Access From the Airport: Appalachian Outlaw Trails and the Biggest Off-Road Build in West Virginia

It started with a simple problem: the trails Eric and Chris had ridden for twenty years were getting shut down. Landowners pulling access, piece by piece. So in 2021 they decided to stop waiting for someone else to solve it. They went out and leased 100,000 acres in the eastern end of Canal County. The number still stops people mid-conversation. Phase 1 alone — opening May 23rd, 2026 — covers 25,000 acres with 300 miles of UTV trails at launch, single-track for dirt bikes, mountain biking, horseback riding, 24 RV and tent sites expanding to 150, and a full events calendar from Fourth of July celebrations to haunted trail rides. One mile off I-64. Its own traffic light.

What sets Appalachian Outlaw Trails apart even before it opens is the thinking behind it. They’re not just building a trail system — they’re building an anchor for the upper Canal Valley, one they expect will pull in lodging, restaurants, and local businesses in its wake. The partnership with Breeze Airways and Yeager Airport makes the point most clearly: fly into Charleston, step outside, get into a waiting rental UTV, have your luggage taken up ahead, and ride to the trailhead. Barbie, who has been providing business development support through Advantage Valley, calls it the first true experiential tourism in the state of West Virginia. It’s also a preview of what West Virginia’s outdoor economy is starting to look like.

Learn more about: Appalachian Outlaw Trails / Advantage Valley / West Virginia International Yeager Airport / Breeze Airways