Virtual Ride Climb Canaan Miles 13 to 26

Miles 0 through 12

Canaan Loop Road Ride

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Mile:13 RT 1:56 *Forest Road 13* For the next 4 miles it's all uphill.
Mile:13.4 Pointy Knob Trail
Mile:14.1 RT 2:06 Forest Road 13 I slightly overshot mile 14.
Mile:14.9 Lindy Run Trail No. 109
Mile:15 RT 2:14 Forest Road 13
Fire Trail No. 6 (TR 108)
Red Run crosses under the road.
Mile:15.6 Blackwater Canaan X-country Ski Trail Trail is on the outside of the Loop.
Mile:16 RT 2:22 Forest Road 13

Mile:16.4 Canaan Mountain meadow 360 degree pan

Mile:16.8 Davis Trail No. 107
Mile:17 RT 2:29 Forest Road 13
Mile:18 RT 2:33 Forest Road 13
Mile:18.1 Fire Trail No. 3 (TR 104)
Mile:18.8 Forest Service Gate
Mile:19 RT 2:40 Forest 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:19.5 Route 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 2:46 Canaan Heights Road Directly ahead is Bearden Knob Road. We turn right onto that road. Then up.
Mile:20.4 Forest 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 2:54 Intersection of Bearden Knob Road and Route 32
Mile:22 RT 2:58 Route 32 Headed downhill towards Davis.
Mile:23 RT 3:00 Route 32 You can get up some real speed on this section of road as you come off Canaan. Mountain
Mile:23.9 Reached 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 3:04 Route 32 Just the other side of the Blackwater River bridge in the town of Davis WV.
Mile:24.6 Turnoff for Blackwater Falls Road. This will take us back into the park.
Mile:25 RT 3:10 Blackwater Falls Road
Look to your right and you'll see the windmills on Backbone Mountain.
Mile:25.9 RT 3:14 Four 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.

Loop Shortcut

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.