Complete Guide To Off Roading Parks In Virginia
Virginia is among America’s premier off-roading states due to its geographical location. The weather is mild year-round, yet there’s just enough mud to get your ATVs dirty. Riders laud Virginia for the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains, occupying much of the state’s western border. However, there’s fun to be had all over. Here are 13 parks and trail networks to go off-roading in Virginia.
Big Boys Playground
Harrisonburg
Pricing: $10 per person and $30 per OHV per day, $250 annual membership
for adult riders, children’s annual membership available at a discounted rate with the purchase of an adult membership
Regulations: Helmet required for ATV and MX riding, some camping permitted in developed sites
Restrictions: No trailblazing, no night riding
Big Boys Playground is located just north of Harrisonburg. This off-road park is only a short drive from Shenandoah National Park, making it ideal for family trips to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Big Boys Playground is a 100-acre property full of off-road fun. You can ride your trucks and ATVs through the mud and take your bikes to the motorcycle trails. Test your luck at the Hell Hole mud pit, which causes problems for even the most experienced riders. In fact, nobody has made it through. Watch the Big Boys Playground schedule for monthly truck and ATV events, which are on Saturdays and typically start around noon.
Catfish ATV Trails & Pond
Martinsville
Pricing: $5 entry fee per person, $20 per rider, kids 12 and under get in free, $20 per machine, $10 extra to camp for the weekend, $5 per day for fishing
Regulations: Helmet required for ATV and MX riding, some camping permitted in developed sites, riders and passengers must sign in and wear the daily colored wristband, riders without a wristband will be asked to leave
Restrictions: No trailblazing, no night riding, no 4x4s, no jeeps, no trucks, no horseplay, no riding in the parking areas or fields
Catfish ATV Trails & Pond is just north of Martinsville, a town renowned for its motorsports history. The recreational area comprises about 60 miles of riding for your ATV and side-by-sides (SxS), with each course forming loops in the park. Catfish ATV Trails lets you get down and dirty with your ATV in mud-filled trails and pits. Have some relaxing fun fishing at the pond while you’re here.
Coal Canyon ATV Trail
Buchanan County
Pricing: $30 day pass per rider, $60 adult annual pass ($63 for online purchase), $33 annual pass for youth 12 and under, $50 annual pass for veterans, $30 annual pass for residents of eligible
counties, $25 for tent camping, $50 for RV camping
Regulations: Helmets required with a Spearhead Trails sticker on the left side, spark arrestor required, camping only allowed at Southern Gap Outdoor Adventure
Restrictions: No trailblazing, no night riding, enforced noise limit, no double-riding unless the vehicle has multiple seats, no trucks, no 4x4s, no jeeps, no alcohol
Coal Canyon is among the newest ATV trails in Virginia, opening in the spring of 2015. The park has grown to 127 miles of trails spanning beginner and expert paths. Coal Canyon trails are an excellent way to spend time in nature and see elk, Virginia’s largest animal, and other wildlife. This site is adjacent to Southern Gap Outdoor Adventure, where riders can spend the night in tents, RVs or furnished cabins.
Cove Campground
Gore
Pricing: $30 per person per day
Regulations: Helmets required at all times, all ATV riders must sign waivers and pay before heading out, camping only allowed on developed sites, spark arrestor required, pets must be on a leash, camping available on developed sites with a two-night minimum (three on holiday weekends)
Restrictions: 4x4s, jeeps and trucks only allowed on specific dates, enforced noise limit, no dune buggies, no using ATVs on campground roads or within the campsites, no drinking and driving, no camping with ATVs on holiday weekends, no trailblazing, no night riding, no ATVs available for rent, off-roading only allowed on specific weekends
Cove Campground, a short drive from the West Virginia border, is an all-year park featuring 60 miles of riding for your off-road rigs. Most of the trails are for experts, with rocks presenting many challenging paths. Besides off-roading, Cove Campground features swimming at Cove Lake and a rifle and pistol range. You can even get married there.
