Had the family, 10 yo, 14 yo, Mom and Dad. You will find yourself following large rock outcrops and peering through trees at roaring waterfalls. Swimming holes were available. Help defend and expand trails nationwide. Loved camping near the creek. There were many areas where the trail had been completely washed out. There was one part where we opted to walk through knee high vegetation to the right of the trail and discovered what Stinging Nettles were... oops. Join TrailLink (a non-profit) to view more than 30,000 miles of trail maps and more! We ran into some very dense mountain laurel and down trees. There is 1 campsite just before the final creek crossing as you start back up but nothing further until you get the the marked trail junction that heads back to the trailhead so if you are looking for a spot in that area grab it before heading across the creek... Also, water is sparse outside of the creek bottom so doing this loop counterclockwise allowed us to mitigate this by carrying in water at the start of the hike. There are no signs or blazes. The USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) publishes a set of the most commonly used topographic maps of the U.S. called US Topo that are separated into rectangular quadrants that are printed at 22.75"x29" or larger. Ready for some activity? We didn't complete the circuit. Hike was difficult. (1) Follow the Mylius Trail 1.5 miles northwest up the southern face of Shavers Mountain to a four-way junction. TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy, We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors, Condon Run Trailhead and Dry Fork Trailhead. It is crossed by 42 miles (68 km) of hiking trails. Crossed the bridge and started off. The next day we continued on Green Mtn Trail. This was a nice open trail for a ways, it winds along the creekside and crosses many times (5, if i remember correctly NOTE: The book we had said 4 crossings) The Ford crossings on the upper part of the trail were clearly marked with cairns, the water was swift and refreshing. Jul 20, 2019 near Parsons, WV. Standard black … Mylius trail to Otter Creek. The trails in Otter Creek range from just under a mile to 11.8 miles, and can be combined for up to 26 miles, giving you a … The trail is primarily used for hiking, trail running, and backpacking. Otter Creek Trail . Otter Creek Wilderness is part of the Monongahela National Forest located in Eastern West Virginia, near the cities of Elkins and Parsons. 9. Hope to do some overnight camping there soon. Had a picnic style lunch a couple of miles in. You then run into Otter Creek Trail. The Otter Creek Wilderness is West Virginia’s second largest wilderness, and it has 42 miles of established trails. I did part of the trail with my 7 year old. The Otter Creek Wilderness is a great alternative to the Dolly Sods Wilderness. This map spans the northwestern tier of Monongahela National Forest, Fernow Experimental Forest, Otter Creek Wilderness, Laurel Fork … Went about 3.5 miles up from swinging bridge. The area is known as Otter Creek Wilderness, within the Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area. Otter Creek Trail is covered by the Bowden, WV US Topo Map quadrant Beautiful area, little tough going at start from lower end. M iles G rnou t a TR131 11.8 Miles Otter Creek Trail We hiked up 1.5 miles and camped at the campsite (literally the campsite is where the trail splits, you can’t miss it), then did the rest the next day. It had thunderstormed over the weekend and was very muddy, but since we followed feeder streams much of the trail, it's likely muddy all summer. Your donation will help us to continue connecting more people to trails around the country. Started from the north trailhead on a beautiful Mother's Day. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow… Biking is prohibited on the trails, but horses are allowed in some areas. The acres ( sq. Anyone who is interested in visiting Otter Creek Wilderness can print the free topographic map and street map using the link above. From hiking a couple of miles to spending the night out for a 24 mile round trip trek, Otter Creek Trail is an absolute treasure. Photos taken by Jeff Lydic. The gate on McGowan Mountain Road/Forest Road 324 at the boundary with the Fernow Experimental Forest is closed between April 15 and August 15. Otter Creek Wilderness Monongahela National Forest Original data were compiled from multiple source data and may not meet the U.S. National Map Accuracy Standard of the Office of Management and Budget. But it is very Rugged and disappointing that there is not some trail maintenance. love this trail easy hike , beautiful views not super busy. The views at the creek are beautiful, we had lunch on the water, and the stream crossings were only up to knee deep if you found the best route. Become a member and wear your FREE T-Shirt with pride. Jul 20, 2019 near Parsons, WV. Went a few years ago. Lexie and Gracie having a good time in Otter Creek, WV. Trails in Otter Creek Wilderness - 4. Begin by crossing the Dry Fork River from the Otter Creek parking lot on an impressive swinging bridge. A modified loop of the original..Took my time doing some trail clearing..All trails are easy to follow..Green Mountain and Possession trails was pretty overgrown.. For some reason app. The trail follows the ridge of