Ride Overview
This is an absolute classic Davis, West Virginia ride. Don’t let the relatively short distance fool you — these ten miles are demanding and will test both your fitness and technical skills. While the beginning and ending sections are fairly benign, the middle of the ride tells a very different story.
The climb up Moon Rocks followed by the rugged descent along Hoo Doo Rocks delivers relentless rock gardens, awkward lines, and little opportunity for recovery. It’s a perfect introduction to the character of riding in the Davis area. Once you’ve completed this loop, you’ll have a good sense of what to expect from other nearby classics like the Plantation Trail or the Dobbin House Loop.
For riders looking to push things further, the trails across the river — including Hellbender and Splash Dam — can be added to create a much longer and more punishing day.
Reaching the top of Moon Rocks is highly rewarding, but the rocky terrain throughout the loop demands solid technical skills and focus.
Ride Details at a Glance
Location: Davis, WV
Length: ~9.8 miles
Ride Time: 1.5–3.5 hours, depending on ability and conditions
Ride Type: Mountain Bike
Difficulty: Level 4/Advanced
Ride Notes: The Moon Rocks and Hoo Doo Rocks trails are part of the Heart of the Highlands Trail System and are located within the Little Canaan Wildlife Management Area. The trails are known for their distinctive rock formations, sustained technical difficulty, and scenic views. Hoo Doo Rocks in particular features striking hoodoo formations — tall, thin rock spires shaped by natural erosion — that make this ride visually unique as well as physically demanding.
This loop is not currently included in any of my books and comes from a recent visit to the Davis area where I sampled multiple trail systems. Beyond this classic ride, Davis offers a wide range of additional options including Hellbender, Splash Dam, the Dobbin House Trail, the Plantation Trail, and many others.
This classic loop can be extended by incorporating additional Davis-area trails such as Hellbender and Splash Dam. Ongoing stewardship and volunteer-driven trail work continue to maintain access and support long-term trail sustainability throughout the area.
Point-of-view mountain biking along the rocky Hoo Doo Rocks trail near Davis, West Virginia.
Route Maps
The interactive route maps below show the loops described above and allow riders to explore the route in more detail.