West Virginia's Allegheny Highlands Bicycle Trail
The Allegheny Highlands Trail is a rail trail in West Virginia, running approximately 24 miles from the town of Hendricks, through Parsons, to Elkins. The Allegheny Highlands Trail roughly parallels US 219, intersecting with WV 72 in Elkins. If I mentioned I was on or parallel to WV 72 (I meant US 219). This was the trail I intended to ride on when I made my August Movie titled: Bicycling West Virginia's Allegheny Highlands and Black Water Canyon Trails- An unexpected adventure.
This adventure begins with the 3 hour drive from North of Pittsburgh to the starting point. I captured a few scenes from the West Virginia Welcome Center near Morgantown on Interstate 79 to set the stage. I had never noticed the glass Knick-Knack cupboards with the early Native American artifacts inside. The next scene is when I arrive at the same location where my August 2018 adventure began, just outside of Parsons. This time, I ride in the opposite direction, passing first into Parsons, before heading a few miles South to notice that the trail was closed. At first, I had hoped that a few miles of riding my bike along the road would link me back up with the trail. Unfortunately, I gave up, after riding up the first steep hill, with a little too much vehicular traffic a little too close. Instead I turned around. On the way back to my car, I noticed the Blackwater Cooperative Wildlife Management Area (WMA). I rode a brief ways up an even steeper hill than the road I was just on, and probably quite a bit steeper than the Blackwater Canyon Trail. About 1/4 mile up the road, I could see that although the area was nice, it was not what I wanted to do today, and did not suit travel by bicycle. I went back down to the road, got back on the trail where I got off, and passed the Kingsford Parson's plant. This is the well known charcoal company once famous for it's Matchlight commercials. I appologize for the unintentional video and photos of the plant, but the plant is on the trail, makes the trip more interesting, and adds more of a sense of place and history. After reading the signpost, I head back through Parsons, past signage for the Wilderness Areas nearby, before finally returning to my car. Although this video was made in Mid October 2018 (nearly 2 months after the previous video- mentioned above), the heat had only gone up. The summer ran well into fall this year, and fall arrived quickly at the very end of October. I decided to drive down the road, I had briefly ridden my bike on, toward Elkins, hoping to find the trail again. When I reached Montrose, WV I saw the familiar pavilion and parking area that I had come to expect from the Allegheny Highlands Trail (thumbnail for this video). I saw that I could ride my bike North, which I did, and a few miles later I reached another trail closure sign (the southern end of the same closure I had previously reached on the North). I turned around, and about an hour an 15 minutes later, was in Elkins at Sunset. The ride back from Elkins to Montrose was uneventful.
Post Script: I had intended to wild camp in the wilderness area to the South of Elkins, as I finished at about 8PM, however after driving for about 45 minutes in the direction that I thought would be a wilderness area, I continued to see evidence of civilization, with trailers, people around fires, structure/ houses, etc. The last thing I wanted to do was set my tent up on private property. I decided to turn around, and make the long drive North back home. On the way home, sadly, I hit a small deer. My vehicle was not damaged, and it appeared that the deer got away (hopefully it was alright). You never know when a deer might jump out at you in West Virginia, and PA.
Allegheny highlands Trail
Scenes from Bike Ride from Rockwood PA towards Frostburg, MD.
Created with MAGIX Video deluxe MX
Cycling the Allegheny Highlands Trail (AHT) - August, 2017
Ride from Elkins to Hendricks WV.
The Allegheny Highlands Trail (AHT) follows the original route of the West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway, built by Henry Gassaway Davis in 1884. For 24.2 miles this exceptionally scenic trail provides panoramic views of the West Virginia countryside, as it passes through a mountainous region with small towns and rural farmland.
Bicycling West Virginia's Allegheny Highlands and Blackwater Canyon Trails- An Unexpected Adventure
I decided to head down to West Virginia to ride my bicycle on the 24 mile long Allegheny Highlands Rail Trail. What I found was far better. First, I discovered the town of Parsons, then a Civilian Conservation Corps./ Federal Government Facility (just outside of Parsons)- where my bicycle adventure begins. I rode about 3 miles South to the town of Hendricks (which is actually where I was going to start). I got to a road, and read a sign about Blackwater Falls Canyon, and somehow thought it was actually the rail trail. Some rail trails in the state of West Virginia are quite rough, and I figured this was no exception. I began an ascent over a rocky ATV road to a fence, which appeared to contain a hiking trail, that had clearly been used by bicyclists/ mountain bikes, as evidenced by the bike tracks. I continued ascending nearly 1,300' vertical feet (400 metres) to THE FALLS, on the way noticing several other water falls, and bearing trees. These special trees contain plaques, and appear to have been used for surveying. About 2/3 of the way up, I noticed a young lady hiking (and hoped she would not be unhappy that I was riding a bicycle up what appeared to be a hiking trail). I asked if I was on the Allegheny Highlands Trail, and was told that I was on the Blackwater Canyon Trail. Blackwater Canyon, just sounds amazing, and I have heard of it (in Pittsburgh, PA- 3 hours North), so I asked how far it was to the top, and was told about 3 or 4 miles. I knew that I could do that, and still get down in plenty of time before dark (as the ride down would be fast). I arrived at THE FALLS in the early evening/ late afternoon, and rode a little past the falls. It was strange riding my bike through an area that was essentially wilderness (although not officially designated as such), only to see vehicles at the top, parked just above the falls, and a road. Clearly there is just as much civilization at the top of the mountains in West Virginia as in the valleys. I rode down in 1 hour, and in the town of Hendricks (stopped to talk to a local man). He told me all about the history of the place, and where the Allegheny Highlands Trail really goes. Don't you have a map? he said. The truth is that I had a huge West Virginia map book in my car, but forgot it. Either way, if I had looked at the map, I would not have discovered the Blackwater Falls Canyon Trail. Now I have a reason to visit this area again, and ride the Allegheny Highlands Trail to the other end in Elkins (which by the way is where the Elkins & Cass Scenic Railroad begins), which I videoed in 2016. Follow me through the wilds of wild and wonderful West Virginia, as I discover adventures I didn't even know about.
