dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

My travel buddy and I are going to travel in the East this fall and do a photography trip from WNC up into West Virginia. After 19 years of traveling out West, I am at a loss to get the travel planning for this trip off the ground. (Not to mention I have been consumed with building and moving into a new home, with little time left for research.) I need help!

The main attractions that will somewhat govern the route are: New River Gorge, Babcock State Park, and Blackwater Falls State Park--along with some of the Blue Ridge Parkway in my own region north of Marion and up past Blowing Rock and possibly a little of the western edge of Virginia (have done the Skyline Parkway already, so not going that far over).

Of primary consideration: as seniors, we don't do strenuous hiking...maybe up to 1/4 mile one-way on good trail.

I have looked at the WV tourism websites under topics for state parks, old mills, waterfalls, historic landmarks, etc. What would be very helpful is input on which photogenic locations are easily accessible, best routing for photo ops, and best time of day to photograph specific attractions.

Scenic old barns/farms, waterfalls and small mountain lakes, grist mills (like Glade Creek), covered bridges, dramatic mountain scenery...these are the subjects we most enjoy photographing.

Will appreciate all tips and suggestions!

Bison Bud

I'd check out Seneca Rocks, it's the rock climbing mecca of the east USA. Access trails to get up close to the rocks will probably be too physical for you, but it is very scenic from the valley flat lands and with a long lens and solid tripod, you should be able to catch some climbing activity as well. I spent many memorable days there during my youth and I'm hoping to make a photo trip there this summer myself. Good luck and good shooting to all.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

When I was in my early teens, my parent took us on a vacation road trip through Canaan Valley. We visited Smoke Hole Caverns, Seneca Caverns, Seneca Rocks, Black Water Falls, Spruce Knob and few other attractions in that general area. I photographed the whole trip in B&W with an old box camera. I treasure those photos and the memories of the trip! Enjoy!!

ngrea Loc: Sandy Spring, Maryland

My second home is in Hampshire County and I love WV because it is so very uncommercial. Think about some of these: Pipe Stem State Park (has one of the best Bird guides I’ve ever met and a gondola down to the river) Seneca rocks, smoke hole canyon (take the road down to the river), Spruce knob (highest point in state - short trail to look out), corridor H highway (rt 48 goes across tops of the ridges and has a view point east of Moorefield), Dolly Sod (unique vegetation area), take the Potomac Eagle train from Romney (only way to go through the Trough along the South Branch and see eagles)
Also nice is the lost river/lost City area.
Lots of barns, churches and falling down buildings. Be prepared that the remote areas don’t have much in the way of food and gas. Fill up when you can and take some food with you. Also be careful about hunters. Wear blaze orange. “Wild life management area” means “hunting grounds”, but hunters are EVERYWHERE.

Photocraig

West Virginia has some variation is elevation, like Western North Carolina. The further northern location should provide a variety of foliage coloration as you change locations from high to low, hills to valleys.

Harper's Ferry is photogenic and have several surviving building from that interstate conflict back in the 1860's. The Train station and area around it is a good street scene location on the weekends.

To the East in Virginia, near the border are many large Horse properties with marvelous animals and forever long (leading Lines) white fences. It is a pretty time, with festivals celebrating football, apple harvests and general cooling off.

Enjoy the trip.
C

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Go to www.roadtrippers.com and build a route. It's easy to insert recommended points of interest.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

I didn't know whether there would be much for us to see if we couldn't climb up to the rocks and hadn't considered the valley view options. Finding some climbers on the rocks would be an interesting subject and we both carry long lenses and tripods, so that's a helpful insight Bison Bud. Along with some of the suggestions in subsequent posts, there appears to be a lot of good destinations in the immediate area of the Blackwater Falls. Thanks for kicking things off--Seneca Rocks is on the itinerary now.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Hi Carol! You have offered up some new destinations I had not run across and, as I put them on my trip mapping, these make for a very attractive and easily managed itinerary. I love caverns and to have two so near is great! I may look into the Smoke Hole Cabins, too, for a multi-night layover in order to have plenty of time for exploring. Thank you for the suggestions! I hope I'll come home with lots of good memories and photos like you did those many years ago. I never tire of scrolling through my trip imaes on my phone when I have to wait for an appointment or such.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Pipe Stem SP would fit nicely with the ride up from Mabry Mill to New River Gorge. If I understand the lay of the land correctly, we could go from a layover somewhere north of New River Gorge through Canaan Valley to Blackwater Falls SP and get on Corridor H to Moorefield and the swing back to Smoke Hole Caverns and lodging before continuing to Seneca Rocks/Cavern and Spruce Knob? Thanks for the mention of the Corridor H drive, ngrea, as I had no knowledge it existed. Are there any particular areas that come to mind for scenic barns and churches?

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

The horse farms you mention, are they an extension of the road to Harper's Ferry or somewhere further south? That sounds very appealing. We were debating whether to take the extra time to go up to Lancaster and explore the Amish farms. Thanks for adding to the list of possibilities, Photocraig. Do you think it wise to plan on traveling around the end of September/first of October for best color opportunities?

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Checked out 'roadtrippers' and it looks like a wealth of leads. I have always used google maps in the past and added destination addresses, but then I have to rearrange the order as I go along. Thanks for this tip!

ngrea Loc: Sandy Spring, Maryland

I do a lot of day trips from my cabin and almost every where I go I see small country churches, farms and deserted buildings. Most roads follow the parallel valleys going sw to ne, so the new corridor h is helpful because it goes crosswise to most of the other roads. Smoke hole would be a good central location to see many things. check the web for info on the Monongahela forest service sights. Seneca rocks has a nice visitors center and one of the few restaurants (food is ok, not great) is across the road.
The lost river craft co-op has nice arts and crafts items and a small museum and the lost river grill is a place to eat not too far from lost river state park. All the state parks have cabins or lodges. The rooms tend to be nice; some have wonderful views. the food is not very good (new river lodge has some of the worst food I've ever eaten, or not been able to eat in some cases. Never knew fried chicken or meatloaf could be so hard to eat--dried out and tough). Black water lodge's food is some what better. Pipe steam had decent food at the restaurant down by the river. We stayed in a cabin and cooked, so only had hamburgers once at the fast food place in the upper lodge. Pipe steam was really great for multi generations. Lots of variety of interesting-but-not-too-strenuous activities. May have less going on after school starts in the fall. Check https://wvstateparks.com/parks/ for more info on state parks. I hope you enjoy your trip

MDI Mainer

Blackwater Falls State Park has good waterfalls, is often a destination for pro photo workshops here in the east, and the falls are easily accessible.

https://wvstateparks.com/park/blackwater-falls-state-park/

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Grandview Park near Beckley. Nice horseshoe bend in the river from the main overlook. I'm partial to Dolly Sods wilderness and Bear Rocks. Don't miss Elakala Falls in Blackwater. Not as tall as the main falls but quite nice. Have a great trip, Diane.

doclrb

Drive up to Bear Rocks for great vistas of the Dolly Sods and an uncommon local zone of plant life normally seen far further north.

doclrb