It was a great time filled with swift waters, beautiful scenery, and big smiles. Save to Bookmarks. The name of this "gateway" to the Canyon is Cave Mountain Gap and it represents a half mile cut through the high ridge separating the ancient riverbed of the South Branch Potomac River (to the east) from the ancient bed of Briggs Run (to the west). Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock White-tail deer were also exterminated from the area, as they were from the entire state, by about 1900. [4]) High above the river, on the north side of the gap, is a prominent range of limestone cliffs which represent the Cave Mountain Anticline. Can you help me? Formerly, the area was home to a scattered community of family homesteads, storied for their isolation, traditional lifestyles, and skilled production of the illicit liquor known as "moonshine". smoke hole canyon by tonylehr61 A self-supported trip created by tonylehr61 Trip Overview Got a nice weather window and the river flow was excellent for a run through smoke canyon. Paddling through the Barron Canyon is one of those canoe trips that is on everyone's bucket list due to the sheer natural wonder that it is. Anyone ever floated the upper portion of the canyon down to Eagle Rock? Some of the the highlights of this trail are: Smoke Hole Canyon in West Virginia can be a great place to take kids, depending on their interests and ages. Canoes in our group flipped both places. According to Peter Fischer, MNF Fire Management Officer, it was the largest wildfire in the Monongahela National Forest since the 1950s. Smoke Hole Caverns and wonderful gift shop, Seneca Rocks and Seneca Caverns, Explore Nelson Rock's rock . Follow 28/55 from Petersburg, WV, for 8 miles. Smaller mammals include woodchucks, weasels, chipmunks, muskrat and field mice. I am researching electric bilge pumps on the smaller 12V sealed batteries for the next spring time float.Fishingcaught a few trout in the first section and didn't get to fish much of the small mouth looking waters on the last day. This is one of the most recommended routes for beginners. Other trailheads for NFMT, which looks down upon Smoke Hole from the west, are also located along Smoke Hole Road. Adjacent to this northwest limb is a highly folded and faulted zone that is representative of the designated Blue Rock synclinal "shear zone" complex of macroscale structures between the Cave Mountain and the Wills Mountain anticlines. United States. This relatively low precipitation permits a small haven for these unusual species. Did you mean to type To manage or opt-out of receiving cookies, please visit our. Regardless, the canyon is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful areas in West Virginia. On Saturday at noon the Franklin gauge was reading 2.64 ft and 68 cfs. in Smoke Hole Canyon, WV The South Branch in Smoke Hole is home to rainbow trout, black and rock bass and other sunfish as well as eels. Chelsey and I went first down the river while Ray fished and followed us along the road. Even though I felt like I was going to squeeze by with water I choose to take the canoe to be on the same playing field as the group. We had two boaters come all the way from Tennessee! I usually float with the water until I get to the confluence of the North Fork then gauge whether I need to paddle some or slow down and fish more based on what time I get to that point. We had rain most of Saturday afternoon and during the night, but it did not bring the river up very much. LockA locked padlock A variety of tiger beetle lives in the sandy, cobblestone habitats along the banks of the South Branch. Get text updates from The Nature Conservancy: [{"countryCode":"hkg","countryName":"Hong Kong"},{"countryCode":"ury","countryName":"Uruguay"},{"countryCode":"gab","countryName":"Gabon"},{"countryCode":"ken","countryName":"Kenya"},{"countryCode":"nam","countryName":"Namibia"},{"countryCode":"syc","countryName":"Seychelles"},{"countryCode":"zaf","countryName":"South Africa"},{"countryCode":"tza","countryName":"Tanzania"},{"countryCode":"zmb","countryName":"Zambia"},{"countryCode":"aus","countryName":"Australia"},{"countryCode":"chn","countryName":"China"},{"countryCode":"hkg","countryName":"HongKong"},{"countryCode":"ind","countryName":"India"},{"countryCode":"idn","countryName":"Indoneasia"},{"countryCode":"mng","countryName":"Mongolia"},{"countryCode":"mmr","countryName":"Myanmar"},{"countryCode":"nzl","countryName":"New 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Building on the success of the Campaign to Save North Fork Mountain (concluded in 1998), The Conservancy has completed a detailed conservation plan for this area. He built a cabin near the (still standing) Palestine Church and his daughter Katie married another pioneer, George Full the first wedding celebrated in the Canyon. Obviously anything higher than 250 youd be fine longer. | Unfortunately, the forecast was calling for up to an inch of rain Saturday night and we did not want to run the risk of getting caught in the canyon with really high water on Sunday. [31], Overall, this region reveals the interior of this thrusted anticlinal-synclinal structure and presents a phenomenal exposure of complex central Appalachian macroscale structures involving the Silurian-Devonian package of rocks. Just curious if any of you all have taken raftsdown and what the levels were. See all. The rivers that had previously rolled gently over the plains turned into raging torrents that cut deep gorges and