Miles 0 through 12 |
Canaan Loop Road Ride |
Mile:16.4Canaan Mountain meadow 360 degree pan |
|
![]() |
Mile:16.8Davis Trail No. 107 |
![]() |
|
Mile:17 RT 2:29Forest Road 13 |
![]() |
![]() |
Mile:18 RT 2:33Forest Road 13 |
![]() |
![]() |
Mile:18.1Fire Trail No. 3 (TR 104) |
![]() |
|
Mile:18.8Forest Service Gate |
![]() |
![]() |
Mile:19 RT 2:40Forest Road 13 |
![]() |
![]() |
At this point there starts to be houses,
cabins and For Sale signs along the road. Since this is Canaan Heights there must be some place with a view of the Canaan Valley. Think I'll try to find it. Part of the ad reads "This is the last vacant lot on the Loop Road overlooking the Valley". |
![]() |
![]() |
Here's the view down into Canaan Valley
from someone's yard. I knocked to ask permission first. |
![]() |
|
Mile:19.5Route 32 and Canaan Heights From here you catch Route 32 and coast back to Davis but I'm going to keep looking for a good view. Cut across 32 and get on Canaan Heights Road. |
![]() |
![]() |
Looks like they have a nice view. With that sign and barbed wire, guess they don't want to share it. |
![]() |
|
Mile:20 RT 2:46Canaan Heights Road Directly ahead is Bearden Knob Road. We turn right onto that road. Then up. |
![]() |
![]() |
Mile:20.4Forest Service gate at the the end of Bearden Knob Rd. |
![]() |
|
On top of Bearden Knob is the a weather
monitoring station and the Dolly Sods Cam. While I was taking these pictures the Park Service employee who services this equipment drove up. He told me that in winter sometimes there is so much snow up here he doesn't have to unlock the fence. He just steps over it. |
![]() |
![]() |
Go around the fence to the left.
The treeline marks the edge of the Nation Forest. Park your bike at the marker and have a look around. |
![]() |
![]() |
By the looks of the sign this will be a
a development soon. Better get up here and check out the view before someone puts up another barbed wire fence. |
![]() |
![]() |
There was no overlook per se but by
walking around and look through the trees you could see most of Canaan Valley. Well I got my view so time to head down the mountain. |
![]() |
![]() |
Get back on Beardon Knob Road and coast
down to Route 32. Be sure to STOP. |
![]() |
![]() |
Mile:21 RT 2:54Intersection of Bearden Knob Road and Route 32
|
![]() | |
Mile:22 RT 2:58Route 32 Headed downhill towards Davis. |
![]() |
![]() |
Mile:23 RT 3:00Route 32 You can get up some real speed on this section of road as you come off Canaan. Mountain |
![]() |
![]() |
Mile:23.9Reached the bottom of the downhill coast. Looking at the bridge to Davis and what looks to be construction of a new bridge. |
![]() |
![]() |
To the left of the bridge is the
beginning of the Loop Shortcut. Click on the link to check out the Shortcut. We're going to stay on the Loop Ride. Cross the bridge. |
![]() |
![]() |
View of the Blackwater River from
the bridge. First looking north then south. |
![]() |
![]() |
Mile:24 RT 3:04Route 32 Just the other side of the Blackwater River bridge in the town of Davis WV. |
![]() |
![]() |
Mile:24.6Turnoff for Blackwater Falls Road. This will take us back into the park. |
![]() |
![]() |
Mile:25 RT 3:10Blackwater Falls Road |
![]() |
![]() |
Look to your right and you'll see
the windmills on Backbone Mountain. |
![]() |
|
Mile:25.9 RT 3:14Four Way Intersection Back at our starting point in Blackwater Falls State Park Now we are coming from the opposite direction from when we last saw the interesection. End of the Loop One final note. If you are interested in camping after your ride I can highly recommend the Park campground. Just go right at the intersection. |
![]() |
There is a Loop Shortcut that runs from
Route 32 to the park road near the Blackwater Falls Overlook. The shortcut is 1.5 miles in length and reduces the complete Loop Ride length by 1 mile. It uses the River Road Trail. |
![]() |
|
The shortcut begins to the left of the
Blackwater River bridge into Davis. |
![]() |
![]() |
This first section of the shortcut
is on a road that seems to be active. |
![]() |
![]() |
It passes this interesting river
monitoring device. It was installed by the USGS to record river depth. You can now get current river depth by clicking here. |
![]() |
![]() |
Looks like the road usage was for the
construction of new piping to the local sewage treatment pond. The ducks seem to like it here. |
![]() |
![]() |
After the pond the road looks less used
and a lot more muddy. |
![]() |
![]() |
Stream crossing. |
![]() |
![]() |
Heavy tree cover just before the shortcut
ends at the park road. The group of cars across the road are in the overlook parking lot. |
![]() |
![]() |