We are proud to announce that West Virginia Governor Justice has awarded the Hardy County Commission, as sponsor for the Lost River Trails Coalition (LRTC), a 2024 Transportation Alternatives Recreational Trails Program Grant (RTP)! The $250,000 grant ($200,000 federal funds and $50,000 required match) will help fund construction of the second phase of the Jay Moglia Beginner & Intermediate Trail, the first purpose built, public mountain bike trail in Lost River State Park (LRSP) and in Hardy County, WV.
Since its 2019 inception, LRTC has made steady progress towards its goal of creating a universally designed and sustainably built mountain bike trail system in LRSP. These RTP grants allow LRTC to build upon the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Trail Accelerator Grant (TAG) awarded in 2022. As part of the TAG grant, IMBA Trail Solutions representatives spent a week at LRSP evaluating the park and producing the 2023 LRSP Concept Plan identifying potential mountain bike trails to be completed over multiple phases. The first phase includes the three-mile Jay Moglia Beginner & Intermediate Trail which is designed to meet the needs of adaptive mountain bikes and become the gateway for the future mountain bike trail system in the park. Construction for Phase 1 will begin in the near future. Phase 2 will add additional trails at various ability levels to continue the development of the trail system. The Lost River State Park trail system will be unique to the area and an outdoor recreation asset for the community and visitors alike.
The Coalition continues to work towards creating, maintaining, and supporting new and existing trails for use by its community and visitors in Hardy County. The work of the LRTC is accomplished by a motivated and growing group of volunteers. In the last year, over 2,000 hours have been clocked in by LRTC volunteers to organize trail workdays for the repair and maintenance of trails within LRSP (including additional efforts to repair trails following the March 2024 wildfires). In addition, volunteers have worked to support “The Cryptids”, Hardy County’s first National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA)/West Virginia Interscholastic Cycling League bike team founded by LRTC in 2023. Revenue is generated by LRTC events, the annual Lost River Trail Run in LRSP and LRTC’s annual Lost River Classic Gravel Race, and from its donors and sponsors to benefit the Hardy County youth mountain bike team and trail development and maintenance throughout Hardy County.
This grant was made possible through the support and partnership of the Lost River Trails Coalition, Lost River State Park, Visit Hardy (Hardy County Convention and Visitors Bureau), the Hardy County Commission, Jonathan D + Mark C. Lewis Foundation. International Mountain Bicycling Association, and the Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative. The programs of LRTC have also been funded in part by donations and grants from the community, the Hardy County Commission, Visit Hardy, Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area, and the Jonathan D + Mark C. Lewis Foundation.
To learn more about Lost River Trails Coalition, become a volunteer, or make a tax deductible donation, please visit- https://lostrivertrailscoalition.org/.