canyons. An official website of the The area is known for its unique rock formations, including towering cliffs and natural arches. Book Now Smoke Hole Resort 8290 N Fork Hwy Cabins, WV 26855 304-257-4442 info@smokehole.com The area is rather isolated and remote with parts accessible only by boat or on foot. Paddle World Magazine | The international all paddlesports magazine Sign in to get trip updates and message other travelers. An Asian grass known as Japanese stiltgrass was accidentally introduced into the U.S. during the last half of the 20th century and has become a major conservation nuisance nationwide. I am getting ready to take a overnight from Big Bend down to Petersburg and I'm trying to decide canoe or 12' raft with oar frame. This area was the center of the "town of Smoke Hole" proper, site of an official post office for a time. The prairies and associated cedar glades of the Smoke Hole are the largest in the Central Appalachians. Rapid after rapid. Smoke Hole Caverns (Seneca Rocks) - All You Need to Know - Tripadvisor Had not many problems with shoals but there is a LOT of flatwater on the stretch between Blue Rock and Petersburg that made us wish we had a canoe to paddle instead. The canyon is steep sided and 11-12 miles long. Its caves are therefore protected during critical months. [23], During the Great Depression, many of the few people then living in the Canyon left to find better jobs, and their homesteads were consolidated among a smaller number of landholders. Ut et ultrices nisi. Passing on down the river, one encounters Fishing Rock and Fishing Rock Ford and finally comes, at 3.8 miles from the entrance, to an intersection near Shreve's Store, the Smoke Hole Campground and the old Palestine Church ("Old Log Church"). The excess fabric at the top of the structure is the smoke hole and smoke flaps. We ended up taking 3 canoes with Wingman Cooler stabilizers. I have always wanted to canoe it, good whitewater when the river is up. Your guide to canoe trips in Algonquin Park | MEC Blog | MEC The canyon offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, with opportunities for panoramic vistas from various overlooks. Some old timers used to refer to the area as the "Smoke Holes". Descriptions of conditions prevailing in the Smoke Hole during the early 20th century were highlighted by wild tales of inaccessibility and the outmoded pioneer lifestyles of the inhabitants. This is an overnight trip on the Smoke Hole Canyon section of the South Branch of the Potomac River. Located at the end of Smoke Hole River Road, the Big Bend Campground contains 46 campsites in three loops. [35], The prairie-like regions and associated cedar glades around the Smoke Hole Canyon are the largest groupings of such habitats in the Central Appalachians, and a number of unusual disjunct or regionally endemic plant species are known from the Smoke Hole. A massive lozenge-shaped boulder hovers in mid-air, trapped between two walls of an eroded crevice tapering from the clifftop down toward the lake. The Smoke Hole bergamot (Monarda fistulosa var. If you are planning a trip to Smoke Hole Canyon, be sure to consider some of the following: Are dogs allowed? Special regulations apply to the area between Eagle Rock and Kimble Cabins (designated with signs and cables across the river). The earliest settler families the Steeles, Fulls, Eagles, Coxes, Boars, Shreves, and Van Meters were sustained by smallholder farming, supplemented by hunting and fishing. This trip is made up of two 7 day trips, the first featuring the big lakes and wildlife between Kawawaymog and Cedar lake. In the 1990s, limestone quarrying destroyed the regions highest quality cedar glade and another quarry currently may threaten the regions most significant cave. Smoke Hole Canyon Photo Jim Hopkins Tucked away in the Monongahela National Forest, Smoke Hole Canyon is unlike any place you've ever visited. ), From the Shreve's Store intersection, CR 2 continues north another two miles along the river (past Old Mines Cave Rocks, mile 4.1 and Old Mines Cave, mile 5.8) to the abandoned town of Ketterman (mile 6.3) also site of an erstwhile post office and then a final mile to Big Bend Campground (mile 7.3) where the motorable roadway ends. South Fork of the Potomac River near Petersburg, WV. Today, The Nature Conservancy considers Smoke Hole and the surrounding mountains to be "one of the most biologically rich places in the East", especially as regards its rare plant communities. Please enter a valid email address (formatted as name@company.com). Petersburg ; Hotels ; Things to do ; Restaurants ; Flights ; . https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/state-summary/state/WV/, http://www.mountaineerchronicles.blogspot.com, https://www.meetup.com/Charlottesville-Backpackers-Campfires. Parsons: (304) 478-3251 Pricing is economical and we even offer free delivery to some Highway 60 access points such as Canoe Lake and Smoke Lake. A bit further on, Cat Path Rocks, a perpendicular cliff, has been partially cut through by the roadbed and is followed by another outcropping known as High Rocks. Despite its distance from the GTA area (about a 6-hour drive), it is a very popular area of Algonquin Park and can be quite difficult to book during the summer months. If walking up an drains on the left to smoke hole road be careful of rattlers. About a dozen species of plants and animals in Smoke Hole Canyon are considered to be "globally rare". Many explorers have tried to find connections