Riders on the Basin trails at Snowshoe in fall, seen from above the bike park

Biking

Biking near Snowshoe

lift-served laps to a flat river trail

Three different rides, three different mornings. The Snowshoe Bike Park is lift-served downhill off the Village, late May to mid-October. The Greenbrier River Trail is 78 miles of flat, shaded gravel along the river, no traffic, easy on anyone. The Highland Scenic Highway is a real road-cycling climb through the national forest. Below: all three, honestly described, plus the real bike shops nearby that rent and shuttle for them.

The Bike Park Road and gravel Shops, rentals, shuttles Which home to book

Lift-served

The Snowshoe Bike Park

Downhill mountain biking off the Village, served by the Ballhooter and Western Express lifts, late May to mid-October. Rental bikes and gear are at the base in the Village. Race weekends, the UCI World Cup among them, fill the mountain the way holiday weekends do in winter.

We already wrote the full guide to it, including which homes have the bike wash and the gear garage: it is on our Bike Park season page, and it stays the fuller version rather than repeated here.

Bike Park season guide Things to do

A rider sending a jump at the Snowshoe Bike Park under fall color

Road and gravel

Two real rides off the mountain

Not everyone wants lift-served downhill. These are two verified, real rides within an hour, one flat and easy, one a genuine climb.

Greenbrier River Trail

Gravel

Gravel / crushed limestone · 78 mi end to end, ride any piece of it

A former rail line along the Greenbrier River, packed crushed limestone the whole way, with a grade that never exceeds 1 percent. It is the easiest real ride in the county: flat, shaded, river on one side, and no cars. Most guests ride an out-and-back of ten to twenty miles from Marlinton rather than the whole trail.

Rent in Marlinton and ride from town, or have one of the shops below shuttle you upriver and ride back down to the car.

Drive: About 35 to 40 minutes to the Watoga State Park access, closer to Marlinton

Find it on the map ↗

Highland Scenic Highway (WV-150)

Paved road

Paved road · 43 mi total; the Richwood-to-US-219 section is the ride, about 22 mi one way

A two-lane parkway through the Monongahela National Forest, closed to commercial trucks, that climbs from about 2,300 feet to over 4,500 feet with long, steady grades and four overlooks. Road cyclists treat it as a serious climbing ride, an out-and-back of around 45 miles with roughly 6,000 feet of total climbing if you do the whole parkway section both ways.

There is no water, food, or cell service anywhere on the parkway section. Carry what you need, and check that the gate is open; it is not maintained in winter and closes to travel from about November to March or April.

Drive: About 45 to 55 minutes to the US-219 end, near Marlinton

Find it on the map ↗

The Highland Scenic Highway's parkway section is also our favorite fall-color drive; it is on the off-the-mountain page with the rest of the day trips.

Rentals, repairs, shuttles

The real bike shops nearby

Four shops, all currently operating as of our September 2026 check. Elk River is the closest thing to a shop at Snowshoe itself; the other three are in Marlinton, the town at the Greenbrier River Trail.

Elk River Touring Center

Inn and bike shop · About 10 to 15 minutes

The closest bike shop to Snowshoe by far, right at the Slatyfork junction. Comfort bikes for the Greenbrier River Trail, car-top bike racks, and guided mountain biking into the surrounding Monongahela National Forest.

Address: 34037 Seneca Trail, Slaty Fork, WV 26291
Our tip: Call ahead in summer; a small mountain shop's fleet runs out on the good Saturdays.

(304) 572-3771 elkriverwv.com ↗

Dirtbean Cafe and Bike Shop

Full-service bike shop and cafe · About 30 to 40 minutes

A real bike shop with a healthy breakfast and lunch menu attached, a couple of blocks from the Greenbrier River Trail. Rentals for all ages and skill levels, helmet and lock included, plus full repair service. Owned by a former professional mountain bike racer.

