WHY NOW: The whole state of West Virginia is just plain dirt cheap, and September brings warm fall days, an end to summer humidity, and sugar maple and red spruce leaves getting ready to turn in the 5,000-foot Allegheny Mountains in the central Monongahela National Forest. All of this means perfect weather for mountain biking the 800-plus miles of mostly singletrack trails (some of the best riding in the East), fly-fishing trout-packed creeks and rivers, and hiking West Virginia's highest peaks.

PLAYGROUNDS: Slatyfork Trail System (304-799-4334); Showshoe Mountain Biking Center (304-572-6766); Greenbrier River Trail (304-799-4078); Cranberry Wilderness Area (304-653-4826).

SHELTER: The Elk River Farmhouse in Slatyfork (304-572-3771) has double-occupancy rooms for $50 a night, breakfast included. Slatyfork Farm's (304-572-2210) two-bedroom cabins cost $125 a night and accommodate up to ten people.

COORDINATES: Slatyfork is six hours by car from Washington, D.C., and three-and-a-half hours from Charleston, West Virginia.

FORECAST: Highs in the 70s, lows in the 40s.

BETA: For equipment, guides, maps, and trail advice, contact Slatyfork's Elk River Touring Center (304-572-3771; www.ertc.com).

A REAL DEAL: Elk River Touring Center's weekend singletrack clinic: $270 per person for two days of riding and instruction, meals, and two nights' lodging at Elk River Farmhouse.

READ UP: West Virginia, A Guide to Backcountry Travel and Adventure (Out There Press, 1997).

DON'T MISS: 4,500-foot Sharps Knob's 360-degree views.