Images courtesy of Wood County CVB
Just outside Parkersburg, Mountwood Park sits tucked among the hills and hollows that dot the landscape in Wood County. As with many county parks, you can fish, camp, and picnic.
But Mountwood is so much more. Its past includes a rich history of oil and technological innovation. Today, it boasts one of the Mountain State’s most beloved mountain biking trail systems and longest-running mountain bike races. A dedicated group of locals make this park and its legendary group of trails worth a visit for bikers of any skill level.
West Virginia’s only volcano
While the Mountain State isn’t known for liquid-hot magma, it was home to the town of Volcano. In 1860, the third-known oil field to be discovered in the United States was found in the ground beneath Volcano, a few miles from the Ohio River in Wood County. Like many other resource-rich locales of the era, Volcano quickly blew up into a boomtown, reaching a maximum population of 5,000. Industrialists here invented the endless cable system—a technological advancement used to perpetually pump oil from the vast reserves below the town’s bustling streets. “A lot of the technology that later helped with the development of the oil and gas industry got its start right here,” says Chris Swarr, Wood County Parks and Recreation Commission board chair. “The entire park is a fascinating history lesson.”
In 1879, a massive conflagration erupted and burned the aptly named town to the ground. Volcano never recovered, and the charred remains became another industrial ghost town. Present-day Mountwood Park encompasses Volcano’s ruins. Its history and the rusty relics—including the restored components of the endless cable system—remain on display, complete with interpretive historical markers. The town’s boom-and-bust history is celebrated at Mountwood each September during Volcano Days, marking one of the region’s biggest festivals.
Something for everyone
Nowadays, Mountwood Park encompasses over 2,600 acres and features nearly 45 miles of trails, a 50-acre lake, and many other recreational facilities. But the park is best known for its sinuous network of singletrack mountain biking trails that offer something for every level of rider. Also boasting updated signage and informational kiosks, Mountwood is one of five featured trail systems for the fledgling Mountaineer Trail Network Recreation Authority, on which Swarr serves as board chair.
Trails weave throughout the steep western West Virginia terrain. The mostly hand-built trail system features everything from loamy flow to rocky tech, including natural and hand-built features, wooden bridges, and bermed turns that will leave a dirt-smattered smile on your face. A few miles of machine-built flow tail were installed by local trailbuilder Appalachian Dirt in 2018 to offer additional trail diversity.
“It’s heavily forested, rugged, and steep,” Swarr says. “The Burning Springs anticline is the main geologic feature here in Wood County, so some slopes are as steep as 70 degrees and very rocky.”
This topography leads to exciting trails that slice across slopes on bench-cut terraces, straddle the tops of narrow ridges, and, as Swarr puts it, plummet to “screaming-fun downhills. It’s hard to have a bad ride here.”
Lovingly maintained
Those 45 miles of trail don’t maintain themselves—it takes a dedicated crew of local volunteers to keep the trails clear and manage drainage. That crew is the River Valley Mountain Bike Association (RVMBA), a group of locals who put in the time and sweat equity to make Mountwood the beloved system it is today. “I love Mountwood because it’s largely hand-built with care and love,” says Vince Nedeff, RVMBA vice president. “We have a small but mighty crew made of volunteer trail builders from all professions and perspectives. We’ll be standing around arguing about where the trail should go, then five minutes later we’re building something truly beautiful.”
Interpretive signage helps visitors dive into the rich history of Volcano, a ghost town that was once home to an early oil boom and industrial innovations that shaped American life.
Beyond the dedicated members of RVMBA, Nedeff points to a special synergy found in the partnerships between the county, the park, and the volunteers—something that seems rare in this day and age. “Wood County, Mountwood Park administration, and RVMBA have a great 30-year relationship that facilitates providing an experience like this in a county park,” says Nedeff. “We don’t have state park money—it’s all a labor of love, and getting the Wood County Commission on board is a good example of local government serving its constituents and creating something there’s demand for.”
A classic challenge
The Mountain State is home to many legendary mountain bike races, and the Challenge at Mountwood—one of the longest-running mountain bike races in the state—is considered by some to be the grandaddy of them all. Running every year (save for 2020 due to COVID restrictions) since 1995, the Challenge at Mountwood has been around almost as long as mountain bikes themselves. The 20-mile Expert race climbs 2,600 feet over 20 miles, making it a test for even the most hardened race vets. At its height, Nedeff says the Challenge had more than 350 racers vying for a spot on the podium.
While the Challenge at Mountwood has created countless memories over the years, Nedeff, who’s been involved with the race for decades, says his happiest memory is when the race returned in 2021 following its COVID hiatus. “I got burnt out on racing, but I find so much joy in putting on a race for other people,” he says. “Seeing the joy on everyone’s faces and everyone racing again, that’s why we do it.”
Building off Volcano’s fiery past, Mountwood Park’s future looks to be just as bright. Swarr says big things are in store, including new downhill-style gravity trails, more skills park–style features, and plans to construct more machine-built flow trails. Additionally, plans to expand camping are in play, allowing more riders to come set up shop and ride right from camp. “It’s going to further enhance what’s already a great trail system,” Swarr says.
At the end of the day, you can plop a trail system anywhere, but the organic sense of community that forms and imbues it with love and pride can’t be manufactured. That takes time, and Mountwood Park has that history in spades. “I’ve biked in a bunch of places all over the country, but I just keep coming back to Mountwood,” Nedeff says. “I may be a little biased, but it’s always my favorite place to ride.”
