I have some WILD Motorcycle Ride Ideas in West Virginia this time!
West Virginia has a reputation for meandering two-lane roads that are perfect for motorcycles ride ideas and sight-seeing trips. As the word gets out in the bike community, we find that more and more motorcycle enthusiasts are coming to stay in our cabins. That suits us just fine!
In this segment of my favorite motorcycle routes near Golden Anchor Cabins I’ve got a wild ride in mind… Namely, a 143 mile loop travels north from Golden Anchor Cabins into the town of Kingwood, home of Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo and then back down into St. George, where Blackwater Outdoor Adventures can take you down the wild Cheat Narrows on a white water rafting excursion!
Who We Are
Before I dive in with the route I want to mention a little about us. Golden Anchor Cabins is a couples-only romantic cabin getaway destination located right in the heart of the scenic Potomac Highlands and minutes away from Blackwater Falls.
Our central location gives bikers several options for scenic driving loops. And our luxury cabins are complete with paved driveways and a hot tub in every cabin which gives guests biker-friendly access all the way to the cabin and an awesome place to relax after a long day of riding. As with all my other motorcycle loop routes (part 1 and part 2 can be read here), this one has smooth roads, beautiful mountain overlooks, and cool things to see and do.
My Suggested Stops ~ West Virginia Motorcycle Ride Ideas
- Fairfax Stone
- Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo
- Cool Springs Park Exxon
- Blackwater Outdoor Adventures
- Fred Long Centennial Park – overlook
- Farm Up Table
- Canaan Valley State Park
Kingwood – click here for route – 143 miles – approximately 3 1/2hr drive
The route I have mapped out today takes you to a few iconic spots in the state and follows the beautiful Cheat river for several miles. Starting at our cabins, follow Rt 32 North to Rt 219 North and on to my first suggested stop, the Fairfax Stone Historical Monument State Park.
1 Fairfax Stone – A Bit of History and A Unique Opportunity
The Fairfax Stone marks the spring that is the humble beginning of the massive Potomac River which empties into the Chesapeake Bay outside Washington DC.
This stone was placed in 1746 to establish boundaries between the English colonies of Maryland and Virginia. It’s neat because of its history and significance but it isn’t all that much to look at. Still worth a selfie though. That way, if you’re ever in DC at Potomac Park looking across the river to the Lincoln Memorial you can smile knowing that you once straddled this same river in West Virginia.
2 West Virginia’s Wildlife Zoo
Getting back on the road, you can follow the route through the tiny Preston County towns of Aurora, Terra Alta and then through Kingwood before coming to the main attraction of the loop, a family-owned West Virginia zoo. Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo is quite the surprise given its location.
This zoo offers a much more intimate experience with a large variety of animals than you will find with larger zoo facilities. I believe they serve as a sort of nursery to large zoos since there are always a few babies around. It might be your only opportunity to get your picture taken with a six week old giraffe!
Their facilities are clean and their animals are healthy and cared for. I highly recommend swinging by this true hidden gem! They are only open seasonally however so double check their hours before setting off.
3 Get Your Kicks On Route 50 at Cool Springs Park
If you’ve scanned through my suggested stop list, you probably noticed I have an Exxon on there. I know, I can hear you saying it. “Why on Earth did Daniel include a gas station on this list?” Just go along with me for a minute… This isn’t just a simple gas station. It is actually a very cool pit stop spot.
At Cool Springs Park Exxon, you can have their full service attendant top off your tank for you while you pop in for a quick bite at their country deli and ice cream shop, browse their expansive gift shop or stroll through their park which has several acres of antique tractors, farm equipment and trains throughout. The Cool Springs Park is reminiscent of an old road-side attraction once seen on Route 66 only with a West Virginia spin on it. You simply have to stop here.
My Little Sci-Fi Detour at the International Earth Station
Just down the road from the Exxon you will turn right onto Rt 72 and head south for 4.2 miles. Before making it to my next official stop I do want to mention something that always catches my eye here. Let’s call this a quick detour idea. Popping up out of nowhere on this road are these gigantic aging satellite dishes.
The long-closed AT&T International Earth Station (pinned as the Etam Earth Station on Google Maps) is a gated facility topped with 4 huge antennas that once received transmissions from orbiting communication satellites. The location is just outside of the National Radio Quiet Zone surrounding The National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
I mention this facility because I find it fascinating to look at the juxtaposition of the monstrous antennas and all unwitting cows grazing under them at the neighboring farm. But enough detouring, there is another wild opportunity just down the road!
4 Kayaking and River Rafting Opportunity at Blackwater Outdoor Adventures
A few miles farther south on Rt 72 is the area’s local outfitter, Blackwater Outdoor Adventures. They run canoes, kayaks, tubes down the lazy parts of the Cheat River as well as guided white water rafting through the Cheat Narrows. I did a full write up on their rafting excursion here so if you’re interested in checking them out, I suggest giving it a read.
Jamie, Nate and I absolutely love floating the flat waters of the Cheat between Parsons and St George. They will drop you off and let you float back to their location right on the river. It makes for an awesome afternoon!
5 A Beautiful Mountain Overlook that is Biker Friendly
Fred Long Centennial Park is my next stop on the loop. Looking from backbone mountain across the valley to St. George is one of the best views in Tucker County. Unlike many of the area’s beautiful overlooks, this one is super easy to get to with a motorcycle. Fred Long Centennial Park is one of my favorite motorcycle ride ideas in West Virginia. While you’re stopped at the park you could illegally walk down a side road and get right under one of those massive windmills nearby, though I would never recommend trespassing. The company that operates them is miles away and they don’t want anyone there messing around on their property.
6 Farm Up Table in Thomas, WV
At this point, you’re not far from the Town of Thomas. I recently highlighted a new restaurant that is opening in Thomas called Farm Up Table. Their food is phenomenal so if you’re hungry, this is my number one choice for eats on this loop. The town of Thomas is worth a walk around as well. There are many shops and galleries worth visiting too.
7 Canaan Valley State Park
The final stop I want to mention on this route is actually just up the road from our cabins. Canaan Valley State Park is the best neighbor we could ask for. Their friendly staff keeps the park and all its activities welcoming and exciting.
Canaan Valley State Park has miles of hiking trails, multiple restaurants, an indoor and outdoor pool (both open to the public), a skeet shooting and archery range and an 18 hole golf course where they welcome everyone for a round of golf plus several other amenities. Anyone that stays in our cabins needs to take an afternoon to explore Canaan Valley State Park.
That’s all I have for this motorcycle loop. The next one I have planned will take us to the very top of the State, and I don’t mean in the northern panhandle. If you have any questions about vacationing with us, feel free to email me at goldenanchorcabins@gmail.com or call me at 304-704-8764.
I also send out a monthly newsletter where I keep all our guests up to date with what is going on at our cabins and the area. If you’d like to hear from us you can sign up for the newsletter here. Finally, you can always see all our current cabin availability and book your stay online at https://guest.rezstream.com/search/golden-anchor-cabins.
Thanks so much for reading, my family and I hope to host your next cabin getaway soon!
Article written by Daniel Marsh. Daniel and Jamie Marsh have owned and operated Golden Anchor Cabins in Canaan Valley, West Virginia since 2014.
