The East Coast of the United States is underrated as an overland travel destination as it is too often compared to the incredible opportunities for adventure out West. The East is home to the Appalachian Trail, and you do not need to be a long-distance hiker to explore this spectacular area, but local knowledge is key to finding the hidden gems.
Mountain State Overland is offering guided trips of West Virginia in 2022, and registration opened on Black Friday at midnight and typically books out within five to seven days. Only six trips are released each year. The 2022 trip will feature a three-part expedition, traveling from Southern to Northern West Virginia, a traverse of the state from east to west, and one new route for 2022.
Mountain State Expeditions is a licensed and insured business that falls under the banner of Mountain State Overland. Every year the company hosts a series of trips exploring West Virginia’s back roads with private and commercial guests.
The following are the key features of the guided tours:
- Two guide vehicles and no more than five guest vehicles. Groups are kept small to preserve the experience and manage impact on the land.
- All participants must acknowledge the Tread Lightly pledge.
- All skill sets are welcome, but trips are primarily centered on beginners and intermediate offroaders.
- To date, the company has guided 10 overland tours, which include some of the highest public forest roads in West Virginia.
- 120-mile days feature fee-based public and private campsites.
- Road surfaces, including unmarked paved secondary, gravel, dirt, mud, and exposed rock faces; terrain includes 4WD-only public trail roads, miles of gravel under heavy tree canopy, and breathtaking vistas on rocky and rough ridgeline roads.
- Paved to secondary surface ratio is 20 percent paved. Mostly connecting roads between alternate surfaces.
- Campsites are available at Laurel Fork Campground (public), NRocks Outdoor Adventures (private), and Blackwater Falls State Park (public).
- All adventures are self-supported (water and food), and trip fees include camping, a professional photoset, YouTube video, and welcome kit including equipment from partnering companies, and a GPX file of the route.
Visit the Mountain State Overland website to book www.mountainstateoverland.com
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