CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WV News) — With enforcement of the Harrison County rail trail vehicle ban, which was implemented in March, set to begin soon, county officials are considering the potential benefits of establishing a trail specifically for ATVs.
Although such a trail is still only a thought experiment at this point, an off-road trail in the northern part of the state could serve to bolster tourism and give locals another outdoor recreation outlet, officials said.
“I think at some point multiple counties need to get together and look to do what they’ve done down south to try to provide that outlet, whether it’s in Harrison or in another county. We have to get past the individualism,” said Harrison County Commissioner David Hinkle.
Commission President Susan Thomas agreed with Hinkle and said she is not opposed to working with officials in other counties to get such a project underway. However, she said it’s important the county finish its other projects before starting another.
“I’d like to see some kind of trails where they can ride their ATVs — motocross, side-by-sides and four-wheelers. Someday,” Thomas said.
For years, the Harrison County rail trail system has been enjoyed by recreational hikers, bikers, horseback riders and off-road vehicle enthusiasts. But county ordinances have banned recreational use of motor vehicles on the trail, giving riders no public land to engage with their hobby.
Years ago, a swath of land between Mount Clare and Lost Creek was used as a destination for ATV and motorcycle races and was frequented by riders, Thomas said. However, that land is now overgrown and unused.
“I really don’t know how big of a piece of property it would take to do it. But even if we had something of a smaller scale, maybe they wouldn’t be on the (rail) trail,” Thomas said.
In addition to rail trails, rights of way for power lines and gas lines have long been a destination for off-road vehicles in the area. However, these are not officially designated spaces for that use, Hinkle said.
Harrison Sheriff Robert Matheny said he’s in favor of a designated ATV trail.
“I think it’s an excellent idea. I think that would be great for our community. I’m an ATV user myself, and I think that would be wonderful,” he said.
“Those things take resources. They take time. But I think that’s a great opportunity for the county as a whole, and I look forward to any discussions in the future,” he said.\\
Although there seems to be support, the first thing on the agenda is getting the current rail trail system under control and ensuring full compliance with the law, officials said.
The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office recently rehired Lt. R.A. Titchenal — who had retired — specifically to enforce the rules of the rail trail system, Matheny said.
Titchenal’s official start date was Oct. 10, but he is still being onboarded and has yet to begin patrolling the trail. However, enforcement is anticipated to start soon.
“He will work the trail system with the commission and other deputies to make sure the trails are safe, look at different problems and meet with residents, property owners around the trail and trail users to see how we can maximize safety and security,” Matheny said.
“We want to try to alleviate any illegal trespassing on the trail systems and explore the county ordinance a little deeper, as far as encampments along and on the trail system go,” he said.
The Sheriff’s Office has a four-wheeler it uses for off-road enforcement.
The Sheriff’s Office and County Commission also have submitted an application for funding through the state Department of Homeland Security to purchase a side-by-side as a more practical off-road vehicle.
The application for that funding was submitted only recently, and Matheny said he does not expect to hear anything on it soon.
Additionally, Matheny said he is working with trail users to come up with a system of volunteers, called Trail Ambassadors, who would be trained to help with directions on the trail, be able to cite the rules and regulations of the trail, provide first aid and embody the principles of “see-something, say-something” to assist officers.
“It’s a huge investment for the community and the citizens, so we want to make it the absolute best experience for the trail users as possible. And we think that this is a good start,” Matheny said.
With that being said, Hinkle voiced his concerns about the 20-mile-per-hour speed limit restriction currently in place on the rail trail.
“A young person on a mountain bike can get going pretty fast — whether it’s electric, gas (or manual.) You just hope people use courtesy and common sense, since they’re on a trail that’s used by everyone, not just set up for bikes,” he said.
But officials agreed that the enforcement of regulations will be necessary before any work might be done on a trail specifically for ATVs.
“There’s a safety concern mixing foot traffic and ATVs. It’s a completely different activity,” Matheny said.
“The rail trail is not the place for (ATVs),” Thomas said.