McDowell County: Road Route, Off-Roading, and Mining History

Explore McDowell County on a scenic road route, off-road trails, and at sites connected to mining history. The half-day Head of the Dragon tour showcases mountain views and the county’s small towns. It is 89.6 miles long and follows Routes 52, 161, 16, 83, and 80. This provides a clearly defined drive alongside opportunities that can accommodate more time on the trails.

Head of the Dragon and Indian Ridge

Head of the Dragon passes connections to the Indian Ridge Trail System in Ashland, Northfork, and Keystone. Indian Ridge connects to the three Hatfield-McCoy trail systems—Pinnacle Creek, Warrior, and Pocahontas—and makes longer off-road trips possible. The trails there have varying levels of difficulty. Those choosing this option will find a parking area of more than two acres and on-site restrooms at the Indian Ridge trailhead. Permits and supplies for Indian Ridge can be purchased at Ashland Resort.

The road route and off-road trails offer different ways to experience the landscape: Head of the Dragon is described as a half-day tour, while the connected trail systems allow for longer trips. You can plan your day around whether you want to focus on driving the named roads or spend more time in the trail system.

Forest Trails and Seasonal Nature

Panther State Forest lies near Iaeger in McDowell County and is West Virginia’s southernmost state forest. Hikers will find miles of interconnected trails and roads there; all gated roads are also open to foot traffic. In spring, a four-mile stretch of Panther Creek is stocked with trout. This seasonal feature can be considered separately when planning a forest hike.

The natural landscape of Panther State Forest includes wildflowers such as mayapple, fire pink, touch-me-nots, jack-in-the-pulpit, bishop’s cap, and bloodroot. The forest offers both longer hiking opportunities and a specific season for trout stocking. If you would like to include both in your trip, you can consider the spring season as a separate planning point.

Memorials and Mining History

The Kimball World War I Memorial was designed by Hassell T. Hicks in the Classical Greek style and dedicated on February 11, 1928. It was the first monument built in the United States to honor African American veterans of World War I and is now the only surviving monument of its kind. Deterioration, abandonment, and a fire in 1991 left the memorial in ruins; only the outer shell remained.

Mining events are also part of the county’s history. A total of 91 miners died in the explosion at the Pond Creek Number 1 mine in Bartley on January 10, 1940. A memorial erected by the United Mine Workers of America commemorates the miners who died in the disaster. The McDowell County Coal Miner’s Memorial is another monument honoring generations of miners. Miners’ names are engraved on granite slabs surrounding and lying beneath the McDowell County Coal Miner’s Memorial; visitors can walk among the slabs and read the names.

Another memorial commemorates an event from World War II: on July 1, 1942, a troop transport plane crashed near the community of Premier. All 21 U.S. Army Air Corps personnel aboard were killed; a memorial was erected near the crash site in their honor. In Coalwood, the book “Rocket Boys” recalls the decline of coal mining in the town. These different memorial sites and cultural references give the trip a historical dimension that extends beyond individual buildings.

More Sites and Visitor Information

The Welch Commercial Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The Merci Boxcar of Welch is a French railway car given in gratitude for aid provided by the United States. In Ashland, an interpretive stop on the National Coal Heritage Trail features information panels about mining and miners’ living conditions. Each site has a different focus: architecture, a gift with an international backstory, or the interpretation of working and living history.

Built by the Ashland Coal Company in 1907, the Ashland Company Store serves as a well-stocked shop and outfitter, particularly for visitors to Ashland Resort and users of the nearby Indian Ridge trailhead. The Coal Camp Café serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Since services can change, it’s best to check what’s currently available for your planned visit.

Choose where to go next based on the sites you’d like to include in your own daily itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Bradshaw, Barbour County, Monongalia, Grant County, Nicholas County, Cabell County, Lincoln County, Kanawha.

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