Thankfully I read reviews before going. there's a few sections that are overgrown but still followable. There are 6 access points with parking areas for Otter Creek Wilderness. -79.680896. Elevations range from 1,800 feet at the mouth of Otter Creek to 3,900 feet on McGowan Mountain. You can also backpack for multiple days! Beautiful trail for hiking BUT not good for biking at all. Otter Creek Wildlife Area ranges between 1-5 miles north/northwest of Wheeler. Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 60 – 63.8: James River Visitor Center and Otter Creek Campground. Otter Creek Campground is operated by John & Lori Keohane and their team of caretakers who make sure the campground is maintained to the high standards campers expect.. The trails in the Otter Creek gorge are beautiful. Treat any spring or stream water before you drink it. The area is closed on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. Once a heavily logged area, Otter Creek Wilderness is a natural bowl formed by Shavers and McGowan mountains, with elevations ranging from 1,800 feet at the mouth of Otter Creek to 3,900 feet at the top of McGowan Mountain. All in all we would do this trail again. The next Thousand Islands hiking trail that we would like to introduce you to is the network of trails at the Otter Creek Preserve. Want to Understand the Vibe of “America’s Coolest Small Town”. PO Box 368, Parsons, WV 26287. The first leg of Otter Creek Loop is Aral Road, a narrow two-track that is followed for more than a mile and makes for easy hiking. This 20,698-acre natural bowl formed by Shavers and McGowan mountains has several beautiful backcountry opportunities for hikers who are looking for a long-distance trails, wildlife, and remote treks. Thunder storm came in about 6.5 miles in and it got wet fast and shoes soaked (even gortex) it was very peaceful though! There are several different loops of various distances that one can hike. Be especially careful on the trail after long periods of rain, because most of the paths zigzag across Otter Creek without bridges, and the water rises and flows fast. Best photos, useful tips, downloadable packing list and practical information. Bushy and overgrown in some areas. Cheat-Potomac Ranger District Parking is about .5-mile away. Resources: Went in a circle for about 5 mins trying to reckon. An accessible fishing pier on Otter Lake provides opportunities for visitors with impaired mobility to fish for warm water species. The 11.8-mile trail runs from Condon Run Trailhead to Dry Fork Trailhead. Otter Creek Wilderness Area, within Monongahela National Forest, is a unique and special place hidden between two mountains not far from Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia. Some cross over creeks. 2 reviews of Otter Creek Preserve "We were here while on a fall road trip to the Thousand Islands and Watertown areas. Otter Creek Campground, adjacent to this loop trail, is open from April 1 through October 31. Located in the Town of Alexandria, this Preserve offers 1.9 miles of trail for walking, hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, it also offers dramatic views of both Otter Creek and Lynch Creek. At Our First TAM Trailhead. This area provides visitors with a restaurant and gift shop, visitor information, hiking trails, campground, campfire talks and restrooms. It is part of the James River/Otter Creek Recreation Area/George Washington National Trails are unkept in areas and pants should definitely be worn! 37.55543, -79.36547 Otter Creek Trail is a nice little out and back that meanders alongside its namesake creek. Also trail not marked well or covered by felled branches at some points. Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area has changed hands a number of times since its inception in the 1930s, and was briefly closed between 2009 and 2011. Trail is well marked most of the time. Good trail though, beautiful views along the creek. Wildlife photographers flock here, too. With the sounds of the singing birds, wind, and streams flowing through the mountains, your hike is sure to be a calming and peaceful experience. Otter Creek Wilderness is accessible year round. Because there’s less foot traffic than some other parks, it gives photographers the chance to find tucked-away viewing areas to set up shop and capture animals that wouldn’t be as close by on busier trail systems. It’s a challenging hike that crosses Otter Creek several times, but it has beautiful views of high waterfalls and, near the trail’s end, it crosses the only bridge in the wilderness area—a suspension bridge over Dry Fork. The Otter Creek Trail, the most popular, follows an abandoned logging railroad grade along Otter Creek between Condon Run and the Dry Fork River. Valley floors and creek beds stretch beneath canopies of spruce trees and enclaves of rhododendron and mountain laurel, and the mountain summits are topped with rocky overhangs where you can gaze out over breathtaking views of the valleys and ridges below. If there’s been prolonged rain, be ready for the possibility of high-water crossings at Otter Creek. Yost Ridge, Coral Ridge, and Holsclaw Hill Loop, Siltstone Trail and Tom Wallace Lake Loop, Scotts Gap to Bearcamp via Siltstone Trail, Yost Ridge, Mitchell Hill Lake Loop, and Orange Trail Loop. Otter Creek Outdoor Recreational Area is one of the top places to visit in Brandenburg Kentucky.Beautiful place to spend time with friends and family.The creek water is smoothing as you have a picnic under a shade tree.The kids with love you for the awesome play ground area.Lots of amazing sites to view.Stop by soon and enjoy Brandenburg s little touch of Heaven. There are also caves and waterfalls to explore between the valleys and summits. The upper part of Otter Creek provides natural spawning beds for speckled (brook) trout. Overall, trail is in good shape. Parsons, Also, for dog lovers (we are!) Vegetation consists of second-growth timber, rhododendron, and a variety of mosses and lichens. Some end up at scenic overlooks. Your localized Hiking weather forecast, from AccuWeather, provides you with the tailored weather forecast that you need to plan your day's activities Rock outcrops jut from the hillsides of the deep glen. The road begins by crossing a vehicle bridge over Otter Creek and then climbs above it. The Otter Creek Wilderness brochure is a great resource for planning your hike—it includes the trail names and numbers, mileage, and the number of water crossings you will have to face. Record your own itinerary from the Wikiloc app, upload the … Hiking Time: Elev. Experienced backpackers who are used to the demands of switchbacks and water crossings thrive along Otter Creek’s trails, and in its remote wilderness. Make a hairpin left turn onto Forest Road 162, and follow that with an immediate left to Mylius Trailhead. Morgan Falls at Otter Creek Park Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area (formerly Otter Creek Park) is a 2,600 acre (11 km²) riverfront park in Meade Otter Creek officially reopened on May 11, 2011, but several facilities in need of repair and renovation, notably the Nature Center and Conference. On US Route 219 just east of Parsons. Recreational opportunities here include hiking, camping, picnicking and fishing. By: Lisa Rating: Date of Hike: Sunday, March 25, 2018 This was an easy, beautiful hike following Otter Creek. This property is comprised of several small parcels scattered throughout the western half of Otter Creek Township. Along the way, two beach access trails, posted with keep-your-swimsuit-on signs, are passed before Aral Road swings out of view of the creek at Mile 0.5. Otter Creek Trail is a 13.8 kilometer moderately trafficked loop trail located near Brandenburg, Kentucky that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. One includes a cool suspension bridge. Cavers also love exploring the caves and 2 miles of passages in the northern portion of Otter Creek Wilderness. Otter Creek, Bike/Hiking Trail Red Cedar, Bike/Horse/Hiking Trail Red Cedar, Horse/Hiking Trail Valley Overlook, Bike/Hiking Trail Valley Overlook, Bike/Hiking/Horse Trail Elevation Contour Otter Creek ORA Boundary Entrance Gate Trailhead O t t e r C r e e k R d R:\WMAs\OtterCreek_ORA\OCORA_trail_map.mxd. Hiking the Otter Creek Gorge Preserve with Drop-in Brewery Beers. Gain: Parking: 3.5 hours plus a half hour for lunch 640 ft Parking at the Visitor Center. In addition to water and electric campsites, we feature a boat launch and picnic area along the Susquehanna River, as well as miles of hiking trails.