Address: 818 Second Avenue, Marlinton, WV 24954
Our tip: No shuttle service here; pair a rental with Greenbrier Bikes or Appalachian Sport if you want to ride one direction and get picked up.

(304) 799-4038 dirtbean.com ↗

Greenbrier Bikes

Rentals, repairs, and shuttle · About 30 to 40 minutes

A full fleet of bikes and e-bikes to rent, plus shuttle service that drops you upriver so you ride back to town instead of doubling the same stretch. Repairs on mountain, road, and e-bikes.

Address: 916 3rd Ave, Marlinton, WV 24954
Our tip: Book the shuttle a day ahead in summer and fall weekends.

(304) 591-7021 greenbrierbikes.com ↗

Appalachian Sport

Outfitter: bikes, kayaks, shuttle · About 30 to 40 minutes

A family-run outfitter beside the river since 1989. Bike, kayak, and canoe rentals with shuttle service for both the Greenbrier River Trail and the river itself, so a rainy bike day can turn into a paddle instead.

Address: 3 Seneca Trail, Marlinton, WV 24954
Our tip: The one stop if your group wants to split between biking and paddling on the same afternoon.

(304) 799-4050 appsport.com ↗

Which home to book

Bikes, mud, and a hose

that is the whole decision

For the lift-served Bike Park, the full home-by-home answer is on the Bike Park season page. For road and gravel riding, here is the honest version.

Closest to Elk River Touring Center
All seven homes are within about 15 minutes of Slatyfork. None is meaningfully closer than another for this one.
A garage for the bikes
Timbers 5 has a real gear garage with six bike racks and a boot and glove dryer. Timbers 3 is across the street with back-deck space. Both take dogs too.
A bike wash on the way out
The Summit condos, 103C, 107D, and 202D, are a five-minute walk to Ballhooter with a bike wash right behind the D building.
After the ride
A private hot tub at Timbers 3 or Timbers 5 for the Highland Scenic Highway's climb. Every home has a grill for the group dinner after.

Before you ride

What to know

Bikes stay out of the living room
Outside, in the mud room, or in the garage at every home, whether it is a Bike Park bike or a gravel bike off the Greenbrier River Trail.
No cell service on the Highland Scenic Highway
None on the parkway section, and little at the Greenbrier River Trail's quieter stretches. Tell us your plan before you go.
It is cold at the top, even in July
The summit drops into the 50s most nights all summer. Bring a layer for the ride back up after a Bike Park lap.
Book the shuttle ahead
Greenbrier Bikes and Appalachian Sport both shuttle for the river trail, and summer and fall weekends book up. A day's notice is usually enough.

Questions

What guests text us about biking

Bike Park versus road riding, and which shop to call. Anything else, ; we answer within the hour.

Keep exploring

More of the Snowshoe guide

First-timers Things to do Where to eat Off the mountain Mountain report Maps Getting here Groceries and gas Private chefs Lift tickets & gear Ski & snowboard lessons Hiking Fly fishing Shavers Lake Split Rock Pools Dogs Event calendar Guide overview

Where to stay

Stay ready for bikes and mud

Timbers 5 has the gear garage and bike wash on the way to the lift. The Summit condos are five minutes from the Village bike wash and the Ballhooter lift.

See all seven homes

WALK TO SLOPES - GUEST FAVORITE

Timbers 5

Sleeps 12 · Walk to the slopes · private hot tub · pet friendly

4 bed · 3 bath · 2,000 sq ft

South Mountain

5.00

7 reviews

GUEST FAVORITE - TOP 10%

Timbers 3

Sleeps 12 · Walk to the slopes · private hot tub · pet friendly

4 bed · 3 bath · 1,861 sq ft

South Mountain

4.93

129 reviews

5-MIN WALK TO VILLAGE

107D Summit

Sleeps 9 · Walk to the slopes

3 bed · 2 bath · 1,100 sq ft

North Mountain

4.84

142 reviews