Bike Ride part 2 Elkins, WV August 2011
Rails to Trails
Allegheny highlands trail
Alexander, Travis and I rode from Montrose to Elkins and back.
I used my canon sd750 camera with a gorilla claw hooked to my handlebar.
Greenbrier river trail and Cass
Northern terminus of the Greenbrier River Trail and a small tour of the town of Cass.
Link:
wvstateparks.com
Bike ride, Elkins, WV August 2011
Rails to Trails
Allegheny highlands trail
Alexander, Travis and I rode from Montrose to Elkins and back.
Camping site (intersection on High Falls trail and the Allegheny trail.)
Camping site on the High falls trail that goes over Shavers mnt. The trail begins about 2 miles out side of glady wv. The trail goes over the mountain to beautiful High Falls of Shavers fork river 5 miles up stream from Bemis wv.
HillBilly Hill wv 26
youtube
Raspberry Trail 2018
A private mountaintop biking getaway in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. This is one of several trails available at Treasure Mountain Lodge and Bike Park.
treasuremountainwv.com
Mountain Music Trail stops in Tucker County, WV
For more information about the Mountain Music Trail and Tucker County, WV :
Potato Hole Trail at Kumbrabow State Forest, Wv 8-7-16
Kumbrabow State Forest is a 9,474 acre tract of mountainous land located on Rich Mountain, in southwestern Randolph County, West Virginia. This forest is located on the western edge of the Allegheny Highlands of West Virginia and Virginia. Elevations in the forest range from 3,000 to nearly 4,000 feet, making Kumbrabow West Virginia's highest state forest . The name Kumbrabow comes from portions of the last names of 3 prominent families of the area, which donated the land that now bears their names. KUMp-BRAdy and BOWers, KUMBRABOW. On this day we hiked the Potato Hole Trail, which starts behind the park office, to the observation deck atop Rich Mountain. The hike was 2 miles in and 2 miles back for a total of 4 miles. This trail, however, can be looped with other trails as well as the Rich Mountain Fire Trail. There are nice views of Cheat Mountain to the east. The trail starts out at a gradual incline but then gets much steeper toward the end. We rate this trail 3.5 out of 5 Billygoats. Thanks for watching!
Elkins, WV. to Norton, WV.
Description
Stuart Memorial Drive FR 91
This video starts in Harmon WV and travels US Rt 33 to FR 91, Stuart Memorial Drive. FR 91 is access to trail heads for a number of trails into the Otter Creek area of the Monongahela National Forest. Also accessible off of FR 91 is a campground and the Bickle Knob Observation Tower. The road ends at the Stuart Recreation Area, which is a fee based area. Old route 33 is traveled heading back to Harmon, which travels by Bowden Cave. FR 91 and the forest roads that spur off of it are all well maintained and suitable for most vehicles.
Tucker County, West Virginia: Mountains of Possibility
This film will be marketed nationwide to attract businesses, employees and entrepreneurs to Tucker County. ( Produced by Verglas Media with the support of the West Virginia Department of Commerce and the Tucker County Development Authority, this short video tells the story of the businesses, people and amenities that make Tucker County a great place to live, work and play. Watch the video and then schedule a visit at
PRODUCTION PARTNERS
Tucker County Development Authority
Verglas Media
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Written and Produced by: Anne Jones and Victoria Weeks
Assistant Producer: Daniel Hobbs
Directed by Victoria Weeks
Videography and Editing: Victoria Weeks
Audio Post: William Peterson, Canaan Heights Studios
Production Assistants: Eric Erbe and William Peterson
GoPro ski footage: Mark Anderson and Todd Romero
TCDA Marketing Committee:
Marti Neustadt and Solena Roberts
MUSICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Tempesta
by Aurora Celtic
Broke Guitar String Swing by
Rebecca Wudarski
(check what link she wants)
“Whiskey Lullabye” & “Gold and Roses” by the Black Lillies
A very special thanks to everyone who agreed to tell their story on camera!
CONTRIBUTING BUSINESS OWNERS
Warren Judy – Owner - Performance Auto Body
Parsons, WV
Alice Fleischman – Owner - East-West Printing
Davis, WV
Mark Vieno – Owner - GovCon Accountants
Thomas, WV
Carey Preston – Plant Manager - Kingsford Manufacturing
Parsons, WV
SUPPORTING INTERVIEWS
Anne Jones – Executive Director - Tucker County Development Authority
Jay Hamric – Principal - Tucker County High School
Vicki Fenwick Judy – Parent – Mountain Laurel Learning Cooperative
The producers would like to thank all the members of the community who supported the filming through time on camera. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Cranberry Wilderness - Middle Fork/Beechy Run
The waterfall and camping area on Beechy Run near the confluence of Middle fork and Beechy Run
The Allegheny Front Rt. 50 WV
A ride on motorcycles through West Virginian Scenery.
All along Rt. 219- Ronceverte, WV in the snow
Ronceverte, WV