Kairos Resort
Rich Creek
Pricing: $25 daily for a trail pass, $40 for riding plus camping, $25 for 
tent camping, $45 for RV camping for nonriders
Regulations: Helmets required, spark arrestor recommended, riders must sign waivers, camping and campfires allowed in developed sites
Restrictions: No trailblazing, no night riding, no trucks, no 4x4s, no jeeps
A trip to the Appalachian Mountains wouldn’t be right without stopping at Kairos Resort. This park has 1,500 acres of forest to explore and 40 miles of fun for your off-roader. Kairos Resort is renowned for its river adventures, including boating, kayaking and fishing. You can also go mountain biking, horseback riding and hiking.
Mountain View Trails
St. Paul
Pricing: $30 day pass per rider, $60 adult annual pass ($63 for online purchase), $33 annual pass for youth 12 and under, $50 annual pass for veterans, $30 annual pass for residents of eligible counties, $20 tent camping fee, $35 RV fee
Regulations: Helmets required with a Spearhead Trails permit sticker on the left side, spark arrestor required, camping only available at Camp Mountventures/Maggie Way Campground
Restrictions: No trailblazing, no night riding, no double-riding unless the vehicle has multiple seats, no trucks, no 4x4s, no jeeps, enforced noise limit, no alcohol
Since its 2013 opening, the Mountain View Trail System has grown to nearly 120 miles of riding for your off-roading desires. The ranging difficulties make the trails inclusive for all skill levels. The Mountain View Trails are also an excellent opportunity to see wildlife. Riders report seeing black bears, wild turkeys and other majestic creatures.
The Original Pocahontas Trail
Pocahontas
Pricing: $30 per rider, $60 adult annual pass ($63 for online purchase), $33 annual pass for youth 12 and under, $30 annual pass for residents of eligible counties, $50 annual pass for veterans, $60 fee for tent and RV camping
Regulations: Helmets required with a Spearhead Trails permit sticker on the left side, spark arrestor required, camping allowed at Trailhead ATV Resort
Restrictions: No trailblazing, no night riding, enforced noise limit, no trucks, no 4x4s, no jeeps, no camping along the trail, no double-riding unless the vehicle has multiple seats, no alcohol
The Original Pocahontas Trail has grown to nearly 100 miles of primarily beginner-friendly trails since its 2014 debut. This park also features 10 miles of single track for dirt bikes. Camping is permitted at the nearby Trailhead ATV Resort, featuring cabin rentals and groceries. The trail gets its name from Pocahontas, a key figure in early Virginia history.
Peter Mills Run and Taskers Gap OHV System
Edinburg
Pricing: $5 per day, $12 for a three-day pass, $30 annual permit
Regulations: Permit required, DOT-approved helmet required, spark arrestor required, riders may only use paths marked with a “V” to indicate an OHV trail, children 12 to 16 must ride ATV 90 cc or lower, children under 12 must ride ATV 70 cc or lower, some camping available, hunting allowed with a Virginia hunting license and a special recreation permit
Restrictions: No trailblazing, no night riding, no reckless driving, no double-riding unless the vehicle has multiple seats, some trails allow 4x4s, jeeps and trucks, 96-decibel noise limit, 50-inch maximum width
Peters Mill Run and Taskers Gap combine to create the state’s most extensive OHV trail system, comprising 36 miles of exciting courses. Relax on the old forest roads or challenge yourself on the rocky paths.
Pine Lane ATV Trails
Keeling
Pricing: $20 per rider
Regulations: Helmets required for riders under 18, camping allowed anywhere
Restrictions: No trailblazing, no night riding, SUVs, jeeps and 4x4s allowed in the mud bog
Pine Lane ATV Trails provides excellent opportunities for fun with the whole family. The recreational area comprises 50 miles of off-road trails for your favorite machine and fun activities for the kids. Take advantage of snorkel water holes, mud pits and the pond for swimming. Pine Lane also has a concession stand with hot food and cold drinks.
