Its size and relative remoteness give it one of West Virginia’s most robust black bear populations. Also, since the Otter Creek Trail does not form a loop, much of this hike involves backtracking. Elkins Winter Activities. This trail guide was prepared by Kitty Williamson in partial fulfillment of the California Naturalist Program held at the Sagehen Creek Field Station of UC Berkeley in 2014. Fords: 4 on Otter Creek, 1 on Moore Run . Otter Crest Loop: Tickets & Tours‎ Boiler Bay State Wayside: Tickets & Tours‎ Whale, Sea Life and Shark Museum: Tickets & Tours‎ Fogarty Creek State Recreation Area: Tickets & Tours‎ Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint: Tickets & Tours‎ Whale Park: Tickets & Tours‎ Depoe Bay Memorial Wall: Tickets & Tours‎ Keep in mind that while the scenery is just as good as some of the most well known areas in West Virginia, the trails are not. This is only about 6/10's of a mile to the falls and is a very pleasant walk. In low water a route right by the water might also be possible. This place was a lot of fun, but Definitely favors the Fat Bike. Go straight on the red-blazed trail to Otter Creek. Elkins, WV 26287. A low-key marathon on a beautiful course (about: 2015) Course: 5 Organization: 5 Fans: 1 R. L. from Wisconsin (12/21/15) 50+ previous marathons | 1 Otter Creek Trail Marathon I've run trail marathons before, so about the only surprise the course held for me was just how pretty it was. Otter Creek Campground, adjacent to this loop trail, is open from April 1 through October 31. Note: If you went straight for just a short distance you will see the work of the beavers. Today. It's one of our most rewarding hikes on the trail and a great loop. The Adventure Guide to the Lower Loop Overnight Trail at Fall Creek Falls State Park includes a trail description of the Lower Loop Trail, photographs of the Lower Loop Trail, comments about the Trail and Park, mileage data for the Lower Loop Trail, the custom Park topo map, and Lower Loop Trail GPS tracklogs. Otter Crest Loop, Oregon Coast - Complete Guide, Hiking, History, Sights. The rugged trail offers spectacular views and a moderate to challenging hike. Water Sports. The Otter Creek Wilderness is West Virginia’s second largest wilderness, and it has 42 miles of established trails. The trail then splits into 2.3-mile loop and a sign directs you to keep right. Canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding opportunities near you. Mile 1.7 – Reach the Lower Otter Creek Overlook parking area, passing over 2 very sturdy bridges. Enjoy & research Seneca Rocks, West Virginia with trail guides, topo maps, photos, reviews & GPS routes on Trails.com. Variation: Start from Dry Fork trailhead and leave off Big Springs Gap trail. LOWER OTTER CREEK OVERLOOK 63 OTTER L KE PARKING REA —.25 GEORGE WASHINGTON NATIONAL FOREST LEGEND PARKWAY HERR ADS PARKING AREA AND TRAIL ACCESS TRAIL MILEAGE (NUMBERS ALONG TRAIL INDICATE MILEAGE BETWEEN DOTS) MILEPOST CANAL 501 LOCK EXHIBI OTTER LAKE LOOP TRAIL VISITOR CENTER OTTER LAKE .9 . The guide will familiarize you with the Park and help you on your hike. Other trails through the wilderness area (some of which form loops with the Otter Creek Trail) are the Moore Run Trail, Green Mountain Trail, Condon Run Trail, and Big Springs Gap Trail, among others. This loop mostly follows the AT, but uses Long Branch Trail #86 and Lower Trail Ridge #28 to start/finish the loop at Standing Indian Campground. Standard black bear precautions are required. 4,047 m blue singletrack trail. Published 01/13/2019 at 6:23 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff Cross over the bridge at the low-point of the hike, at approximately 1,800 feet, and turn left up Lower Winter Creek Trail. Just after the crossing, you'll see some small side trails that take you to the waterfall edge, complete with rock boulders perfect for picnicking or sunbathing. Most sections of this trail are easy to hike and can be reached from many points along the motor road. Mile 1.4 – Intersection with the Otter Lake Loop Trail, bear left to stay on the Otter Creek Trail. : Lower Zion Trail The trail from Hoegees Camp up Mount Zion is 1.5 miles long. Fishing. Otter Creek to Hedrick Camp Trail Loop. 0 rides; 0 ft avg distance; Yesterday. If you continue across the creek, the 1.6-mile loop trail will take you downhill to the lower falls (series of small cascades - photo on right). The idea began as early as 1999, when the Butts Family generously donated an island, which can be seen from Otter Creek’s Northern Loop Trail. Otter Creek Trail. Complete the loop by continuing on the lower loop. Elevation: 680' Here you will find a wooden bridge that leads you across Otter Creek. Make sure to take the correct trail from Blue Gentian Lake as there are a few other trails at the lake that go in different directions. Your local trail guide for all ages and skill levels . Otter Creek Upper Loop Connector is a 1,763 m less popular blue singletrack trail located near Brandenburg Kentucky. Urey Overlook - Otter Creek Loop 5.0 Miles (Airville, PA) On this 5 mile loop hike you'll get a great view of Susquehanna River at the Urey Overlook, and also a scenic stretch of the trail down along Otter Creek. Due to the cooler temps, we couldn't enjoy the water to the fullest extent though. Once back at a familiar 4-trail junction, take 1.7-mile Otter Bench Trail back to your car. Otter Creek Lower Loop: Parking Connector: Parking Lot Connector: Otter Creek Upper Loop Connector: Mountain Bike Routes Find routes using the interactive Route Finder; View personalized recommended routes; Recent Ridelog Activity in Region. Otter Lake Loop Trail (0.9 miles) Provides scenic views of Otter Lake. Wild, Wonderful...and Wet: Otter Creek is a backpacking, hiking adventure located in or near Seneca Rocks, WV. 0 rides; 0 ft avg distance; Past Week. Although