Coopers Rock and the Clay Furnace Trail
Aside from the eponymous overlook, Cooper's Rock also offers a wide variety of hiking trails.
In late May 2024, mountain laurels, catalpas, and ferns were all in full bloom. We saw a five-lined skink at the overlook and we explored the furnace.
If you're up for a bit of a hike, the park also has a beautiful 1.2 mile (1.9 km) trail called the Clay Furnace Trail with a 203 ft (~62m) elevation variation. It goes over intense hills along a quiet creek to the Henry Clay Furnace.
This iron furnace was named after then Kentucky Senator because of his role in the iron industry. It operated from 1845 to 1865 with sporadic uses until 1889. The trail passes several of the iron mine chasms.
We often go to Cooper’s Rock because of how easy it is to get there, but we haven’t explored nearly enough of this park. Share with us your favorite trails at Cooper’s Rock, and we hope to see you out and about this year in West Virginia!
Happy Travels!
If you’re looking to get out and explore this year in West Virginia, and you want some great photos to remember your adventures, contact Gus using the form below. We’d love to show you all of our favorite parts of West Virginia!
Flowers on a Walk
The smell of the hibiscus wall does not compare to the light smell of the mimosas.
When we for walks, we like to look for flowers. There’s a beautiful mimosa tree by the river and a wall of rose of Sharons.
We’re enjoying the snow, and how it makes everything look clean and bright. But we’re also looking forward to longer days with warmer weather, so we can see all the flowers bloom again. We hope to see you out and about too, enjoying everything West Virginia has to offer.
Happy Travels!
Looking for someone to help you capture this year’s spring memories? Contact Gus today, and we’ll get you scheduled asap!
Dolly Sods Adventure
On September 22nd, 2024, we made a day trip to Dolly Sods. We heard the blueberry shrubs knew it was autumn and turned bright red.
On September 22nd, 2024, Elizabeth and I made a day trip to Dolly Sods. We heard the blueberry shrubs knew it was autumn and turned bright red.
We enjoyed some sunshine and a crisp breeze from some of the boulders at the Bear Rocks Preserve as we watched a small bird bathing in the natural birdbath puddle on a boulder.
The colors of the blueberry bushes did not disappoint. The bright red covered parts of the grounds and gave so much color to the plateau.
On our way back down the mountain, we stopped by the iconic yellow birch tree. The leaves had not yet changed but it was still beautiful.
After we visited Dolly Sods, Elizabeth and I dropped down to the iconic Triangle Rock along the North Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River north of Seneca Rocks near Petersburg.
Overall, we’ve had a dry summer so the water was lower than I had seen in a while. I just like watching the shimmering reflection on the inside of the nook.
On September 22nd, 2024, after our visit to Dolly Sods, Triangle Rock, Seneca Rock, and even Davis for some food, we took Route 219 and Route 50 home. We took the top down on the Jeep and I had folded the seats down to include pillows and blankets for sightseeing while we relaxed between stops. It was a beautiful experience and the last sunlight of the day was especially bright in the changing leaves.
Dolly Sods is always a favorite in the fall, but no matter where you go in West Virginia the autumn leaves will inspire you.
Happy Travels!