West Virginia Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 36) wild & wonderful > WV Rocks! continued Jefferson Rock: Come stand on the very spot where Thomas Jefferson once called the view “worth a voyage across the Atlantic.” (Guess we don’t need to tell you how the rock got its name.) Just a short walk up from the streets of lower Harpers Ferry, where the entire town is a National Historical Park, Jefferson Rock not only provides a glimpse of the charming community below but also offers sweeping views of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers coming together before a backdrop of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. Interestingly enough, the uppermost slab of Jefferson Rock originally rested on a natural stone foundation so narrow that one was able to sway the rock back and forth with a gentle push. But never fear, someone years ago must’ve had a pretty good hunch this would be a sought-after overlook one day. Four stone pillars were placed under each corner of the slab sometime between 1855 and 1860. A popular weekend hangout among students at nearby West Virginia University in Morgantown, Coopers Rock State Forest features bands of rock cliffs that line the Cheat River Gorge and provide a panorama of grand views over distant horizons. A maze of enormous boulders and cliffs fascinates hikers, and trails explode with color in late spring when rhododendron and mountain laurel bloom. Several trails wind through forest valleys and over ridges, creeks welcome explorers and Glade Run is dammed to form a six-acre pond that is regularly stocked with trout. Don’t be surprised if you hear or see squirrels, chipmunks, hawks, owls, turkeys, songbirds, fox and deer throughout the forest. f Located along Route 52 near the historic town of Bramwell (more on that below), Pinnacle Rock towers above the rugged mountains of southeastern West Virginia some 3,100 feet above sea level. It is the cornerstone of the 400-acre Pinnacle Rock State Park, a popular spot for picnics (reserve a shelter with a stone fireplace) and trout fishing in its seasonally stocked Jimmy Lewis Lake. Enjoy a two-mile hike from the lake to Pinnacle Rock, where an overlook at the top offers a bird’s-eye view of the area. After a stop here, take a drive or walking tour through nearby Bramwell. Full of grand mansions once owned by millionaire coal barons, the town was often referred to as “the richest town in America” back in the day. If you are more the type who’d rather keep your feet planted firmly on the ground, enjoy equally stunning views of unusual rock formations at the one-of-akind Beartown State Park just southwest of Hillsboro. Purchased in 1970 with funds from The Nature Conservancy and a private donor – and now preserved for future generations – this 107-acre area on the eastern summit of Droop Mountain offers one of the most unique walking trails around. A boardwalk takes you down into the forest, where a series of massive boulders, overhanging cliffs and deep crevices in odd patterns stir the imaginations of some visitors while offering a quiet place to reflect for others. The rocks are marked with eroded pockets ranging in size from a small marble to recesses large enough to hold two men, and tree roots and other plants grow down into cracks and cling to steep surfaces. It truly is a wonder to behold. h Pinnacle Rock: g Beartown State Park: e Coopers Rock: IF YOU GO: » Seneca Rocks, 304-636-1800, www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/sp/senrcks_txt.html » Jefferson Rock in Harpers Ferry, www.nps.gov/hafe » Coopers Rock State Forest, 800-CALL WVA, www.coopersrockstateforest.com » Pinnacle Rock State Park, 800-CALL WVA, www.pinnaclerockstatepark.com » Beartown State Park, 800-CALL WVA, www.beartownstatepark.com 36 1-800-CALL WVA http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/sp/senrcks_txt.html http://www.nps.gov/hafe http://www.coopersrockstateforest.com http://www.pinnaclerockstatepark.com http://www.beartownstatepark.com
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