Looking for some could car camping in We st Virgina

“Been a while since I`ve been on this site.Funny how life can dictate your time and you give up hobbies.Anyhow I have 4 days off coming up and am looking at going somewhere other than my province. I am considering West Virginia and am wondering if any one knows of a State Park that offers good car camping yet still secluded sites and hiking trails,photography oppurtunities and canoeing. If all that`s possible I like to hear about it thanks .........Shaun

by the way sorry for the screwy title ...hint #1 never argue with your wife while on the computer or your title could look like mine ......LOL
last edited: 5/02/09 6:52:14 PM”

“Hey Paddles! Good to see ya. Pretty much the whole state is great. It's the only state in the Union that is comprised completely of mountains. Here's the WV state park site. I've kar kamped down around the New River Gorge area. Lots of stuff to do. You can get hooked up with guides for horse back riding, rock climbing, mountain biking, rafting...they have it all down there.

http://www.wvstateparks.com/index.html”

“New River Gorge Site

http://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm
last edited: 5/02/09 7:42:00 PM”

“http://www.blackwaterfalls.com/
Blackwater Falls State Park is a location for exploration of the Highlands.
I'm not sure about canoeing but day hiking opportunities are fairly close.
Dolly Sods and Roaring Plains and Otter Creek Wilderness are within about 30 miles.
There are some good places to eat nearby.

http://www.purplefiddle.com/
The Purple Fiddle in Thomas has decent coffee and a multiplicity of beers and sandwiches and soups and somewhat eclectic fare.
They have live music at times.

http://www.brightmorninginn.com/
Bright Morning Inn is in Davis and has great pancakes and breakfast food. I have only eaten breakfast there.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/rec/rog_campgrounds/bearheaven_campground.htm
For a more primitive and secluded campground Bear Heaven is nice. Otter Creek Wilderness is two miles from Bear Heaven.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/sp/wilderness_areas.htm
The national forest wilderness area maps of Otter Creek Wilderness and Dolly Sods Wilderness are here.”

“Thanks all ... info is greatly appreciated.Looks like some great spots now to narrow it down and head out Wednesday night. Hopefully won`t have to much trouble at the border .”

“Just tell 'em...



"We don't need no stinking badges."”

“Nigal.........LOL

Hey I`m a little north of that border and they don`t like us Canucks.They give us a lot harder time........trust me !

Maybe it`s cause we have job skills and don`t need social assistance ??”

“Dolly Sods (tops out at about 4,100 feet) and Roaring Plains (at 4,770) are plateau on The Allegheny Front/Eastern Continental Divide.
That is the highest thing east of the Rockies and the weather "sits" on the plateau sometimes. There is lake-effect precipitation there and to the westward of The Divide/Front.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/rec/rog_campgrounds/redcreek_campground.htm
Red Creek Campgroud is usually full every weekend and is a long (12 miles) drive up from the nearest paved valley road.
Its a long and slow drive up to it only to find it full, but if you arrive mid-week chances are that the site will be deserted and it is a great base camp for some real nice day hikes.
Oh yeah, photography on the plateau is most excellent.

In clear weather one can see an ocean of mountains from some points of view.

Otter Creek Wilderness to the weather of The Front is the recipient of a lot of precipitation. The wilderness area encompasses the Otter Creek gorge from it's head waters to it's mouth and includes the entire drainage of the creek.
It is a deep woods experience with only a few overlooks that are not easy to find.
The rhododendron along the creek is impenetrable in places and can grow to over ten feet tall.
The Otter Creek Trail is an old rail trail with evidence of the timber taking of 100 years ago in some places.
Most of the wilderness area has only been cut once, ever, and nature has taken it back pretty nicely.”

“We give bigots a bunch of crap here, too.

Remember?”

“Tilt ....don`t let your knickers get knotted.
I`m not racist I could care less what colour your skin is or your nationality.If I lived in Mexico I`d want to leave to. Truth is though they do give Canadians a harder time at the border than in the south.

I don`t doubt the Mexicans willingess to work or their work ethics. We get a lot of Mexican seasonal labour up here and they work hard. However they don`t often have the educational requirements or job skills that get them past the minimal wage bracket and farm labouers don`t have to be paid minimal wages ....that puts them in need of social assistance and with up to a million Mexicans heading into the States every year that will put a strain on your already plunging economy.
last edited: 5/03/09 3:38:05 PM”

“Ban Nigal and Tilt!!
They would make a cute couple.

Enjoy West Virginia if you get the chance.”

“summit lake was pretty cool.. hiking trails are there too. this is close to cranberry glades which are on the scenic highway.

blackwater is ok..

canaan's better, imho.. but they are just a few miles apart. a couple of r2t trails in the area..

but i think the best camping in total solitude was at witoga.. they have some remote and primitive sites at Laurel Run.. you may have to ask. http://www.watoga.com/watoga.pdf
the greenbrier river trail is right there too. http://www.greenbrierrailtrailstatepark.com/GBRT_map_web.pdf
last edited: 5/03/09 6:53:15 PM”

“Paddles, take it from someone who grew up in WV, go to the Dolly Sods area, check out Seneca and Spruce Knob. In the Sods check out Red Creek and any of the higher areas for great views.”

“yeah, seneca rocks hike/view are spectacular. i do like spruce knob for its remoteness. there are nice camping opportunities near by.”

“Wel you`ve all certainly got my interest .......Thanks again . Cheers”

“I thought the trip to the Seneca area was one of the most beautiful areas I have ever been to. NGB and I were really hoping to get transferred to WV.”

“there is a lot of banjo music in them there hills. ;) :D :D”

“There should be some banjo and guitar music along with some beer-swillin' and eatin' at Bear Heaven June 5-6-7.

See Trips Page”

“Gotta love those ethnic slurs from pseudo-Christians on Sunday afternoon ----”