out lol

The unimproved parts of the loop road were passable with a stock setup as of 2 years ago
fwiw
The 2 gated roads stay closed year round as far as I know, just keeping vehicles off the fs roads

 

I was more concerned with pin striping than anything. Someone mentioned having a spotter earlier in the thread, so I never intended to make it through solo.

I do wish there was more off-road ground to explore by motorcycle. I know there's tons of trails for bicycles. I've been on many of them. My knees and feet aren't in that good of shape to pedal that much unfortunately.

 

Soon to transplant from Maryland

 

Right on
Whereabouts you moving to?

 

Just outside of Keyser, 26726 area

 

I’ve been trying to get myself over to that loop for a few years now and haven't made it. I’ve been all over Dolly Sod’s, Spruce Knob, Scenica Rocks, Canaan Valley, and Smoke Hole but still havent done the one loop that everybody everybody tells me i’m missing out on

awesome cellphone photos! Looks like you had a great time! Thanks for sharing


Some of my photos from the last time I explored WV:

 

For some reason I always thought you already lived in WV.