Snowshoe Mountain Resort kicked off its 1999 mountain biking season today by opening 125 miles of maintained trails.

The resort, located in West Virginia’s Pocahontas County, offers a wide variety of trails spread throughout 11,000 acres of mountain terrain.

“We have a mountain biker’s playground here, something for all types of riders,” said Bob Koontz, Director of Mountain Biking at Snowshoe. “Most of our riders come from large metro areas and can’t wait to get their bikes off the asphalt and get them dirty.”

Beginning mountain bikers will feel comfortable on gradual graded gravel roads and old railgrades, while experts will flock to steep technical singletrack. Within close proximity to the resort, even more biking opportunities are available. For example, the Greenbrier River Trail is a “Rails to Trails” conversion that offers a relaxed ride along the scenic Greenbrier River. If visitors tire of biking, they can find numerous other recreational activities, including rafting, golf, and fishing. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory, located close to the resort, offers educational tours, while the Cass Scenic Railroad offers trips up old logging railroads in a steam locomotive. The area’s high elevation keeps daytime temperatures pleasantly cool even in the height of summer.

The new three-mile Cheat Mountain Ridge trail, located at the southeast section of the resort, is an advanced beginner mountain biking trail that will offer great views from the summit. The resort is building a cabin on the trail for overnight adventure trips.

Two Mountain Biking centers are staffed at Snowshoe, located at the Silver Creek area and at the base of the resort. The centers offer guided tours, trail advice, bike rentals, sales, and service. Rigid, front suspension, full suspension, and tandem bike rentals are available. The resort also operates a shuttle service to transport bikers from the base of the mountain to the top.

Snowshoe will be offering discounted all-inclusive packages for mountain bikers including meals, trail pass, trail map, lodging, bike rental, and shuttle service. Details can be obtained by calling the resort at (304) 572-1000 or visiting the resort’s web site.