|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reporter |
Summary: While the 2,000 acre Snake Hill WMA was purchased to protect the views of the more well known Coopers Rock State Forest from development, Snake Hill has some very nice overlooks of its own and this loop takes you to each of them. Starting at the northern parking area and traveling clockwise, a dirt access road takes you to Table Rock and a view towards Cheat Lake and ofCoopers Rock with Haystack Rock seen below it across the gorge. Coming back along another access road will bring you to a small open area. The trail loop there (again moving clockwise) brings you to several unnamed views and finally to Cheat View looking up the river gorge and towards Raven Rock. These overlooks have no developed railing and can be slippery when wet. Be extremely carefully because it's a long drop should you go over the edge. Trailhead: From Interstate 68, exit at the Sabraton Exit. Turn onto Route 7 East and across the Ices Ferry Bridge. Climb the hill and turn left onto Tyrone Road. Turn left onto Snake Hill Road and travel 2.7 miles. There northern parking area is little more than a pull off in front of a gate. (N39 36.853 W79 49.856) A little further down (0.3 miles) is the Southern parking area which is a much larger area with room for more cars. (N39 36.612 W79 49.746) There are no other facilities at the parking area. One could start at either parking and loop back to the other or return to ones original starting point. Hunting is allowed in the WMA so take all appropriate care during hunting seasons. (Lat:39.6142 Lon:-79.83096) Trail Guides for Snake Hill: Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Summer, User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Horses, Ranger Contact: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources District 1: 304-825-6787 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Kevin Geiselman, who has posted 96 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Submit your own review Terrible trail with tremendous view. Took us several attempts to find trail that led from the access road to the overlooks. We finally ran into another hiker that showed us the way. He said he'd been there several times before and he even walked by the trailhead because it is terribly overgrown. You literally have to start down the trail before you know you are on it. Once we found it though, it was well worth it and provided a different view of the Cheat Canyon and a view of Cheat Lake not visible from the Coopers Rock side of the canyon. The logging did leave a mess at first, but there are more oppurtunities to view wildlife now. Also more trails from where they logged. All in all they did a pretty good job of selective harvest. It isn't a clear cut at all. There are alot of hidden trails that one can find, one will even take you down about1500' elev. to the river, nice place to camp. Haven't been in the wma in a while. How bad has the logging effected the land? Snake Hill was a georgeous place until the extensive logging that took place just this past Summer (2007). Why? The logging company has left it a total mess and destroyed most of the hiking trails and it's natural beauty. Why? Hiking on the trails use to be so beautiful and now it's totally destoryed! Snake Hill is a georgeous place (with plenty of opportunities to go off-trail). It is home to the large Three Toothed Snail, which isn't found anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately, the Nat. Resources Division is doing it's best job to "manage" the wildlife, and there is extensive logging going on near the road. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: West Virginia Hiking, West Virginia Trails, West Virginia Hikes, Monongalia County Hiking, Monongalia County Trails, Monongalia County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||