- First Name
- Mahek
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2025
- Threads
- 1
- Messages
- 7
- Reaction score
- 38
- Location
- Jersey City, NJ
- Vehicle(s)
- Maverick
- Engine
- 2.0L EcoBoost
- Thread starter
- #1
I just got back from a wild ride I wasn’t totally sure my Maverick would survive—and it ended up being one of the most intense and rewarding drives I’ve done.
I took my FWD Ford Maverick '24 through McKendree Road in West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park—a trail that’s often described as “4x4 recommended” or “not for the faint of heart.” I didn’t see any signs saying 4x4 was required, so I figured... how bad could it be?
Well, turns out... pretty bad. But also totally doable.
It had been raining for two days, and the day we went, it was lightly raining—just enough to keep everything muddy and the potholes completely filled. I started from Thurmond, thinking it would just be a chill backroad.
About 2 miles in: I'm already asking myself if this was a good idea.
By mile 5: I'm wondering if this road ever ends.
Then comes the landslide section.
There was one spot where the road had eroded away, leaving just a narrow pass between a washed-out edge and a steep drop. The road was so uneven that one of my front tires was literally in the air, and the other was just 3 inches from the edge. No lie—if it slipped, we were going down the gorge.
We got out and walked the line first, then slowly, very slowly, crept the Maverick through. No scraping. No damage. No traction loss—just smart throttle and nerves of steel.
After that point, there’s no turning back. The trail narrows and twists until it finally connects to Highway 41 near Prince. It felt like forever—but the Maverick handled it all. Mud, water-filled potholes, rocks, and some sketchy off-camber stuff. No lift. Stock tires. Stock ride height. Just the stock FWD hybrid Maverick and careful driving.
Takeaways:
Would I do it again? Honestly... probably. But I wouldn’t recommend it to just anyone without knowing what they’re getting into. That said, the Maverick earned a new level of respect from me that day.
Any other Mav owners here done McKendree? Would love to compare notes!
I took my FWD Ford Maverick '24 through McKendree Road in West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park—a trail that’s often described as “4x4 recommended” or “not for the faint of heart.” I didn’t see any signs saying 4x4 was required, so I figured... how bad could it be?
Well, turns out... pretty bad. But also totally doable.
It had been raining for two days, and the day we went, it was lightly raining—just enough to keep everything muddy and the potholes completely filled. I started from Thurmond, thinking it would just be a chill backroad.
About 2 miles in: I'm already asking myself if this was a good idea.
By mile 5: I'm wondering if this road ever ends.
Then comes the landslide section.
There was one spot where the road had eroded away, leaving just a narrow pass between a washed-out edge and a steep drop. The road was so uneven that one of my front tires was literally in the air, and the other was just 3 inches from the edge. No lie—if it slipped, we were going down the gorge.
We got out and walked the line first, then slowly, very slowly, crept the Maverick through. No scraping. No damage. No traction loss—just smart throttle and nerves of steel.
After that point, there’s no turning back. The trail narrows and twists until it finally connects to Highway 41 near Prince. It felt like forever—but the Maverick handled it all. Mud, water-filled potholes, rocks, and some sketchy off-camber stuff. No lift. Stock tires. Stock ride height. Just the stock FWD hybrid Maverick and careful driving.
Takeaways:
- The Ford Maverick FWD can absolutely do McKendree Road, but it’s not for beginners.
- Don’t try it in bad weather unless you know how to handle uneven, muddy terrain.
- Walk the sketchy sections first. That saved us.
- Once you pass the landslide, you're fully committed—there are no safe turnarounds.
- If you’re looking for adventure and know your limits, this road is a legit experience.
Would I do it again? Honestly... probably. But I wouldn’t recommend it to just anyone without knowing what they’re getting into. That said, the Maverick earned a new level of respect from me that day.
Any other Mav owners here done McKendree? Would love to compare notes!
Sponsored
