Off-roading season runs 365 days a year in Trails Heaven, West Virginia - also known as the Hatfield-McCoy Trails, a system of more than 1000 miles of professionally managed trails. It’s one of the largest off-road vehicle trail systems in the world, with trails available for all skill levels and all types of off-road vehicles, including side-by-sides, dirtbikes, ATVs, and Jeeps. Best of all, it’s open year-round! 

If you have an off-road vehicle, you probably already know the rush of revving the engine and getting some mud on the tires. Maybe you’re trying to decide where to haul your aluminum ATV or UTV trailer this summer for an off-road escape, or maybe you’re just starting your search for a trailer to make trips like this a reality. 

Let’s review the trail systems that, combined, make up the Hatfield-McCoy Trails network, including where to buy permits, where to park, where to stay, and what to pack for your off-roading adventure in Trails Heaven. Then we'll check out the best aluminum ATV/UTV trailers for your next trip to Trails Heaven. 

Historic Hills & Highways 

The area gets its name from the well-known feud between two Appalachian families in the Tug River Valley along the Kentucky-West Virginia border. The feud began with a murder in the wake of the American Civil War, and escalated into decades of property disputes, violent ambushes, forbidden marriages, betrayals, beatings, and an eventual Supreme Court case. The McCoys of Kentucky were led by Randolph “Ole Randall” McCoy. The Hatfields of West Virginia were led by William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield.

The feud lasted from 1863 to 1891, but more than a century later, it’s still well known in American culture. In the modern era, members of the Hatfield and McCoy families have made public efforts to bury the hatchet, so to speak. The historic feud has become a tourism draw for the region, and you can take an official Hatfield-McCoy Feud Driving Tour by visiting the Pike County Tourism CVB Visitors Center in Pikeville.

In 2000, the Hatfield-McCoy Trails network began to grow, offering a new and exciting way to explore the natural beauty of this historic area. Instead of ambushes in the woods, find adrenaline rushes with new and old friends as you explore Trails Heaven! 

Planning, Packing & Permits

Like most places we’ve visited, you need some paperwork to ride the various trail systems at Trails Heaven. Permits are not available online but can be purchased on-site at Hatfield-McCoy Trailhead facilities or more than 180 authorized HMT permit vendors. The 2026 trail permit prices are $26.50 for a West Virginia resident and $65 for a non-resident. Permits are good through December 31, 2026, no matter when purchased in 2026.  

When packing for your trip, check the weather forecast and plan your wardrobe accordingly. You'll want protective eyewear like goggles, over-the-ankle footwear, and water-resistant pants for trail days, and a DOT-approved helmet is required for riding. Long pants and sturdy boots are better than shorts and high-top sneakers, but the only real non-negotiable attire is your helmet and eyewear. With snacks, trail maps, water bottles and other creature comforts in your pack and your helmet secure, you'll be ready to ride. 

To help you plan, the Trails Heaven website is an unbeatable resource. The Lodging page will help you start planning where to stay, with a variety of options from camping to cabins and hotels. You can also download trail maps and the trail network app, read the trail rules and regulations, find equipment rental recommendations, and learn about additional events in the area like National Trailfest, scheduled for October 8-10, 2026. 

Trail Systems in Trails Heaven

The trails are all marked, professionally maintained, and patrolled by WV Division of Natural Resources law enforcement personnel. Trail rules are posted online. Each trail system within the larger network has its own map, parking area, and particular details you will need to review before riding. Click the trail system names below to visit the individual pages for each part of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails Network to learn details about trail difficulty ratings, vehicles allowed on the trails, where to park and buy a permit, restrooms, and more. 

Bearwallow: One of the 3 original HMT systems (opened October 2000), located near the ATV-friendly town of Logan, WV. Open to ATVs, UTVs, ORVs, and off-road motorcycles. Staffed trailhead with restrooms, permits, merchandise, and parking.  

Big Coal River: Around 50 miles of trails in the Peytona area of Boone County, WV. Open to UTVs, ATVs, dirtbikes and ORVs/Jeeps. The trailhead is not staffed, but permits are available in Julian, WV and there is a 2-acre parking lot in Peytona.  

Braveheart: Open to dirtbikes, ATVs and UTVs. Located in Logan County, the Braveheart Trail System connects to the town of Man for fuel, food and lodging; it is accessible to the Rockhouse, Devil Anse and Buffalo Mountain Trail Systems, sharing a staffed trailhead and parking area with the Rockhouse trails.