the story of Otter Creek as a public preserve is just getting started, the history of putting the pieces together to create the approximately 115 acre preserve began six years ago. Otter Creek Trail (3.5 miles) Parallels the Parkway road as it meanders from Otter Creek campground to the James River Visitor Center. Most sections of this trail are easy to hike and can be reached from three overlooks along the Parkway; milepost 61.4 Terrapin Hill Overlook, milepost 62.5 Lower Otter Creek Overlook and milepost 63.1 Otter Lake Overlook. Lower Otter Creek Overlook, Milepost 62.5. Lower Sagehen Creek Loop Trail . CCW it climbs the hill on very loose (current dry conditions) loam, don't think it can be done without Fats. The second half starts with a fast downhill with a few very large water bars. This is a hike for those that haven't the time or the stamina to do Mount Defiance. On Creek side, lots of sand pits, but a couple double as berm turns, so hit hard and rail it. Get Connected. Subscribe for future Step Outside News! An ideal place to hike, a trail takes you through this beautiful setting of sycamore, black walnut and ironwood trees. Trip mileage = 15.6 and eliminates 2 fords of Otter Creek. Steep narrow section on Otter Creek; large boulder “steps” on Possession Camp; steep downhill on Green Mountain. NPS Map 2006 Platte Plains trail from Otter Creek toward Otter Lake. Otter Creek Trail map . (The shorter route as described by your notes) Absolutely gorgeous which made us wish we spent more time down near the water. The trail is the spine of the system, offering direct connections to seven other hiking trails in the Otter Creek Wilderness. Once you've rested, there are a few steep, punchy climbs on the way up to Wheel Breaker. There's only one fair viewpoint in the end of this small loop, so if you don't want more miles you may skip this part and turn back here. You will not be able to complete this hike as loop, but you can do it as an out and back hike on the Starvation Ridge Trail. The trail reaches the bottom at Otter Creek’s confluence with Missouri Creek, an interesting flat with bed rock mortars. The trail is passable on the upper side of root ball but on one side there is a muddy drop (climb) of about 4 or 5 feet to navigate. NOTICE: As of July 2018, the Starvation Creek Cutoff Trail #414B had been closed due to a dangerous slide. Immediately downstream from the lower crossing, you'll find a natural waterslide, which you can tube down or slide down. View: ♦ ♦ / 5 Trails: Otter Creek Trail Picnic Tables: 3 (no grills) As with the Terrapin Hill View pullout just to the north, the Lower Otter Creek Overlook allows access to the Otter Creek Trail, which runs 3.5 miles one way from the Otter Creek Campground to the James River Visitor Center.While I did not hike this trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway Outdoor Guide rates it as an easy hike. Some short, steep hills on the Lasso Loop and some moderate hills along the intermediate level ski trail segments . After a short ride down a gravel road the fun begins. This involves a moderate amount of elevation both up and down. The path continues downstream a short ways where you can cross the creek (when its low) and continue up the canyon side. If you have a car shuttle and want to avoid back-tracking, you could park one car at each Visitor Center and simply hike the trail one direction. Upper Winter Creek Trail This 2.75-mile long trail can be used to extend Santa Anita Canyon Loop or create a 4.85-mile loop with Lower Winter Creek Trail. Vegetation Primarily pine-oak-aspen woods with some open fields and pine plantation. Set out from Chantry Flats and make your way down the paved road to Roberts Camp, dropping 350 feet over 0.6 miles. The Otter Creek Trail, the most popular, follows an abandoned logging railroad grade along Otter Creek between Condon Run and the Dry Fork River. There is a very recent extremely large hemlock that virtually took out the otter creek trail within 1/4 mile from the swinging bridge on the North end of Otter Creek trail. This campground closes in the late fall, but there is public primitive (field) camping 2.0 miles south, past Standing Indian Campground. : Spruce Grove Camp This 8-mile in-and-out or 9.5-mile loop takes hikers beyond Sturtevant Falls to a backcountry campground with seven first-come first-serve sites. Coming off of the Pine Tree Loop or the Explorer Loop Connector - 337B, the first half of this trail is a climb. Share. Hiking. The trails at Otter Falls are essentially two loops with a few spurs leading off to various benches and views; none of which are very long. Cross PA425 and follow the blue-blazed Mason-Dixon Trail to where it turns left. Along the way there are viewpoints with excellent views of the falls. There's a short loop W of the Entrance by the pond. The quickest way to the falls would be to stay right all the way down until you reach the falls. Critique: Two of us took the hike starting from Mylius Gap trail-Shavers Mountain Trail- Green Mountain- Possession Camp- Otter Creek- Mylius Trail loop. Description To access this trail, park at the Urey Overlook parking lot, which is at top of the hill upriver from Otter Creek. Parkway Quick Info Links. Several loops totaling 14.7 miles. Terrain Mostly flat. After crossing the stream, you'll descend quickly through old-growth forest and hike toward the upper portion of Upper Creek Falls. Otter Creek Trail (3.5 miles) parallels the Parkway and Otter Creek as it winds from Otter Creek Campground to the James River Visitor Center. Comments Three views of Lake Michigan Platte Plains Trail Map . Numerous day hikes and backpacking options exist. Step Outside Organization. Otter Creek Upper Loop mountain biking trail in Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area, Kentucky. 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