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By: Tim Donaldson
ATVSource.com’s Upcoming Feature Coverage of
the Hatfield-McCoy Trails and Trail Fest 2008
In the mid nineteenth-century, a dispute
escalated between two rivaling families along
the Tug Fork River banks near the present-day
towns of Matewan, West Virginia and Pikeville,
Kentucky. Classically known as the
Hatfield-McCoy Feud, the event has spawned myth,
lore, and legend--overshadowing the unfortunate
calamity which was incited by opposing sides of
the Civil War and a “Pig in Court.”
With such a rich and well-known history in the
southern-most region of West Virginia, it is
easy to see how one of the nation’s premier,
multi-use trail systems received its
recognizable identification as the
Hatfield-McCoy Trails. Established in1996 by
West Virginia Legislature as a statutory
corporation, the trail system was designed to
be, and has become, a significant factor in the
economic life of the region. By providing
exemptions from liability to private landowners,
State Legislation has created a mutually
beneficial public-private partnership which has
made the Hatfield-McCoy Trails a possibility.
Currently, the Hatfield-McCoy Trails operates in
5 of its 9 project counties and consists of six
individual trail systems with several hundred
miles of trails which are open 365 days a year
to ATVs, dirt bikes, select UTVs, mountain
bikes, horses, and hikers. Boasting
“ATV-Friendly” towns with many of the trail’s
community connectors, OHV users can legally
navigate throughout these communities. In time
the existing trails systems are expected to
expand throughout all 9 operating counties with
an anticipated network of over 2000 miles of
trails.
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Each trail system and hosting community offers
something unique to ATV enthusiasts. So, with so
much to see and offer, ATVSource.com has
partnered with the Hatfield-McCoy Trails to take
an in-depth look at each of the existing six
trails systems and Hatfield-McCoy’s 2008 Trail
Fest, taking place October 9-13.
Each of the upcoming, individualized segments
will highlight trail/terrain characteristics,
geographical notes, community information, and
anecdotes of our adventures. We will begin with
our summer excursion to the Little Coal River
and Bearwallow trail systems, followed by our
trip accounts to Buffalo Mountain, Rockhouse,
Pinnacle Creek, and Indian Creek, so we invite
you to check back and join us as we discover
what makes the Hatfield-McCoy Trails a
world-class trail system.
In the mean time, plan your own trip to the
Hatfield-McCoy Trails. The weather is cooling
off a bit and the leaves are approaching their
peak fall color, and don’t worry, the Hatfield
and McCoy families get along now. Trail Permits
are currently $26.50 (WV residents) and $47.00
(non-WV residents). We may even see you at Trail
Fest, so wave or smile if we take your picture!
Visit
www.trailsheaven.com for more information
about the trails and Trail Fest 2008.
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