Cranberry Wilderness
Night 1, 6/30
Location: Cranberry Campground (Outside Richwood, WV)
Directions: Forest Rd 101 to 76
Site: 51
Fee: $10/ per night
Site 51 is located near the lavatory and the Cranberry River is across the road. The Cranberry Wilderness area is only a few hundred feet away and there is a large lot for backcountry camping. If you follow rd. 76 out the opposite direction there are a number of river site between Big Rock and Cranberry Campground.
The Cranberry Campground has a large number of RVs. It does not feel off the grid.
Night 2, 7/1
Location: Tea Creek Campground, Cranberry Wilderness
Site: 23
Fee: $10/ per night
The next morning we headed towards Snowshoe on the Highland Scenic Highway (RT 39, 150) that runs from Richwood towards Snowshoe. We stopped at the Cranberry Glades & the Falls for Hills Creek. The Williams River Valley Overlook travelling north on 150 offers many stunning views of the surround mountains as does the Spruce Knob Overlook.
We stumbled upon an amazing campground: Tea Creek. Site 23 is one of the best sites at the campground. It is wooded and very secluded with access to Tea Creek.
Dolly Sods
Night 3, 7/2
Location: Red Creek Campground, Dolly Sods
Site: 1 (in full sun)
Fee: $10/ per night
We drove RT 28 N from Tea Creek to Seneca Rocks to Dolly Sods (19N to 75). The Dolly Sods is an amazing, sub alpine ecosystem. It looks similar to parts of the west coast. There are pine tress with many scenic vistas, and miles of back country. The plant life includes azaleas, mountain laurel, blueberries, stunted pine trees. The Bear Rocks trailhead is located near the end of 75 with large white boulders.
Based on the weather and the amazing scenery we decided to spend the night in the Dolly Sods. We were able to snag a site at the Red Creek campground. After camp was setup, we walked 3/4 miles of the Blackbird Knob trail. The trailhead is near the Red Creek campground. The trail was relatively flat rocks. Most of the rocks were not too large for Grace. Some muddy patches. Breaks in the foliage & overcrops offered great views. All throughout the Dolly Sods there are lots of options for backcountry camping. It is possible to roadside camp along portions of 75 east of Bear Rocks.
