04/18/2026
Ribbon Cut & Wheels Down at Bear Ridge!
Last Saturday, we proudly celebrated the official ribbon cutting and inaugural ride of the new Bear Ridge Trail Area at Rocky Gap State Park! This milestone marks an exciting step forward in expanding adaptive outdoor recreation opportunities in Allegany County.
A huge thank you to Mandela Echefu, CEO of Wheelzup, for leading today’s inaugural ride and for his continued advocacy for inclusive trails. We’re also incredibly grateful to our local riding community, whose passion and persistence helped bring more trail opportunities to Rocky Gap.
This project wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of Dan Hudson, Maryland Park Service (MPS) Trail Manager, and Cliff Puffenberger, Park Manager at Rocky Gap State Park. Their work in securing the grant and guiding this project from concept to completion brought us to this day!
We also want to recognize the Office of Outdoor Recreation (OOR) for their partnership and vision. Because of their support, this is just the beginning - plans for an additional 9 miles of trail are already underway!
And more good news: we’ve officially received the notice to proceed for a new vault toilet at the trailhead, continuing to build out the infrastructure that makes these spaces welcoming and accessible for all.
Days like today are a reminder of what’s possible when community, partners, and public lands come together.
Pictured: Sandi Olek (Director, OOR), Isabel Layton (OOR), Sarah Milbourne (MPS, Western Regional Manager), Cliff Puffenberger (MPS, Rocky Gap State Park Manager), Mandela Echefu (Wheelzup CEO), Dan Hudson (MPS Trail Manager), and local riders Nikki Reuschel, Garrett Otto, and Greg Kerr.