Buffalo Mountain: The most historic trail system, opened in October 2020, with three community connectors to Matewan, Williamson and Delbarton. Buffalo Mountain also connects to the Devil Anse and Rockhouse Trail Systems, and it's known for having the most available single-track trails, making it popular for dirtbike riders. 

Cabwaylingo: This trail system sits on 8300 acres of state forest land surrounded by the WV counties of Cabell, Wayne, Lincoln, and Mingo. The trailhead facility has plenty of parking, merchandise and permits available. Explore 100 miles of trails for ATVs, UTVs, dirtbikes and Jeeps.

Indian Ridge: One of the largest continuous areas of the HMT network and accessible to Pinnacle Creek, Warrior and Pocahontas for extended off-road trips. Indian Ridge offers a variety of trails of varying difficulty levels near Ashland, WV, with community access to Northfork and Keystone, where food, gas, and lodging are available.

Ivy Branch: About 20 minutes outside WV’s capitol city, Charleston, Ivy Branch has more than an acre of parking at the trailhead, with permits and merchandise available onsite. The trail system welcomes vehicles of all sizes from dirtbikes to full-sized off-road vehicles like Jeeps.

Devil Anse: Linked with the Rockhouse and Buffalo Mountain Trail Systems for a total of more than 300 miles. The Devil Anse trails have direct access to gas, food and lodging; the trailhead is located in the historic heart of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud, the town of Matewan. Find restrooms, permits, merchandise and parking at the trailhead. 

Pinnacle Creek: Explore one of the largest continuous areas of the HMT network, accessible to Warrior, Pocahontas, and Indian Ridge trails and connectors. Pinnacle Creek has direct access to the towns of Mullens and Pineville, WA, with nearby world-class whitewater rafting less than an hour away.

Pocahontas: Linked with the Pinnacle Creek, Indian Ridge and Warrior trail systems, this section of the HMT network is part of the most continuous miles of trails east of the Mississippi. Find the trailhead in Coaldale, just outside the town of Bramwell.

Rockhouse: This is the largest single trail system and one of the three original HMT systems, opened in October 2000. Rockhouse has 100+ miles of trails at all difficulty levels, including "extreme." With direct access to the ATV-friendly towns of Gilbert and Man, WV, Rockhouse also connects with the Buffalo Mountain and Devil Anse trails.

Tornado: Located in Kanawha County, WV, Tornado is the first single track-only trail system, with about 35 miles of trails open to dirt bikes and e-bikes. The Coal River Group Welcome Center has restrooms and area info; it also sells permits and merchandise. Half a mile away, you’ll find the trailhead parking area.

Warrior: The Warrior Trail System connects with Pinnacle Creek, Indian Ridge and Pocahontas trails. Located in War, WV, the state’s southernmost city, Warrior has a staffed trailhead with permits, merchandise, restrooms, and parking. The trails offer scenic views, access to food, gas and lodging, and a mix of mostly intermediate trails.

Don't Miss the Devil's Den 

If you prefer riding motorcycles to ATVs, the Devil's Den is your playground. The map of this motorcycle adventure pretty much overlays the map of community connectors for the Hatfield-McCoy Trails Network, so you can plan to explore both in the same vacation. The Devil's Den boasts more than 1000 miles of twisting, winding roads packed with historical sites. Daring riders can throttle up the switchbacks of Horsepen Mountain on a route that loops around one tree three times before summiting the mountain! Remember that if your bike can handle on- and off-road adventures, you'll still need to buy a permit before you leave the Devil's Den and venture into the HMTN. 

Aluminum ATV/UTV Trailers for Your Trip 

Unless you're planning to rent equipment when you get to Trails Heaven, WV, you're going to need a trailer to haul your toys to the trailhead! Check out our open aluminum ATV, side-by-side, and motorcycle trailers with dependable all-welded, rust-resistant construction and a variety of optional tie-downs, ramps and railings. 

We also build all-aluminum enclosed toy haulers and motorcycle trailers in a wide range of sizes, with a huge optional upgrade menu. Turn an enclosed toy hauler into a personalized camper with some DIY skill, or keep it simple for multi-season hauling with motorcycles in the summer and snowmobiles in the winter. 

For a trailer that's easier to own and maintain, weighs less than the competitors' steel options, and is built in the USA, choose ALCOM. Your local aluminum trailers dealer is waiting to help you find the perfect model to get your toys to the trailhead for a historic adventure in Trails Heaven, West Virginia -- or wherever else you plan to roam. Browse our brand sites below to see the whole lineup and then use our Dealer Locator tool to find your local ALCOM dealer and get your ideal aluminum trailer!