hiking WV or GA

“Hello. I'm looking for expert advice. Thought I'd be able to find it here ;) My boyfriend, me and my 15 month old daughter are going camping for 5 days this Saturday. We are thinking about WV or GA but we're having trouble finding info about any really good day hikes. He is all about elevation. He likes steep climbs and altitude and amazing views. We are car camping since we'll have the baby and I don't want to end up in a park-like campground. I appreciate any advice you guys can throw at us. We're leaving from Champaign, IL, about 2 hours south of Chicago and we're up for driving ten or twelve hours.

Thanks for any help you can offer!
abunga”

“WV...or GA? Thats a bit of a wide range....”

“Can't speak for GA, but WV is great for dayhiking and moderate elevation and views.”

“North Ga, has some neat stuff....just check out the TRAIL page”

“http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/rec/rog_campgrounds/campground_alpha.htm

Bear Heaven:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/rec/rog_campgrounds/bearheaven_campground.htm
This one is on a pleasant wooded ridge 1.5 miles from Otter Creek Wilderness for dayhikes....deep woods, no spectacular views[well, I know of two overlooks in the wilderness area but you'll never get a 15 month old there........and back!!]...... and located 12 miles east of Elkins(BIG little town with grocery stores!).
There is an amazing rock city just west of the picnic area here with great scrambling and exploring and a lesser, but wondrous, grouping of rocks to explore about 200-300 yards east of site #5.

Spruce Knob Lake:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/rec/rog_campgrounds/spruce_knob_lake_campground.htm
Never been there but the description is nice.

Seneca Shadows:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/rec/rog_campgrounds/senecashadows_campground.htm
This is literally in the shadow of Seneca Rocks and about one mile from two country stores and diner food one and two miles away.
Check out the pictures of Seneca Rocks on the internet.

Red Creek:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/rec/rog_campgrounds/redcreek_campground.htm
If you don't mind driving twelve miles of gravel road--if its dry, this will be a very dusty drive--this is on the high plateau with great day hikes and grand vistas......top of the world stuff!
The eight sites are "first come...." unless you arrive in mid-week or Friday afternoon/evening you could strike out and be in for 24 miles of dusty forest service road.
last edited: 3/16/06 9:23:13 AM”

“West Virginia is also for lovers”

“A few places I would recomend.

Seneca state forest www.senecastateforest.com Several good trails right there, plus the greenbrier river rail trail and close to snowshoe which has several steep trails for hiking.

Blue Bend Recreational area. Has a nice campground and several trails but you might have to fight the trout fishermen for a spot.

Tea creek might be another good one. Never been myself but on my list of places to go this year.

Stonewall Jackson lake is one of my favorite car camping spots. I recomend the Brokenwheel campground on where to stay. Its a much cheaper and much nicer campground than the state park. The trails in the area are more gas lines and access roads than anything but nice and alot of up and down.”

“You could find it all along the Blue Ridge Parkway, except it may still be on a seasonal close. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park may be what you need. I'm headed to the Cataloochee Valley there, and then north for the TT Trip to Hocking Hills State Forest in Ohio the following weekend.

Have fun from an ex-Urbana lad.”

“Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area...has what you're looking for and closer than GA. Great car camping spots on the western side of Spruce Mtn. along the Gandy creek
last edited: 3/16/06 10:14:12 PM”

“I read a ton of things on here and we decided to go to Pisgah in NC. Still figuring out exactly where but it looks like it does have everything we're looking for. Good call, NowSlimmer. I spent a summer as a river guide on the Nantahala but was obsessed with water and barely did any hiking, so if you guys have more tips for us, I'd love it! Thanks for being so helpful!

abunga”

“I thought MySpace was for lovers?”