between the dry cave which has had over two miles of passages mapped as of 2001 and the spring, but so far without success. This is a landscape in which surprises seem to lie beyond each ridge. Bing Maps - Directions, trip planning, traffic cameras & more (The narrow ridge between the riverbanks here was traditionally known as "Arm Ridge".). Several crews, engines, and a helicopter worked to suppress the fire. Many features may not work properly without it. Maple sugar, maple syrup and wild honey were all available with a minimum of effort. State fishing licenses with a national forest stamp are required. Smoke Hole Canyon traditionally called The Smoke Holes[1] and later simply Smoke Hole is a rugged 20 miles (32km) long gorge carved by the South Branch Potomac River in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, United States. Entering Smoke Hole Canyon you will see Cave Mountain and Eagle Rock, two very noteworthy natural monuments. Note: Your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. In this article, well take a closer look at what makes this hike so special and why it should be on your bucket list. Geologically, the Smoke Holes are the most uniquely exposed region within the westernmost central Appalachians and they have served as a surface model for complex subsurface structures shown and/or suspected by seismic and exploratory drilling. The high, dry crests of North Fork Mountain support the largest pine barrens of the Central Appalachianshundreds of acres of gnarled pines dwarfed by the harsh conditions and by thousands of years of recurring wildfires. Thank you for helping us in our efforts to protect our visitors health and well-being. It provides good practice of eddy hopping and boat scouting. Gnarlz Outdoors: Smoke Hole Canyon theGnarlz 1.51K subscribers 6.5K views 5 years ago We put the Silverbirch Broadland 15 and 16 to work on our two day canoe trip down Smoke Hole. It rained off and on while were paddling but it was pretty warm and the company and scenery was nice. Maybe McFishin will chime in. The area is rather isolated and remote with parts accessible only by boat or on foot. The variety is compelling, even to the most casual observer. My trip was the last weekend of April in 2017 and we had 90 degree weather so it was dropping fast. Smoke Hole Canyon is a designated wilderness area, offering a unique opportunity to experience the natural beauty of the region in a pristine, untouched setting. The entire Smoke Hole river run from US 220 to Petersburg is about 25 miles (40km) long. ? From the picnic area bridge to Petersburg is 21 miles, while the trip from Big Bend Campground to Petersburg is 15 miles. Together, we can each do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19 so we can continue to do the important work needed in West Virginia. A remote hotel the Smoke Hole Lodge operated in the Canyon until severely damaged in a 1985 flood; a replacement business operated until 2001. A man from Oklahoma, claiming to have been a member of Dillinger's gang, hired a local in 1965 to help him locate the legendary loot. Smoke Hole Canyon is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including black bears, bobcats, and bald eagles. [30], The Cave Mountain anticline consists of subparallel northeast-trending folds and southeast-dipping thrust faults with a maximum stratigraphic displacement of approximately 1900 feet, throwing Lower Silurian rocks against Lower Devonian rocks. Address Example: 1550 University Ave, Morgantown, WV 26506. Smoke Hole Canyon - South Branch of the Potomac River Keep an eye out for eagles here. Vacation home developments have already spread across four of North Fork Mountains eight highest peaks. For over 20 miles the river has carved a half-mile deep canyon, with nearly vertical walls. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "smokeholecanyon" Flickr tag. Getting a raft down Smoke Hole Canyon - Website Toolbox You will have to carry all your camping gear, etc., in your boat. Don't forget your Bilge pump on this trip, we only had one in the group and spent time passingit around after most of the significant rapids. Other undergrowth includes crab-apple, witch hazel, rhododendron, sumac, pussy willow, spicewood, dog rose, sloe, chokecherry, haw, and honeysuckle. 25198 Hwy 60, Madawaska, ON; 613-637-5508 . Map Information. hudson valley. Smoke Hole Canyon is also home to a variety of plant life, including rare species such as the Virginia spiraea and the Allegheny monkeyflower. This species is so uncommon that the few small patches found among the rocks of the Canyon walls are thought to be the largest population in the world. If you have any questions about this paddling location or have other relevant information that would be helpful to other paddlers, please add them as comments below for the entire community! Discover trails like Potomac Highlands Loop Seneca Rocks and Smoke Hole Canyon West Virginia, find information like trail length, elevation, difficulty, activities, and nearby businesses. If parking areas are full, or if you find you cant social distance at any trail or preserve, it may be best to visit the area at another time. Group camping is also available at the Jess Judy Camping Area along the river. Because of its proximity to the large eastern metropolitan areas, this landscape is rapidly changing. Forty percent of all the endangered Virginia big-eared bats remaining on Earth and the largest colony of endangered Indiana bats left in the East