Photo Courtesy of Brad Deel

Mountain bikers have a new riding opportunity in Southwest Virginia. Hungry Mother State Park has opened 3 miles of its new Raider’s Run Mountain Bike Trail System. The remaining 2 miles are under construction and scheduled to open in the spring of 2025.

The park re-purposed Raider’s Run and Old Shawnee trails for the project. The two trails were used for guided horseback riding tours for several years before becoming hike- and bike-only trails in the 1990s.

The existing trails’ downhill grade and gradual, sweeping curves made them ideal for mountain biking, so crews have been focusing their attention on smoother berms (banked turns) to enhance flow and creating new downhill routes and an easy-to-moderate climb to the top of the ridge. They’ve also reconstructed the trails using water control features and other engineering techniques to make them sustainable over time.

Crews working on a trail for the Raider's Run Mountain Bike Trail System

What makes the Raider’s Run Mountain Bike Trail System different from the roughly 15 miles of other mountain bike-friendly trails at the park is its technical features, such as jumps and rock gardens. The one-way trail system has one climbing trail, roughly 0.75 miles, that takes riders to the top of the ridge and will have five downhill trails that diverge, offering multiple options in difficulty, skill rating and length.

A trail under construction at the Raider's Run Mountain Bike Trail System

“We are excited to add the Raider’s Run Mountain Bike Trail System to our diverse list of recreational opportunities,” said Park Manager Kevin McDonald. “We hope mountain bikers of all skill levels will enjoy this fun, challenging way to explore Hungry Mother State Park.”

The Raider's Run Mountain Bike Trail System offers a variety of trails

Construction of the Raider’s Run Mountain Bike Trail System is being led by the Virginia State Parks district resource team. Progress would not be possible without the support of volunteers, including the American Hiking Society and Alternative Spring Break groups.

Did you know Virginia State Parks offer more than 55 miles of biking and mountain biking trails, about 138 miles of hiking and biking trails, and around 256 miles of multiuse trails for bikers, hikers and horseback riders? Click here to learn more.