Hiking at the Cabins

Top of the Rocks
This hike is along a logging road, to the top of the sheer rock cliff at our log cabins. Your view of the cabins and surrounding area are spectacular.  At the overlook there is a sheer drop, so be very careful.

Hopeville Canyon Overlook
This hike is along a logging road and a trail thru the woods.  It takes you to an overlook of the Warner Fields and Hopeville Canyon.  At the overlook there is a sheer drop, so be very careful.

Warner Fields
This hike follows a logging road to a large field were West Virginia black bear, whitetail deer, and wild turkey can be viewed.  All of our hikes are along trails with wildlife viewing and bird watching.

Third Big Hole
This hike is along the river into Hopeville Canyon upstream of the cabins. The third big hole is a very large pool of water on the North Fork River with high rock cliffs, rocky shoreline and seclusion. It is a great place for a private swim or secluded trophy trout fishing.

Stream Access (1 mile)
This hike is the easiest. It is not marked. Just follow the river at the cabins, which flows thru the property.  This hike may be one of the best because it is easy to access and is great for kids.

Hiking Nearby

There is so much nearby hiking we cannot list all hikes. Only a few of our favorites are listed to get you started on your search.

Seneca Rocks (13 miles/15 minutes) clarify this is distance there not how far hike is.

Purchased by the federal government in 1969, Seneca Rocks is a magnificent formation rising nearly 900 ft. above the North Fork River.  The formation is a white/gray Tuscarora quartzite approximately 250 ft. thick. Views of the valley and river from the top of Seneca Rocks are spectacular.

There are 3 ways to the top of Seneca Rocks:

• 1st: A very well maintained hiking trail from the back Seneca Rocks Visitor Center, across the bridge, up the mountain to the Seneca Rocks overlook.


• 2nd: Yokum’s Stables provide a horseback riding adventure from Yokum’s Vacation Land to the Seneca Rocks overlook.


• 3rd: Rock climbers have a unique opportunity to try over 375 major mapped climbing routes, varying in degree.  Rock climbing guides can be booked for your adventure.

Web Site: //www.senecarocks.com/

Dolly Sods (14 miles/20 minutes to Bear Rocks)again clarify driving distance

A federally designated wilderness area, the Dolly Sods Wilderness, is a highly elevated plain of windswept moors on the Allegheny Plateau.  It is known for its upland bogs and sweeping vista.  Dolly Sods is the home to the one-sided Spruce trees and vegetation only found in Canada.

Our favorite hiking and easiest hiking is at Bear Rocks.  At Bear Rocks overlook you can stand on a limestone outcrop overlooking New Creek Mountain, the North Fork Mountain Range and the vast North Fork River Valley. Clarify this is at Dolly Sods

A scenic overlook and the Northland Loop interpretive trail permit access to the scenic area without wilderness skills.  A map of trails is a must for any backcountry hiking on Dolly Sods.

Web Site: //www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/sp/dolly_scenic.html

Spruce Knob (28 miles/40 minutes to lake)

At 4861 feet above sea level Spruce Knob is West Virginia’s Highest Point.

A stone and steel observation tower sits atop the Knob, providing visitors with a 360 degree view.  The ½ mile Whispering Spruce Trail circles the knob and provides panoramic views.  At Spruce Knob Lake anglers may enjoy fishing for rainbow, brown and brook trout.  Many native trout streams originate at the top of Spruce Knob.  A map of trails is a must for any backcountry hiking on Spruce Knob.

Web Site: //www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/sp/sksrnra.html

North Fork Mountain Trail (7 miles/10 minutes)

The North Fork Mountain Trail follows the ridge top along the western rim of the Smoke Hole Canyon. This 24-mile trail has countless views of the Smoke Hole canyon and North Fork valley. Drinking water is not available so remember to bring your own. From high points, the Blue Ridge Mountains are visible to the east.

North Fork Mountain trail can be accessed directly from our log cabins, but the hiking is a very vertical climb.  The trail can be accessed by three trail heads from the Smoke Hole road.  The 1st is the North Fork Mountain Trail.  The second is Redmond Run Trail.  The third is at the

North Fork Mountain Fire tower.  Each of these trail heads intersects the main trail on top of North Fork Mountain.

Web Site: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/west-virginia/

Seneca Creek (17 Miles/20 minutes to parking area)

One of our favorite trails.  The trail is an old logging road that winds through spruce pines and meadows for 3 miles.  At this point you will see the 1st and largest waterfall on Seneca Creek.  The trail runs parallel to Seneca Creek to the top of Spruce Knob.  From the 1st waterfall to the 2nd (2 miles) is the best part of the trail.  You will find clear pools filled with native rainbow and brook trout.  You must back track the trail to return.

You can bike or hike the trail.  About 2 1/2 miles on the trail you will cross private property.  Leave the property as you find it. We have had no problems crossing the property.

Black Water Falls (45 miles/60 minutes)

Black Water Falls State Park with 1688 acres is named after the amber-colored waters that plunge five stories at Black Water Falls, then twist and tumble through an eight-mile-long gorge.  The black water is a result of leached tannic acids from fallen hemlock and red spruce needles.

Hiking trails and observation points are easy to access in Black Water Falls State Park.  The Gentle Trail provides stairways and boardwalks that lead to the base of the falls for a close-up view.  Blackwater Falls State Park is a great place to spend a day.

Web Site: //www.smokehole.com/