Foliage @ Canaan Valley for Columbus Day Weekend
October 5, 2004
I have a friend coming in from out of town and I'm thinking about taking him up to Canaan Valley for mountain biking and hiking. Does anyone know what the foliage situation is right now? I suspect it is past peak.
Would I be better off taking him cycling somwhere lower in elevation: i.e. the Elkins Parsons or the West Fork trails.
Johnfmh: I don't know what the leaves are like now, but I was there the weekend before last and it was pretty close to peak then. At the time I thought they would peak in the next 3-4 days. My suspicion is that they are a few days past peak. Lower elevations may be nearer peak.
As for biking, consider the Blackwater Canyon "Rail" Trail from Thomas to Hendricks. If you have never been on it, this is a beautiful trail and drops over 1000' on its way to Hendricks. It is generally pretty smooth singletrack most of the way. It has a very remote feel, and passes a couple decent waterfalls. It than hooks up the Allegheny Highlands Trail (paved) through to Parsons. To Parsons and back is a decent 25+ mile ride. Good to get a ride in before they turn the trail into a logging access road.
Quote:
As for biking, consider the Blackwater Canyon "Rail" Trail from Thomas to Hendricks. If you have never been on it, this is a beautiful trail and drops over 1000' on its way to Hendricks. It is generally pretty smooth singletrack most of the way. It has a very remote feel, and passes a couple decent waterfalls. It than hooks up the Allegheny Highlands Trail (paved) through to Parsons. To Parsons and back is a decent 25+ mile ride. Good to get a ride in before they turn the trail into a logging access road.
That's a good suggestion. I was planning on doing the entire length of the Canaan Loop Rd--ending up in Davis and then climbing up to Canaan Heights on 32 to pick up my vehicle, but I like your idea better. I've cycled the rail grade and love it--it will allow my friend to see foliage at different elevations.
I didn't realize it, but appearantly there is an old hiking trail that runs along North Mountain at the WV/VA border at 55 and follows North Mountain all the way down to around the Pendleton Co. area at their WV/VA border. If true I want to load up and bike it sometime.
