West Virgina; Spruce Knob
Summary:
Location: WV, Monongahela
National Forest,
Seneca
Backcountry/Spruce Knob Area
Ridden: 6/27/09
Elapsed Time: 10
hrs
(A slow rider taking a lot of photos)
Mileage: 37 +/-
Rider: JHL99
Trail Conditions: Excellent, No blow down at all, and most
trails brushed back, some horse traffic churned up Bear
Hunter Trail
Trailhead: the first parking lot off of route 29 southbound
from Whitmer (parking lot at Horton Trail terminus).
Contents:
Links
The Good
The not so Good
The Map
The Description
Links:
Note: The above
links rehash the same photos in different ways, there are 32 photos in
the set, probably too many... next time I will reduce the quantity,
anyways, the slideshow might be tedious, so view the photos from
either the Picture Grid or Google Map were you can randomly select what
to see. A few of the photos are referenced directly in this web
page.
What’s good?
- Views
- Scenery
- Alpine feeling (for the mid-Atlantic)
- Diversity of trails: rocky, narrow, steep,
grassy, smooth, benched… a little of everything
- Not an IMBA stacked loop theme park.
- Camping is available nearby
- Signage and blazes: Most trail junctions have
signs and the trails are well blazed.
What’s
not so good?
- Area is popular with hikers and backpackers, play nice.
- Fords – There are 3 creek fords to contend with.
Might be challenging in high water or if it is cold.
- The ride as described is not a place for beginning mountain
bikers.
- Water availability, bring enough or a means to purify.
Overview Map
Ride
Description:
Note: Links are to photos (same as those referenced in the
Links Section, but not all photos in the slideshow or Google Map are
linked in the text below)
Head south on 29 to the next parking lot S and take Spring Ridge Trail
E. Climb the decommissioned forest road to the
ridge. (Local Knowledge Tip: If riding a group, in
the summer, drop to back of the pack let others plow down the stinging
nettles.) At top of ridge, intersect Allegheny Trail and take
the nearly double track S to Bear Hunter Trail. Head E off
the ridge on Bear Hunter. Bear Hunter is a single track that drops down to
Judy Springs. At junction, head south on Seneca Creek Trail
coming to Judy Springs, a popular backpacking camping spot.
The spring is on the E side of Seneca
Creek, across the footbridge. Continue riding Seneca
Trail S to FR112. There is one ford of Seneca Creek in this
stretch.
At FR112, head SE climbing the gravel road to the junction of FR
104. Head N on paved FR104 to Spruce Knob (used to be gravel,
what is the world coming to?). Enjoy the views on the way
up. At the top, take the time to walk or ride around the
short tourist pathway, the view to the SE is spectacular.
Resume the ride by finding the entrance to Huckleberry Trail at the N
end of the parking lot. Enjoy the long, rocky
stretch.
Huckleberry Trail
After a while, you enter the spruce forest and the trail doglegs back
and forth and cross a meadow
before going back under canopy. Some rocky descending and an
intersection is reached with Lumberjack Trail. Head straight
across… more descending and rocks and reach a drainage, some tricky
maneuvering and you are nearly down to Seneca Creek (I think the trail
is now named Horton, but not sure), anyways when you reach Seneca Creek
Trail, head N and in a short distance find the waterfall.
Keep going N, after the camp spots that are near the creek, pay close
attention and find where Horton crosses Seneca Creek. There is
a washed out log bridge for foot traffic, hike-a-bike to ford Seneca
Creek. Horton is a bit of grind. Parts are ridable
in the granny gear and some parts are a push. Cross
a small stream and tough it out, finally reaching Allegheny
Trail.
Huckleberry Trail / Mountain
Laurel
At Allegheny Trail, head N. In 100 yards or so, it is
decision time. If you want to bail, take Horton to the W and
you will end up back at the parking lot. (My notes from a
ride in 2004 say that this is trail OK for descending ATB
travel). If you still have legs and daylight, keep on the
prescribed route. There will be a reward.
Ride some miles of double track N on Allegheny Trail.
After reaching the pipeline swath, follow the
swath to the NE and cross to the far side and find the single
track. This single track gets better and better as it drops
down the spine of the mountain.
The Spine
The very end is punctuated with switchbacks and bench cut.
Stay on top of your game and watch for the trail re-route in the
massive blow down area. The trail dumps out near a
Flinestones style camping spot. Turn N on gravel road, ford
stream, go around gate, intersect route 7, head W and begin a long, gravel
road climb. Crest mountain, drop back into Whitmer,
turn S and cruise back to the parking lot.
Get towel from car and head across road to swimming hole.
Swimming Hole