reside here. We had two boaters come all the way from Tennessee! After another half mile, the South Branch collects the North Fork South Branch just below Cabins. this region. I wanted to toss out some post trip feedback and thank the group again for everyone who commented. Phone:304.293.5076 | Big Bend constitutes an unusual "peninsula" in the river; the river here loops for about 1.3 miles back to a point just 350 feet from itself. The former was previously called FR 74. Birds Search our site to find more information about your next trip. Where the name really came from is uncertain. The main and traditional entrance into the Smoke Hole is from the south through a water gap between Big Mountain and Cave Mountain about two miles north of the community of Upper Tract. Smoke Hole North Fork Mountain | The Nature Conservancy Photos? I have heard it from a lot of guys that 250 cfs on the Franklin gauge is the lowest level you want to put on at Big Bend. We were loaded down with gear and really spread out the tripso we were also heavier than needed. Two other non-native, invasive plants seriously threaten the rare limestone plant communities in the Canyon spotted knapweed and viper's bugloss and are also the objects of Nature Conservancy abatement projects. This likely developed through an intermediate stage during which the South Branch (or its precursor stream here, the lower Briggs Run) traversed the future Smoke Hole region underground. We put the Silverbirch Broadland 15 and 16 to work on our two day canoe trip down Smoke Hole Canyon. South Branch of the Potomac(Smoke Hole Picnic Area to Petersburg) This 24-mile trail has countless views of the Smoke Hole canyon and North Fork valley. The first Smoke Hole settlers followed quickly on the heels of the first in the South Branch valley, which arrived in the late 1740s. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. The gauge at Franklin was 264 cfs and 3.00 feet on Sunday at noon. It was truly a remarkable section that should most definitely be treated with respect. Furthermore, this region provides detailed insight into the lowermost roof-sequence cover above the suspected duplex of Cambrian-Ordovician horse-blocks and blind-thrusts at depth. The cedar glades support a number of species restricted to this part of the Appalachians including Smoke Hole bergamot a lovely, strikingly aromatic mint. The roof of the vast subterranean channel then collapsed forming the karst topography seen today. Electric and gas service was provided to the few remaining residents only in 1949.[25]. The plant species mix is unique: common Appalachian plants along with prairie species such as prairie rocket, Indian grass and little bluestem. With most local men of military age away for the duration of the War, the depredations of local Confederate partisans known as the "Rebel Raiders" included a number of ambushes and killings. PO Box 6018 | 2001 Recreation Center Drive | Morgantown, WV 26506 Turn left onto the Smoke Hole Road, Route 28/11, and travel for 13 miles to County Route 2. The Smoke Holer is most precise: 'Is that a bushel basket?' "This is something quite different," he said. (Eagle returned after the war and is buried near the 300-foot-high crag that bears his name. Petersburg: (304) 257-4488, Gauley District Was with a large group and some of the canoes portaged or had trouble on both Landslide and Royal Glen dam rapids. Midwest prairies nestled within the Smoke Hole canyon. Special bait and tackle regulations apply. A remote canyon lined with cliffs and caves, mountain lore, and pioneer haunts, join us as we explore the Smoke Hole Canyon to learn of its history and of it. This cave (not to be confused with the commercially developed Smoke Hole Caverns, just outside the Canyon, or with Smoke Hole Cave in the Canyon itself) is now better known as Cave Mountain Cave. Cannan Valley has gentle, well-trained, sturdy horses to fit any rider. by Matt Dumoulin, Awesome Canoe trip down the Smoke Hole Canyon in West Virginia! Phasellus cursus rutrum est nec suscipit. Yes, but are required to be kept on a leash in the area. The oldest explanation appears to be the story that Native Americans used a well-known cave in the gorge (Smoke Hole Cave) for smoking meat; this cave has a room shaped like an inverted funnel with a hole at the apex through which smoke could escape and be seen from some distance. Some old timers call the canyon "Smoke Holes" and claim Native Americans used the caves for smoking meat. Directions: Smoke Hole Canyon is located in eastern WV, near Petersburg. Follow this road for 5-10 miles along the river to many put-in alternatives. After the morning paddle trip, some people went sight-seeing in Seneca Rocks, some took a nap, and at one went fishing. The Nature Conservancy is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax identification number 53-0242652) under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Did not see a trout after the put in at Big Bend. Pike Knob Preserve is open to the public and is located on North Fork Mountain. Gold Panning in West Virginia | USA Today Bing Maps has a collection of great trails with directions to trail heads as well as photos. I took my 14ft NRS with rowing framed packed with gear and the levels ranged from 3.0 to 3.25 on that trip. Resources from 18 other states provided personnel and equipment. The Civilian Conservation Corps stationed a battalion in Smoke Hole between 1934 and 1936 and constructed a popular recreation area there.