I Thought I Knew West Virginia. Then I Rode the Hatfield-McCoy Trails.

What started as a birthday celebration became a reminder that some of West Virginia’s most unforgettable adventures are right here at home.

When people think about the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System, they often picture out-of-state visitors, ATV enthusiasts, and adrenaline-filled adventures through the mountains of Southern West Virginia.

What they may not picture is a group of Black West Virginians celebrating a family birthday.

That’s exactly what brought my family to Logan County this spring.

About 10 of us traveled from the Charleston area to celebrate my cousin Terri’s birthday with a day on the trails. Before heading out, we checked in at BAC Country ATV Rentals in Lyburn, where owner Amber White helped our group get organized and ready for the ride.

“We want visitors to leave with great memories and a reason to come back,” White said.

By the end of the day, it was hard to argue with that goal.

What started as a few hours on the trails turned into an eight-hour adventure. We began riding around 10 a.m. and didn’t return until nearly 6 p.m. Several people in our group had never experienced the Hatfield-McCoy Trails before, so we chose one of the easier routes on the Rockhouse Trail System near Man, WV.

Looking around our group before we left, I realized something I hadn’t seen much in marketing materials for the trails: Black West Virginians exploring one of the state’s biggest tourism attractions. Our trip wasn’t organized to make a statement. It was a birthday celebration. But it was also a reminder that Black families are part of West Virginia’s outdoor recreation story too.

The ride took us through wooded mountain landscapes, across rugged terrain, and to scenic overlooks high above the mountains. One of the most memorable stops came at an overlook where ridge after ridge stretched into the distance. After hours on the trails, the view was peaceful, quiet, and worth every mile of the ride.

Another favorite stop was a waterfall tucked along the trail. Surrounded by spring greenery and the sound of rushing water, it quickly became one of the most photographed spots of the day. In fact, nearly every stop turned into a mini photo shoot as family members posed for pictures and tried to capture the scenery around them.

Of course, the scenery was only part of the experience. The birthday trip brought together cousins, friends, and loved ones who don’t always get the chance to spend an entire day together. There was plenty of laughter, storytelling, and friendly competition about who was the best driver. By the third stop, nobody was worried about getting dusty anymore. We were simply enjoying the ride.

For many people, the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System represents visitors traveling into West Virginia from somewhere else. For us, it was an opportunity to experience a part of our own state that several members of the group had never seen before.

We weren’t tourists from somewhere else. We were West Virginians discovering West Virginia.

That may have been the biggest surprise of the day. Like many families, we had traveled to destinations outside West Virginia over the years, yet several of us had never visited one of the state’s most recognized tourism attractions. After spending eight hours on the trails, stopping at mountain overlooks, and discovering a waterfall hidden in the hills, it was easy to understand why people travel from across the country to experience Southern West Virginia.

By the time we loaded up and headed back to Charleston, we were tired, dusty, and already talking about our next trip.

For our family, the trip started as a birthday celebration. It ended as a reminder that some of West Virginia’s most memorable adventures are closer to home than we realize.