Allegheny Mountain through hardware forests and clearings, according to the National Park Service. To reach the Condon Run Trailhead, take Stuart Memorial Drive/FR 91 1.4 miles north of US 33/State Route 55; go right at the fork (FR 303). The rhodes are a bit overgrown on the upper elevations but they are still very passable, there was some mud but not too bad as it has been pretty dry this summer, the trail was easy to follow and there were very few downed trees that had to be navigated. Once a heavily logged area, Otter Creek Wilderness is a natural bowl formed by Shavers and McGowan mountains, with elevations ranging from 1,800 feet at the mouth of Otter Creek to 3,900 feet at the top of McGowan Mountain. Like all of the trails in the Otter Creek Wilderness, attention has been given to keeping this trail very primitive. You’re either in a rhododendron THICKet or in a bog, or climbing/descending rocks and streams, or a mix of all three! (2) Turn northeast (hiker’s right) onto the Shavers Mountain Trail and continue 2.7 miles along the ridge to a fork. Made for a great first backpacking trip! Overall, the hike was absolutely beautiful just a little overgrown in places but all in all not bad. Trailhead parking is 0.6 mile away. Great camp site with water source nearby. The calcite vein in Otter Maze. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. I have been here many times. There are seven trailheads, with the two more popular ones at the north and south of the Wilderness. The Otter Creek Wilderness is located in the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District of the Monongahela National Forest in Tucker and Randolph counties. We found the trails fairly easy to follow. Flattens out after half mile or so and gets easier. Jul 12, 2019 near Parsons, WV. It was a little muddy at the start, need good boots or waterproof shoes. We saw some bear scat but no bear, though the group we shared a campsite with had seen a bear. Nothing too difficult. There were many times when I wasn't sure if we were on the right trail. The Monongahela National Forest’s Otter Creek Wilderness has many trails, mostly for hiking through the scenic landscape of rhododendron, timber and mosses. It is crossed by 42 miles (68 km) of hiking trails. It is part of the James River/Otter Creek Recreation Area/George Washington National Forest. There is a spur trial around the 6th mile that you should take to avoid a few near washouts along the edge of the creek. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. I'd rate this trail moderate/difficult with really nice views along the creek but limited views at the higher elevations due to the thickness of the rhodes and trees. Great fly-fishing in otter creek , lots if native trout. Otter Creek Trail is a nice little out and back that meanders alongside its namesake creek. stopped tracking for a short time on beginning of morning #2 so mileage is a little off .. Hopefully get back and do some more trail work on remaining part of Green Mountain Trail.. Otter Creek Trail is a 15.2 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Harman, West Virginia and is rated as difficult. Please note that the entire trail is 11.8 mile one-way so in order to do the entire trail out-and-back, you're looking at 23.6 miles unless you have two cars. Did this hike earlier this week over the course of two days. Numerous day hikes and backpacking options exist. Otter Creek Trail is a 24.5 kilometer lightly trafficked loop trail located near Harman, West Virginia and is rated as difficult. There are areas on the North end of this trail where you have impassable rhododendrons to your right, a muddy, treacherously narrow dirt trail, with a dangerous drop-off to the left. Most of the streams flow north into Otter Creek. At the first campsite we made a right and began steadily climbing before making the descent down towards the creek. It’s the largest trail in the wilderness. As mentioned by a user, it starts out kind of rough after crossing the suspension bridge (This bridge is beautiful). The Otter Creek Trail, the most popular, follows an abandoned logging railroad grade along Otter Creek between Condon Run and the Dry Fork River. Location: 38.9495697021484, -79.6686172485352. Add Your Trails. From there you hit the intersection of Green Mountain Trail which continues to be overgrown with Rhododendrons which make following the trail a huge challenge. M ile sSh av rou nt T TR150 3.8 Miles Turkey Run Trail TR138 4.2 Miles Moore Run Trail 2 Trailhead Wil de rns Bou a y Roads Alpena Gap (Recreation Site ¹ without camping facility)! Veer L @ Y onto Otter Creek Trail, which follows an old logging railroad. As far as horseback? Length 15.2 miElevation gain 2693 ftRoute type Loop One of my favorite hikes. All in all we enjoyed it! The Otter Creek Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness area located in the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District of Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, USA. Runoff turns trail into impromptu streambed before it drains into Otter Creek You then turn left onto Mylius trail again, which is comprised of following mostly dried up and boggy areas until you head up in elevation again to the Intersection of Shaver Mountain trail and Mylius, where you continue down Mylius to the trailhead. It is real