A quick drive from the Historic Town of Bath (otherwise known as Berkeley Springs, WV), Cacapon Resort State Park offers one of the fastest growing mountain bike experiences on the east coast. 38 miles of trail currently in use ranging from beginner-level “green” trails to advance-level “black diamonds”, machine-built flow to old school gnar, there is fun for everyone at Cacapon Resort State Park.
The Batt parking lot is the center point of everything mountain biking at Cacapon State Park. From the parking lot you will notice The Jump Zone, an intermediate jump line, The Drop Zone area, a series of wooden drops built with progression in mind, and a small pump track to get warmed up. Batt also serves as the trailhead for the Boy Scout Trail, the main climb to the top of the mountain, Central Loop, a cross country loop stretching 5 miles to the north, and Start Me Up, an old school tech trail leading to the lower sections.
With more than 25 trails to choose from, here are four crowd favorites to ride while visiting Historic Berkeley Springs.
Rock & Roll – Beginner (Green Trail)
Mountain Biking, Cacapon Resort State Park
Rock & Roll may be the most visible trail at Cacapon, with its trail head located in the picnic area loop, just steps from the Nature Center, playground and lake. This beginner-level “green trail”, built by Canaan Valley trail builder, Appalachian Dirt, was purpose built to host National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) events. Moving along the trail, you will find optional log rides, rock gardens, and maybe even a drop or two. 220 vertical feet of climbing make Rock & Roll fun for anyone, from those wanting to get their first taste of mountain biking to the seasoned rider looking for a quick ride before visiting the historic town of Berkeley Springs. Branching off of Rock & Roll, Hovermale Homestead is a 1.5 mile cross country style loop, while Get Down, and the newly completed Paw Paw connect to the Batt parking lot, extending your ride to the upper mountain.
Thunderstruck – Advanced Down Hill Trail (Black Diamond)
Thunderstruck Black Diamond
For those about to rock, Thunderstruck brings the heat. Built by IMBA Trail Solutions, Thunderstruck is split into three sections: Upper Thunderstruck, Middle Thunderstruck, and Lower Thunderstruck. Upper Thunderstruck is a two-mile section of “black diamond” with 736 feet of descent.
From Cacapon State Park’s iconic four-state view overlook, tucked into the southern corner of the exposed mountain top is the entrance to the flagship trail. The entrance alone is enough to separate the head bangers from the squids. The meticulously hand placed rock work is both as beautiful as it is intimidating.
As you smash through a series of rock rolls, off-camber slabs and beautifully laid rock gardens, stay focused as the consequences of going off trail here are very serious. This section of Cacapon Mountain is known to be very steep.
Middle Thunderstruck, now labeled a “blue trail”, offers more of an intermediate level experience, while retaining that signature rocky terrain. Intersecting with the lower Connector Trail, the final half mile, called Lower Thunderstruck, finds itself more beginner friendly, ending at the Batt parking lot. The Girl Scout climb trail and lower Connector Trail allow for multiple options, connecting to Learn To Fly, Giddy-Up, and Ride The Lightning.
Giddy-Up – Intermediate Flow Trail (Blue Trail)
Finding its name from a previous lifetime as an access road to the top of Cacapon Mountain utilized by horseback riders, the original Giddy-Up trail is one of the original mountain bike trails at Cacapon Resort State Park. Reimagined in the winter of 2024 by Greenstone Trailcraft, The Frederick, Maryland based trail builder well known for building flowy jump trails, this one doesn’t disappoint. If Thunderstruck is the head banger’s ball, Giddy-Up brings surf rock vibes… dirt surfin’ if you will. Split into three sections, Giddy-Up is an intermediate “blue trail”, beginning at the peak of Cacapon Mountain along the fire road, meandering down the mountain with a variety of jumps and berms that sometimes resemble the ocean waves barreling into itself. Giddy-Up is inviting to the intermediate and advanced riders with its flowy singletrack.
Middle Giddy-Up is a more technical section of trail beginning with a rocky outcropping entrance leading to more flowy berms and jumps. Lower Giddy-Up offers a beginner level jump experience, maintaining the same flow with some rock features sprinkled in, ending at the Batt parking lot. Giddy-Up can be accessed from the Boy Scout climb trail, The Girl Scout climb trail and the lower Connector, giving options to your ride.
Party On! – Intermediate / Advanced (Blue)
With the upper section of the original Giddy-Up reimagined, a new trail emerged from the brush of its predecessor – Party On! Don. A high-speed shoot down a steep, loose section of mountain gets the trail started at an exciting pace. As the trail mellows, decisions need to be made as the trail splits into two options, Rocky Road or Loamy Love. Rocky Road for more technical rock gardens. Some are off-camber but all are rowdy! Loamy Love is a rake and ride trail that has only been cleared of leaves and sticks to reveal its path, no machines or shovels were harmed creating this path. The party doesn’t end there as the trails rejoin just before the Rattle Snake Drop, the tallest drop in the park. A six-foot wooden drop with a slight left hipped landing, named after our slithering friend who took up residence beneath the wooden structure. This trail ends on a high note back at the Batt Parking lot. Indeed, Party On Mr Loomis!
In 2024, West Virginia State Parks broke ground on a $3.5 million dollar expansion to the Cacapon Resort State Park mountain bike trails, the largest mountain bike project in WV history. Now moving into phase two of construction, Cacapon Resort State Park has become the premiere mountain bike trail system, just two hours from the Washington DC, Baltimore metro area.
