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Smoke Gap Canyon, identified to the locals as “The Smokes,” seems like a secret out of doors journey hideaway. As you drive into Smoke Gap Canyon Recreation Space, you instantly get the sense of discovery because the 20-mile-long canyon partitions stand up round you and the street winds with the South Department of the Potomac River in a approach that feels just like the water is main the best way.
Nestled inside a 40 sq. mile space of the Monongahela Nationwide Forest and framed by North Fork Mountain and Cave Mountain, Smoke Gap Canyon is a mecca for hikers, bikers, climbers, fishermen, paddlers, tubers, and campers alike. Enter from Smoke Gap Highway from State Route 220 in Pendleton County or from the north on State Route 55 from Grant County. When you’ve discovered this hidden gem, listed here are some adventures available in Smoke Gap Canyon.
Climbing the Canyon
There are over 300 established climbs inside Smoke Gap Canyon starting from beginner-friendly to superior sport climbs. Routes are properly bolted with fashionable {hardware} and are unfold out throughout your complete space, which makes discovering them a part of the journey.
Although there are many spots to select from in The Smokes, a go-to space for climbers is Information Wall. Providing a mixture of trad and sport climbs between its two partitions, Ninja and Sunshine, this climbing space has over 40 routes starting from 5.5 to five.11c graded routes.
Mountain climbing / Biking North Fork Mountain Path
There are various methods to spin your wheels on this space together with some thrilling mountain bike rides off of Smoke Highway and scenic street rides ranging from the Forman Heart, all with numerous mileage and elevation acquire. Out of all of the biking choices within the space, the North Fork Mountain Path is probably the most adventurous.
The North Fork Mountain Trail is a 24-mile stretch that travels alongside the western ridge of the canyon, providing probably the most dramatic views in West Virginia. There are a number of other ways to journey this difficult path—with probably the most daring using the ridge south to north and descending to the North Fork Mountain trailhead on Smoke Gap Highway. From there they both have a shuttle take them again to North Fork Mountain Hearth Tower trailhead the place they began, or they make a loop and journey again on Smoke Gap Highway, including 16 miles.
There are two different trailheads close to the northern finish of the path, Landis and Redman, that give riders the chance to shorten their rides whereas nonetheless providing a difficult and scenic expertise. Beginning at Landis trailhead touring north creates a extra approachable loop of roughly seven miles whereas holding the butt-kicking climb side to the journey.
North Fork Mountain Path can also be a preferred mountaineering and backpacking space. Many hikers tackle the difficult five-mile loop to Chimney High close to the north finish of the path, whereas backpackers will take round two days to hike the extreme 24.7 miles.
Fishing and Paddling the Potomac River
The South Department of the Potomac River flows by Smoke Gap and is a traditional fishing journey by the canyon. Stocked with rainbow and golden trout whereas homing an abundance of native trout, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass it is a implausible place to moist your line. Smoke Gap Outfitters, Harman’s, and Three Rivers Guiding are all implausible close by guiding providers that provide classes and guided fishing experiences.
This 16-mile stretch of river can also be a shocking space to paddle or float with dramatic canyon options and sizzling spots for viewing birds like bald eagles, ospreys, sandpipers, and kingfishers. The vast majority of the rapids on the route are class I-II with a number of class II+ to concentrate on. Water’s Edge Outfitters may also help get you on the water with shuttle and information providers together with tube, kayak, and canoe leases.
Tubing Huge Bend Campground
In case you are searching for a one-stop store for river enjoyable and tenting, you owe it to your self to move to Huge Bend Campground. Due to Mom Nature herself, this part of the river bends into a pointy horseshoe form across the campground, creating the right tubing part for floaters. No shuttle required— put in on one facet of the street, float across the bend, leap out on the opposite facet and easily stroll throughout the street again to the place you initially put in to do all of it once more. It may possibly take anyplace from half-hour to an hour to drift across the total scenic bend and presents a full day’s price of enjoyable.
Tenting and Points of interest
Together with Huge Bend Campground, there are nice tenting/lodging choices close to and inside Smoke Gap. Smoke Gap Caverns and Log Cabin Resort is a one cease vacation spot for enjoyable with stunning Appalachian cabins and providing guided fishing and cavern excursions, an enormous present store, 9-hole putt-putt, and extra. In case you are seeking to pitch a tent, Eagles Rocks Campground, Jess Judy Campground, and Shreve’s Campground are all glorious tenting choices in Smoke Gap Canyon.
Shreve’s Nation Retailer not solely presents groceries, beer, drinks, ice, bait, fishing provides, internal tubes, and the rest chances are you’ll want on a tenting journey, additionally they host dwell music reveals on vacation weekends. It’s additionally an important place to snag some Wifi as it’s restricted all through the canyon.
Study extra about Smoke Gap Canyon and plan your journey right here.
Sponsored Content material by: Shannon McGowan of Blue Ridge Open air Journal
All Pictures by Shannon McGowan
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