How much is a Hatfield-McCoy trail permit in 2026?

$65 for non-residents and $26.50 for West Virginia residents, tax included. Current or former U.S. military pay the resident rate. See the 2026 permit guide.

No. Permits are annual and run from purchase through December 31. See the permit guide.

Do passengers need a permit?

Yes. Every driver and every passenger needs their own permit. Read the permit and passenger rules.

Where does the permit go?

On your helmet, left side, below the goggle line. See the permit guide.

How long does an online permit take to arrive?

The Authority says 10 to 14 days and warns not to order online if you ride within two weeks. Buy at a trailhead or vendor instead; see the permit guide.

Can I pay cash for a permit at a trailhead?

No. Hatfield-McCoy trailhead facilities accept credit/debit cards only, with no cash accepted or available onsite. The policy also names the Hatfield-McCoy Welcome Center and Country Roads Visitor Center. See the Authority's card-only notice; check payment options directly with other permit retailers.

2026 permits & rules

Hatfield-McCoy trail permits and rules for 2026

Every driver and passenger needs a permit. One permit covers all 13 systems from the day you buy it through December 31. WV Riders doesn't sell permits; buy them from the Authority or an authorized vendor.

Permit	2026 price	Notes
Non-resident	$65.00	Up from $50, the first non-resident increase in about two decades
West Virginia resident	$26.50	WV driver's license or state ID required (age 16+)
Military	$26.50	Current or former U.S. military, any state; cardholder only

Prices include 6% WV sales tax. Annual permits only: there is no day pass, and lost or stolen permits aren't replaced.

Where to buy

Online at trailsheaven.com. Shipping takes 10 to 14 days, so don't order online if you ride within two weeks.
Staffed trailheads: Bearwallow, Buffalo Mountain, Cabwaylingo, Devil Anse, Ivy Branch, Pinnacle Creek, Pocahontas, Rockhouse/Braveheart and Warrior.
Welcome centers: the Hatfield-McCoy Trails Welcome Center in Julian, the Country Roads Byways Visitor Center in Logan, and the Coal River Group Welcome Center at 181 Pettigrew Lane, St. Albans, WV 25177, open 9am to 5pm.
Authorized vendors: more than 180. Hours vary and stock runs out, so call ahead.
Indian Ridge, Big Coal River and Tornado trailheads are not staffed. Buy before you go.

For Tornado, permits and restrooms are at the Coal River Group Welcome Center, about half a mile from the Smith Creek Road parking lot. See the Authority's Tornado page.

West Virginia Day: check the announcement's year

The Authority's live West Virginia Day announcement offered free resident riding on June 20, 2025 only, with a valid WV driver's license or ID. The special passes were available that day at the listed HMT trailheads and facilities, not local retailers; all trail rules still applied. This confirms the 2025 offer, not a 2026 or recurring exemption. Check the current year's Authority announcement before relying on free access.

Rules for every rider

DOT or Snell approved helmet and eye protection, for everyone.
Permit on the helmet, left side, below the goggle line.
Riders must meet the machine maker's age and size rules. No one under 6. Under 16 must stay within sight of a parent or guardian.
Trails are open half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. No night riding.
No alcohol, no glass, no littering, no camping, no fires.
Stay on marked trails, and obey signs, gates and barriers. Watch for oncoming traffic, including coal trucks on some routes.
Muffler and USFS-approved spark arrester required.
No speed, endurance or hill-climb competitions without a special use permit.

UTV rules

Seat belts at all times, with passengers limited to factory seat belts. Keep everyone's limbs inside, and no booster or car seats. Carry the owner's manual. The machine needs a steering wheel and low-pressure tires. UTVs may use Easiest, More Difficult and signed Most Difficult trails.

Full-size ORVs (Jeeps)

Allowed on Bearwallow, Big Coal River, Cabwaylingo and Ivy Branch. The extra rules:

DOT or Snell helmets and eye protection for everyone, inside a Jeep too.
The driver needs a valid driver's license. Everyone wears a seat belt, and passengers are limited to factory seat belts.
No car seats or booster seats. ORV passengers have age and height minimums, and the Authority's sources disagree on the height (its rules page says 4 feet, its 2025 brochure says 4 feet 9 inches). Confirm with the Authority before bringing kids.
Rollover protection (roll cage) is required on Most Difficult (black) and Most Difficult Double (red/black) trails.

Riding in town

ATV-friendly towns let you ride approved streets from daylight to dark (Gilbert until 11pm), per WV Tourism. Town connector routes are not permission to ride any road. Outside routes a statute or local ordinance allows, state rules bar ATVs and UTVs from roads with a center line or more than two lanes, except to cross: stop fully, cross at about a right angle, yield to traffic, and use your lights if the machine has them.

Checked against the Authority's published pages on October 31, 2026. Sources: 2026 fee announcement · how to get a permit · trail rules · card-only policy · Tornado facilities · West Virginia Day 2025 announcement · 2025 brochure (PDF) · WV CSR 204-1-3 · WV Code 17F-1-1

First ride and family guide →

Buying for a crew? Use the group-trip guide to track each rider's permit. Find more answers in the rider FAQ.