BERKELEY SPRINGS – With a $3.5 million trail expansion, the largest in state history, Cacapon State Park is set to become a must-go attraction for mountain bikers across the state and region. Announced earlier this month, officials broke ground for the project last week.
Once completed, the project will add 35 miles of professionally designed mountain bike trails to the park’s extensive 25-mile trail system. Officials expect the project to be completed in 2026, with the first phase completed in 2025. Construction is currently underway, with the first phase being led by Greenstone Trailcraft, a company based in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia that specializes in design, construction and maintenance of trails.
“This is an incredible day for Cacapon Resort and West Virginia as we continue to invest in our world-class parks system,” said Brett McMillion, director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. “We are excited to get started on this ambitious project and look forward to all of the ways it will improve the experience at Cacapon Resort and attract new people to come and visit our beautiful state.” Apart from the trails themselves, the project also promises to add a variety of amenities for visiting mountain bikers, working to diversify what bikers can do at Cacapon State Park and taking advantage of the mountains the park is built around.
The project will cater to bikers of all skill levels, with youth-focused facilities to attract new bikers to a signature trail aimed at more experienced bikers. The trail expansion project is part of an ongoing investment in the West Virginia State Parks system. The investment has put more than $250 million into improvement projects in state parks across West Virginia.
Earlier this year, Cacapon State Park was a recipient of the 2023 Coalition for Recreational Trails Award for Trail Construction and Design, helping them secure grants from organizations like the International Mountain Bicycling Association and the Morgan County Commission for the expansion of their trails. “This award is a testament to the incredible teamwork, dedication and support we have received from members of the Cacapon State Park Foundation, volunteers, local officials and various organizations,” said Mark Hoyle, a member of the Cacapon State Park Foundation. “Our goal was not just to build trails but to create a mountain biking destination that would benefit the entire community and leave a lasting legacy.
” Cacapon State Park and its bike trails have had a significant impact on the local economy, with a Economic Impact Survey showing an estimated $5.5 million impact on Morgan County’s economy..
