Hiking Pipestem in February

The photos on this page are by Okey L. King

.....Although Pipestem State Park is not a part of the New River National River, it is fairly nearby and is worth your while to add to your list of places to visit. You may even want to make the lodge or a cabin your base of operations.
.....For a number of years, I have walked Pipestem State Park during the month of February because that was the time that our Ministers' Retreat was scheduled. I always had Friday afternoons free, and I made good use of my free time by walking the Park's many trails. I am not sure, but I believe that I have walked all of them. Sometimes my wife would go along, but, mostly, I would be in the solitude of winter all by myself.

.....This is an early morning view of the fog rising in the canyon above Bluestone River seen from the balcony of the lodge outside of my room.

.....In this photo, the Canyon Rim Trail twists very steeply up to the rim near site of the gift shop. Behind me, the trail slopes gently down to Heritage Point where I looked out over the river and the restaruant which is at the bottom of the cable car ride down into the gorge. The old road leads one on a gentle walk back to the lodge. I came down this way, but struggled back up "Canyon Rim."

This rock cliff is Heritage Point, and it offers an exhilarating view. But, you need to watch your step.

.....I was able to take this deer's photo down by Long Branch Lake.This is just one of the many many deer in the park. You will probably stand a greater chance of seeing deer in the winter than you will in while hiking in the summer. Then there's another bonus to winter time walking. Thre are no "creepy crawlers" and no flying pests.