The Mon Forest Gravel & Bikepacking Route Network is Here!

The Mon Forest Towns Partnership (MFTP) announced the launch of the Mon Forest Gravel and Bikepacking Route Network, a comprehensive collection of more than 60 curated routes across eight counties in the Monongahela National Forest region. The network spans routes ranging from family-friendly day rides to intense multi-day bikepacking adventures, all accessible through the newly expanded monforesttowns.org and Ride With GPS.

Locally known simply as “the Mon,” the Monongahela National Forest covers nearly one million acres of rugged Appalachian terrain, including high spruce plateaus, deep river valleys, remote backcountry, and thousands of miles of forest roads. Within and around the forest, State Parks, Wildlife Management Areas, Wilderness Areas, and historic mountain towns unfold across a landscape uniquely suited for multi-day gravel riding and bikepacking.

The route network links these landscapes through a collection of routes that activate gravel roads across the Mon for visitors and local communities alike, with a core mission of deepening the connection between gateway towns and the surrounding public lands. Most routes pass through at least one of the twelve Mon Forest Towns, offering opportunities to resupply, grab a meal, or spend the night before heading back into the mountains. The most ambitious route in the collection, the Mon Circuit 600, links all twelve towns in a single continuous journey with more than 50,000 feet of climbing.

“The launch of the Mon Forest Towns Gravel and Bikepacking Route Network marks an exciting milestone for our region and our work,” shares Josh Nease, Executive Director, MFTP. “By weaving together existing forest roads and historic infrastructure, we have created a world-class recreation asset that physically and symbolically connects all 12 of our mountain towns to the Monongahela National Forest, and to one another. This network is more than just a trail system; it is an engine for economic development. It invites the global cycling community to experience our rugged beauty while providing our local communities with the platform to host premier races and events, contributing to new jobs and thriving main streets for generations to come.” 

The network at a glance:

• 66 routes ranging from 10 miles to 600 miles for a total of 4,800 miles of routes
• Gradual rail-trail grades to challenging routes full of steep Appalachian climbs
• 11 Signature Bikepacking Routes and many more overnighter opti…