There are too many excellent well maintained trails in the mountains of West Virginia for me to talk about all of them, so let me begin with those that are closer to my home. These would be the trails in Greenbrier State Forrest. I will list them from the easiest to the most difficult.

Called Johnny Yank because of its rough blue and gray color, my old "78" Dodge truck carrues my grandson and me out to the more local of the trails.

The easiest trail is the Mae Dowdy Trail which was named after a lady who worked for the Forrest for years. This trail leaves the main road not far below the picnic area and wanders gently though a patch of woods to the Cabin area, from the cabin area, the trail crosses Harts Run on a bridge and travels the opposite bank of the creek back to near the spot where the trail began.

The next easiest trail would be the Old Fields Trail which leaves the mainroad though the park at an open area a short distance above the camping area. This trails follows some old logging roads until it joins with Young's Nature Trail on the mountainside above the picnic area.

Perhaps the most popular and the most historic trail in the Forrest is the Old Roads Trail. Beginning at a spot opposite the cabin area at a small parking area, Old Roads meanders up a hollow and then up and over a ridge before descending a long gentle slope down to the swimming pool area at the park office. This is a nature trail which has shrubs and trees listed by number in a trail guide. Copies of this guide are usually available at each end of the trail. This trail was built by the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) back duting the Depression years, and there are seveal structues along the trail, including a dynimite shed, that are reminders of that time. I once spoke with an old minister who, as a young man and a member of the CCCs, helped to build the road though the Forrest across Kates Mountain. Old Roads is perhaps two and one-half miles long.

photos by Okey L. King

My grandson Jonathan, my friend Alex, and I were walking the "Old Roads Trail."

The Black Bear Trails leaves the Old Roads Trail where the latter crosses a small creek. Black Bear climbs to the top of a narrow ridge, descends that ridge a short distance, and then slants down the side of a hill into a hollow. In the hollow, it crosses a small stream and begins a long descent to a point where it joins Youngs Nature Trail. This trail is slightly more demanding than the Old Roads. If you wish, you can walk Old Roads from the office end to the Black Bear and then follow the black the latter trail for a longer hike.

photos by Okey L. King

I found these ladyslippers on the Black Bear Trail in Greenbrier State Foreset a number of years ago.

The next to the most demanding trail in the Forrest is Young's Nature Trail. This trail leaves the main road not far below the picnic area and climbs to the top of Kates Mountain. This trail is fairly steep in places but provides a rewarding walk as it winds in and out of hollows and up steep ridges until it tops out on the road that traverses Kates Mountain. This trail is named for a family that once lived on the mountain and who used the trail to reach the outside world. Some distance south on the road from where the trails tops out, you will find the Young Family Cemetery.

If you walk north on the dirt road for several pleasant miles from the top of Young's Nature Trail, you will pass a beautiful overlook and find the most demanding trail in the Forrest. This is Rockey Ridge Trail and it is very steep. In fact, it is so steep that, the last time I walked it, I backed down several of the steeper stretches. After it descends a number of steep ridges, the trail meanders to a point where it joins the Old Roads Trail a short distance above the office. If you have walked Young's Nature Trail, walked down the road to Rockey Ridge, and down that trail, then you can say that you have had a good walk.

Before we leave the Greenbrier State Forrest, there is another good hike that I can point out to you although this is not a on a forrest trail. At the spot where the Mae Dowdy trail begins, a logging road enters the main road though the Forrest. This road belongs to the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company. Motor vehicles are not allowed on this road, but hikers are welcome. This logging road ascends Linn Lick and winds around the side of the mountain until it reaches the top of White Rock Ridge which is the mountain that borders Greenbrier State Forrest on the West. Once you are on top of the mountain, and have descended a short distance on the other side, you will have a vista of the Organ Cave Area spread out far below. It would be wise for you to retrace your steps, because the terrain on top of the mountain is so rugged that you might easily descend on the wrong side and find yourself miles from where you began your hike. I have known more than one individual who has done just that and two who almost did. Those two who almost did was yours truly and my deacon Woody Cox.

NOTE on Linn Lick: There a great number of places in West Virginia that have "Linn or Lynn" in their names such as Lynncamp and Linn Lick. At first glance, one might think that these places were named for someone by the name of Linn of Lynn. But, there are far too many places with "Linn" in their names for that to be logical. I found that Linn is Scots for "waterfall." That throws light on the mystery because it makes since to call a camp by a waterfall "Linncamp," or a small stream with a waterfall Linn Lick."

Hiking on Bridge Day

For several years now on Bridge Day, my deacon Woody Cox and I have visited the New River Bridge area and enjoyed some good walking. Our last excursion was on the Kaymore Trail to the old mining town that the trail is named for. The Park Service has build a stairway from the mine, near the rim, all the way down to the level of the river which is called Lower Kaymore. Kaymore Trail offers some beautiful vistas of the river and of the cliffs on the other side of the gorge. The trail also passes some interesting old abandoned coal mine entrances. In addition, the trail offers access to some good rock climbing.

photo by Okey L. King

Hanging Rock Hawk Observatory on Peters Mountain in Monroe County

This beautiful spot is just a few yards above the Allegheny Trail. In the top picture, you are looking north along the spine of Peters Mountain (Notice the owl.) In the bottom, you are looking south. In between these photos, there is the rebuilt observation post. The first was burnt by a few careless boys who were having a party here one night. This is a popular spot for the neighboring folks, and they gather here often. From the parking lot on the top of the mountain, it is an easy walk to what I believe is the best overlook in West Virginia. The Allegheny Trail travels south along the top of Peters Mountain until it joins the Appalachian Trail. From Hanging Rock, you can walk the Allegheny Trail, when it is completed, all the way to the Canaan Valley Area. t

BLUE BEND

Blue Bend is an excellent recretion area and has been around long enough to have that certain charm. If you visit or camp at Blue Bend, in August or July you may meet my friends Myna and Woody Wolfe from Dunbar, West Virginia who usually act as hosts for those months.

There are three maintained trails at Blue Bend: Blue Bend loop Trail, Anthony Creek Trail, and South Boundary Trail. Of these three, I have walked the Loop Trail and a section of the Anthony Creek Trail. There is also another rugged trail that runs from near Hopkins Mountain Fire Tower along the ridge to Gunpowder Ridge Overlook. This is the Peach Prchard Trail. I have also walked parts of this trail.

Quite a few years ago, our Sunday School had an outing at Blue bend and the entire group, both young and not so young, walked this five mile-long Blue Bend Loop Trail. The National Forrest Service has a litte trail guide that discribes the trails at Blue Bend, and we walked the trail in the opposite direction from which the guide directs you. After crossing the swinging bridge of Anthony Creek, we turned left and walked to the place where the trail begins to climb the mountain. After seven switchbacks, the trail reaches a vantage point which gives the hiker a magnificent view of the Little Creek Valley. On top of Round Mounain, the trail follows an old road that leads you to a descent back to Anthony Creek which is reached at the spot where Big Draft Creek enters the larger stream. From this point, the trail follows the Anthony Creek Trail back to the picnic area. As you walk upstream, you pass through a forrest of white pine, maple, basswood, beech, sycamore, poplar, ash, and hemlock. Along the hike, if you are observant and know you wild flowers, you will find rohdoendron, spicebush, mandrake, stonecrop, cohosh, wild geranium, ragwort and other treasures.

OTHER TRAILS DESCRIPIONS TO BE ADDED

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