nice to see some of the old rail ties in a few areas. Many brook/stream crossings. We only saw other hikers on our return trip. Get a FREE Rail Trails Guidebook when you become a Member with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. The snake along the trail gave us a thrill. For additional information on this area contact the Cheat Ranger District, PO Box 368, Parsons, West Virginia 26287 at (304) 478-2000. Otter Creek Trail West Virginia. I do not recommend this trail to Novice Hikers and someone that does not have a topo map and or GPS in addition to Wilderness survival Skills because It is real possible to get into a very bad Situation out there if you are not prepared. The Otter Creek Wilderness lies in a bowl formed by Shavers Mountain and McGowan Mountain and is located within the Monongahela National Forest. Major hiking trails: designated hiking trails in the Otter Creek Wilderness, Laurel Fork North and South Wilderness, East Fork Trail and sections of the 300-mile Allegheny Trail. The southern half of the trail is not nearly so bad, but it can get quite wet. We camped just past the intersection of Green Mtn Trail and Possession trail. The Wilderness sits in a bowl-shaped valley formed by Otter Creek, between McGowan Mountain and Shavers Mountain in Tucker and Randolph Counties. Took it counterclockwise and that works out pretty good as it makes for a moderate climb out. mostly single track . Lexie and Gracie having a good time in Otter Creek, WV. AllTrails has 7 great hiking trails, forest trails, views trails and more, with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers, and nature lovers like you. We decided to go south and make a loop with Hedrick Camp and Shavers Mountain Trail. Had fun on the many stream crossings, some flowing pretty good. Also there were some downed trees to maneuver around and some small slopes up and down but quickly levels off. I will try to upload some photos from the trail at a later time. An 11-mile trail in the Otter Creek Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest. The rugged trail offers spectacular views and a moderate to challenging hike. Its size and relative remoteness give it one of West Virginia’s most robust black bear populations. The rugged trail offers spectacular views and a moderate to challenging hike. I would recommend bringing Machete to blaze some new trails. Otter Creek. Otter Creek Wilderness is in the Reserves category for Randolph County in the state of West Virginia. This is my first review, so forgive me if it's too much: The plotted trail includes 4 trails. ft.) lot listed for sale on 2/7/2002. Many campsites along the way. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on … Jul … Otter Creek Trail, West Virginia Otter Creek Trail is a trail located in Randolph County, WV at N38.99511° W79.63950° (NAD83) and at an elevation of 2624 ft MSL. Otter Lake Loop Trail (0.9 miles) Provides scenic views of Otter … There are a number of stream crossings along its path and, depending on the season, some are quite significant, with fast, rushing water. Native Brook Trout are found in Otter Creek … Saw chipmunks, birds, and other wildlife. Doug Mc and Lacoa looking at the entrance to Otter Maze. We get lost on the trail and have to survive by finding a natural spring gurgling out of the mountain. Jul 20, 2019 near Parsons, WV. Horseback riders are urged not to use the segment of the Otter Creek Trail between the Moore Run Trail and Green Mountain Trail; the trail is narrow through here and the drop-off steep. The Entrance to Otter Maze. 11.6 mi 18.7 km #1 Otter Creek Trail (TR 131) ... WV. Hey DavidWa We started out at the mylius trail and took that to otter creek trail. Some of the trails follow old logging and farm roads, some follow old railroa… With the exception of a very long, suspended footbridge over the Dry Fork tributary of the Cheat River toward the end of the trail, there are no bridges to aid your stream crossings. This trail was hard to follow due to the overgrown vegetation and lack of blazes. Otter Creek Wilderness is located on the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District of the Monongahela National Forest in Tucker and Randolph Counties, West Virginia. The Greenbrier River Trail ... A 12-mile hike in the Spruce Knob area of West Virginia. The trail is primarily used for hiking, trail running, and backpacking. I believe I will return next year! Hiked a couple more hours and turned back. The Otter Creek Trail, the most popular, follows an abandoned logging railroad grade along Otter Creek between Condon Run and the Dry Fork River. The longest trail is Otter Creek Trail which is 11 miles. We didn’t do full loop cut some of it off. We camped a little ways above the falls in an established campsite. Once the trail crosses Otter Creek with a mild ford (We went in August after a lot of rain the day or two prior) it becomes very overgrown with many logs to maneuver over/under. Otter Creek Wilderness has 45 miles of trails, many of which follow old … ; Bear Heaven Campground TR 130 4. You could start at the Otter Creek Trailhead and complete this loop if you wanted to eliminate one of the climbs and around 3.5 miles. Looking for a great trail in Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area, West Virginia? 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