Lots of different versions of maps out there for the Coopers Rock State Forest.
Right now, this is the one I like best. Not all the trails are named, but we still know what they are.
Thank you Steve Harouff.
Coopers Rock State Forest Official Road & Trail Map
Got this from the WV Forestery site pertaining to Coopers Rock-
More Coopers Rock Info
Also please keep in mind-
We simply cannot pre-mark the course. It gets torn down and then all is for naught. We mark it Saturday afternoon and we still have to review parts of it and make things right. Unfortunately it's just the way it is and has been. Thank you for your patience and consideration.
I'm gonna give you the beginners course and then tell you what extra trails the Sportos and Experts are gonna be doing. You can try and figure out how they come together or you can just get familiar w/ the trails and ride on.
Okay here's the Coops Beginner/1st loop as it stands today-
Coops Beginner Loop
This will be like a game. And you get to play along!
New start/finish.
Go up out of the race venue and take the left into the top of the picnic area loop, head on back there and then shoot up between the 2 rocks and hit Favorite Trail.
Take Favorite to the top of The Wall, bear left and up and down until you hit Rhododendron and turn right. Head down until you get to the first left which is the Switchback Trail, take that left. Top of Switchback follow the signs to the left back to Picnic Area.
At Rock City go past entrance and bear right into the Rocks...
Pop out the other side and head down Ridge Trail, down, down, down. At bottom bear right on the Upper Mont Chateau Trail and head toward the Henry Clay Furnace, the race's namesake.
Go around the furnace and up the Clay Furnace Rd just a little, soon enough take the right onto the Rail Grade/Advanced Ski Trail. Up, up, up.
But not all the way! 3/4 the way up turn right onto the Intermediate Ski Trail, down again, then up.
At the end of it turn right and up. Up up towards the Reservoir. At the Rock Cairn bear left and take that trail to and across the reservoir and then up to the left.
Right before you hit Roadside Trail take the right down the access rd, down down down till it turns to Libor Trail. Down down down Libor and go straight (to The Wall) at the sharp bend where you have the option of going hard right.
Going straight leads you to The Wall to the left. Go up The Wall and at the top you'll be back on Favorite Trail, turn right and you're doing the same thing you did at the beginning.
Favorite, right on Rhododendron, left onto Switchback, left towards Picnic Area and back to Rock City.
This time at Rock City beginners will now turn left and take the Rock City Trail back to the registration/Shelter #3.
Finish strong, be proud of your accomplishment!
Okay you Sportos and Expert hounds...
You're gonna do all that too, but you're gonna head back into Rock City a 2nd time and head down Ridge Trail again.
Now the fun begins!
Other trails that you will hit-
Sportos/Experts will get on (in alphabetic order)-
Clay Run Rd
Clay Run Trail
Lower Mont Chateau Trail
the Powerline section
the other Reservoir Trail
Experts will also get to do-
different part of Intermediate Ski Trail
maybe a little bit of Roadside Trail
Scott Run, if I can get enough help...
Nothing is for certain and everything is subject to change, your mileage may vary, buy low sell high, always wear your helmet.
Good/easy-access vantage/watching points-
Start of Favorite Trail at beginning of race.
Where Favorite Trail meets Rhododendron.
Where Rhododendron turns to Switchback.
Top of Swtichback Trail.
All that trail back to Rock City.
All along and in Rock City and down Ridge Trail a bit!
Coming out of Scott Run Trail and McCollum Campground Rd.
Where the Reservoir Trail pops out to the reservoir.
Thanks for checking it out.