By Charles Owens
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BRAMWELL — While it has only been open since October, both West Virginia and Virginia are already benefitting from a new ATV connector route.
The connector route, which is a part of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail system in Mercer County, allows trail riders to connect with the neighboring Spearhead Trail system in Tazewell County. The Virginia side ATV riders also can cross into West Virginia through the connector route.
“I don’t have any numbers, but just from word of mouth and what I’ve seen a lot of people are enjoying it,” Chris Zeto, marketing director for the Hatfield-McCoy Trails, said of the new connector route. “They say the connector route itself is a very nice ride.”
Zeto said Hatfield-McCoy Trails has already received a lot of positive feedback from trail riders regarding the connector route, and the ability to cross into the Spearhead Trail system in neighboring Southwest Virginia.
Officials with the Spearhead Trail also are seeing a lot of West Virginia riders cross over into the Virginia system near Boissevain.
“Our ranger who works that trail system for us has noted an uptick in ridership coming across,” Molly Land, marketing director for the Spearhead Trails, said.
Land said the ranger indicated that the new connector route is bringing “a lot of new ridership across into Virginia.”
“He said there is more interaction,” Land said of West Virginia riders coming into Virginia. “Our rangers record every interaction they have with a (rider).”
Land said signage is now up on the Virginia side of the connector route informing riders that they have entered the Spearhead system in Virginia.
“Our rules for our trail system are really in alignment with those you find for Hatfield-McCoy with helmets and expectations,” Land said.
While no statistics were immediately available from either the Hatfield-MCoy Trails or the Spearhead Trails, both trail systems could see a boost from the connector route during the winter season, which is typically slower than the spring and summer months on the trails.
The Hatfield McCoy Trail system currently has 13 different trails that extend more than 1,200 miles across Southern West Virginia, including the Pocahontas Trail in Mercer County and the Indian Ridge and Warrior trails in McDowell County. It spans nine different counties, including Wyoming, Boone, Logan and Mingo.
The Spearhead Trail system extends into seven Southwest Virginia counties, including Tazewell and Buchanan.
The new connector route extends several miles. Riders of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail system can access the new connector route near the town of Bramwell. It is located across the road from the town’s old high school.
Signage letting riders know they are leaving and or entering West Virginia also have been installed on the Hatfield-McCoy side of the connector path.
Riders of the Spearhead Trail system are required to have a Hatfield-McCoy Trail ridership permit before entering the connector route into West Virginia and riders of the Hatfield-McCoy Trail system are required to have a Spearhead Trail system permit before entering into Virginia through the connector route.
Riders of the two trail systems also will be able to enjoy unique attractions between the two states, including the Depot Museum and Corner Shop in Bramwell and the historic exhibition mine in Pocahontas that allows visitors to experience a coal mine underground.
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