North Fork Mountain Hike
Join the KVVP and Ron Graham on a hiking adventure that will be a 3-day outing from Friday- Sunday, September 30 - October 2, 2016. They will be visiting the Cranberry Glades, National Astronomy Observatory, Seneca Rocks, North Fork Mountain and possibly Smoke Hole Caverns. For more information and to reserve a spot contact Ron Graham at (304)400-8710 or rongraham.crw@suddenlink.net.
Day 1 (Friday, 30 September 2016)
- For those departing from Charleston, WV, there will be an early morning departure from the Kanawha Mall parking lot (which departure time is to be determined).
- Drive to Cranberry Glades and take a walk around the boardwalk. http://www.pocahontascountywv.com/cranberry_glades_nature_center.aspx +1-304-653-4826 http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=9913
- The drive time from Charleston WV is 2:30 (hr:min).
- Visit / tour the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank WV (including a 30-minute lecture at the Science Center and a 30-minute bus tour) https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/gbt +1-304 456-2150
- Tours are given hourly, starting on the hour, from 0900 (9:00 am ET) through 1800 (6:00 pm ET), with the Observatory Science Center doors closing at 1900 (7:00 pm ET).
- The Observatory is open 7 days per week, until 06 September 2016, when the Observatory will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
- Tour fees: General (Ages 11-64), $6; Seniors (65 and up), $5; Children 10 and under, FREE; Veterans and Active Service Members, FREE.
- The drive time from Cranberry Glades is 1:40.
- Site and / or climb Seneca Rocks https://www.nationalforests.org/our-forests/find-a-forest/monongahela-national-forest, http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=7050 +1-304-567-2827 or +1-304-456-2150 or email gbt-tours@nrao.edu
- The drive time from Green Bank is 1:00.
- Overnight at Smoke Hole, Cabins, or Petersburg WV. Overnight lodging is to be arranged by individual participants. See a list of some of the local hotels / cabins below.
- The drive time from Seneca Rocks is 0:30.
Day 2 (Saturday, 01 October 2016)
- Take a spectacular hike up North Fork Mountain (near Smoke Hole WV) http://www.hikingupward.com/MNF/NorthForkMountain/
- Alternative or additional event: Tour Smoke Hole Caverns http://www.smokehole.com/caverns.htm +1-304-257-4442 or +1-800-828-8478
- Cook out at the cabin / camp site / wherever …. (the location of the cook out is o be determined)
- Note that there are a lot of other hiking trails available in the Monongahela National Forest ,especially at Dolly Sods, which is just across the river from North Fork Mountain. http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/mnf/recreation/hiking/?recid=6979&actid=50
Day 3 (Sunday, 02 October 2016)
- Break camp.
- Drive back to Charleston WV
- The drive time from Cabins, WV to Charleston, WV is 3:30.
This is a list of some lodging sites available in or near Petersburg / Cabins WV, as well as some of the accommodations that are near the North Fork Mountain trailhead.
Smoke Hole Caverns & Log Cabin Resort
www.smokehole.com
8290 N Fork Hwy, Cabins, WV 26855
(304) 257-4442
Smoke Hole Resort
www.smokehole.com
8290 N Fork Hwy, Cabins, WV 26855
(304) 257-4442
Homestead Inn Motel
www.mountainhighlands.com
1314 N Fork Hwy, Petersburg, WV 26847
(304) 257-1049
Fort Hill Motel
www.forthillmotel.com
1045 N Fork Hwy, Petersburg, WV 26847
(304) 257-4717
North Fork Mountain Inn
www.northforkmtninn.com
235 Canyon View Ln, Cabins, WV 26855
(304) 257-1108
Breath of Heaven Bed and Breakfast
www.breathofheavenbb.com
215 Dawn Ln, Petersburg, WV 26847
(304) 257-4971
Judy House Bed & Breakfast LLC
www.judyhousebnb.com
202 Virginia Ave, Petersburg, WV 26847
(304) 257-4010