Watch the Pine Lane schedule for exciting events throughout the year. The park has fun activities for Halloween, barbecue competitions and more.
Ridgeview Trail System
Haysi
Pricing: $30 per rider, $60 adult annual pass ($63 for online purchase), $33 annual pass for youth 12 and under, $30 annual pass for residents of eligible counties, $50 annual pass for veterans.
Regulations: Helmets required with a Spearhead Trails permit sticker on the left side, spark arrestor required, camping allowed at Breaks Interstate Park
Restrictions: No trailblazing, no night riding, no double-riding unless the vehicle has multiple seats, no trucks, no 4x4s, no jeeps, enforced noise limit, no alcohol
The Ridgeview Trail System is another Spearhead Trails recreational area featuring 78 miles of ATV trails and loops near the Kentucky border. The Ridgeview trails are mostly beginner-friendly, making the site fun for the whole family. Take your favorite ATV, UTV or dirt bike and have fun on the trails.
Robert’s Track and Trails
Saluda
Pricing: $150 annual membership required, membership covers the household, guest passes available upon request, call Robert’s Track and Trails for details
Regulations: Helmets required, maximum width 50 inches, primarily for dirt bikes and ATVs, only some areas allow SXS and UTVs,
Restrictions: No trailblazing, no night riding, no trucks, no 4x4s, no jeeps
Robert’s Track and Trails in Saluda is just south of the Rappahannock River. This park has a two-mile motocross track and six miles of marked trails for your off-roader machines. The privately owned facility also features two kids’ tracks to let your young ones have fun. Riders report narrow ATV trails, so drive cautiously on these paths. This area has restrooms and picnic areas for a delightful weekend getaway.
Rocky Run ATV Trail
Harrisonburg
Pricing: $5 per day, $12 for a three-day pass, $30 annual permit
Regulations: Must obtain permit from an authorized vendor or office, helmets required, spark arrestor required, camping allowed alongside the trail, no camping at the trailhead, no camping within 500 feet of staging area or 200 feet of a stream
Restrictions: 96-decibel noise limit, no trailblazing, no night riding
Rocky Run ATV Trail is a 10-mile loop inside George Washington National Forest that offers views of beautiful Harrisonburg and Second Mountain. The recreational area allows all types of off-roaders, so bring your favorite big rig here. The roads can get narrow, so be mindful of what you tow. Drive an SUV or truck with a longer wheelbase to gain more control if you need to connect a trailer.
Riders should note Rocky Run ATV Trail has temporarily closed as contractors are working on an electricity transmission line in the area.
Stone Mountain
Pennington Gap
Pricing: $30 per rider, $60 adult annual pass ($63 for online purchase), $33 annual pass for youth 12 and under, $30 annual pass for residents of eligible counties, $50 annual pass for veterans, $10 per night for tent camping, $30 per night for 50-amp RV hookup, $25 per night for hookups between 15 and 30 amps
Regulations: Helmets required with a Spearhead Trails permit sticker on the left side, spark arrestor required, camping allowed at Leeman Field RV Park
Restrictions: No trailblazing, no night riding, enforced noise limit, no double-riding unless the vehicle has multiple seats, no trucks, no 4x4s, no jeeps
Are you looking for a challenging trail? Stone Mountain puts you to the test with highly technical courses among its 34 miles of paths. The rough terrain is worth the journey due to the gorgeous views of the Virginia wilderness. Spearhead Trails has a noise limit, so consider riding an electric ATV to be quieter.
Virginia Is for Lovers and Off-Roaders
Virginia is one of America’s oldest states and has stunning biodiversity in every region. The Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains provide excellent opportunities for hiking, off-roading, horseback riding and whatever else your heart desires. Many trails require a permit to ride, so ensure you acquire one from a nearby authorized vendor.
Much of Virginia’s off-roading opportunities are on the western side near the mountains. However, communities like Saluda show people can have fun in every corner of Old Dominion.
