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Otter Creek Wilderness

January 01, 1970

The Otter Creek Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness area located in the Cheat-Potomac Ranger District of Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, USA.[2] The Wilderness sits in a bowl-shaped valley formed by Otter Creek, between McGowan Mountain and Shavers Mountain in Tucker and Randolph Counties.[3] It is crossed by 42 miles (68 km) of hiking trails. Otter Creek Trail is the longest, at 11 miles (18 km).[4]

Otter Creek Wilderness
Otter Creek Trail (shown near Condon Run trailhead) runs the length of the Wilderness.
Location of Otter Creek Wilderness in West Virginia
LocationWest Virginia, United States
Coordinates39°01′58″N 79°39′13″W / 39.03278°N 79.65361°W / 39.03278; -79.65361
Area20,698 acres (83.76 km2)[2]
Established1975[3]
OperatorMonongahela National Forest
WebsiteOtter Creek Wilderness

History edit

By 1914, almost all of the virgin forest in the Otter Creek watershed had been timbered, mostly by the Otter Creek Boom and Lumber Company, but also by the owners of several small farms and homesteads.[2] In 1917 key land purchases were made by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the formation of the national forest system. The Otter Creek area was managed as a multiple use forest, including some second growth logging, until the passage of the Eastern Wilderness Act in 1975.[5] The last private in-holding was acquired the same year.

2009 addition edit

The Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 added 698 acres (282 ha) to the original 20,000 acres (8,100 ha) of the Otter Creek Wilderness.[6] This addition is situated on the northern and eastern flanks of McGowan Mountain leading down to Dry Fork. It provides much of the scenic view for this popular river which contains excellent whitewater paddling and trout fishing.

 
Lichen covered boulder in Otter Creek Wilderness. (The species is Umbilicaria mammulata.)

Ecology edit

The Shavers Mountain Spruce-Hemlock Stand, a 68-acre (280,000 m2) red spruce-hemlock stand of old growth forest, is partly within the Otter Creek Wilderness.

Activities edit

Otter Creek Wilderness, located in West Virginia, offers a plethora of activities for outdoor enthusiasts. Here are some activities you can enjoy there:[7]

  1. Hiking: Explore the numerous trails that wind through the wilderness, offering varying degrees of difficulty and stunning scenery. Popular trails include the Otter Creek Trail, which follows the creek for several miles, and the Red Creek Trail, which leads to high mountain ridges and expansive views.
  2. Backpacking: With over 40 miles of trails, Otter Creek Wilderness is a backpacker's paradise. Spend a night or more under the stars, camping along the trails and immersing yourself in the tranquility of the wilderness.
  3. Fishing: Otter Creek and its tributaries offer excellent trout fishing opportunities. Spend a day casting your line into the clear mountain streams and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
  4. Wildlife Viewing: Keep an eye out for the diverse wildlife that calls Otter Creek Wilderness home. Deer, black bear, wild turkey, and numerous bird species can often be spotted throughout the area.
  5. Photography: Capture the beauty of the wilderness with your camera as you hike along scenic trails, cross crystal-clear streams, and take in breathtaking vistas.
  6. Birdwatching: Bring your binoculars and bird guidebook to spot a variety of bird species, including warblers, thrushes, woodpeckers, and more.
  7. Nature Study: Take a leisurely stroll through the forest and observe the diverse plant life, from towering hardwood trees to delicate wildflowers.
  8. Picnicking: Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic at one of the designated picnic areas or find a scenic spot along the trails to stop and have a meal surrounded by nature.
  9. Geocaching: Join the treasure hunt by searching for hidden geocaches scattered throughout the wilderness. It's a fun way to explore the area while adding an element of adventure to your hike.
  10. Stargazing: On clear nights, take advantage of the lack of light pollution and gaze up at the star-filled sky. The remote location of Otter Creek Wilderness makes it an ideal spot for stargazing.

References edit

  1. ^ "Otter Creek Wilderness". Protected Planet. IUCN. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Otter Creek Wilderness". Monongahela National Forest. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  3. ^ a b Otter Creek Wilderness page, GORP web site, accessed April 15, 2008
  4. ^ Otter Creek page, Wilderness.net web site, accessed April 18, 2007
  5. ^ Wilderness Description page, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy web site, accessed April 18, 2008
  6. ^ "Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  7. ^ "Visit Wilderness". wilderness.net. Retrieved 2024-05-06.

Further reading edit

  • Otter Creek Wilderness at American Byways

January 01, 1970
otter, creek, wilderness, wilderness, area, located, cheat, potomac, ranger, district, monongahela, national, forest, west, virginia, wilderness, sits, bowl, shaped, valley, formed, otter, creek, between, mcgowan, mountain, shavers, mountain, tucker, randolph,. The Otter Creek Wilderness is a U S Wilderness area located in the Cheat Potomac Ranger District of Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia USA 2 The Wilderness sits in a bowl shaped valley formed by Otter Creek between McGowan Mountain and Shavers Mountain in Tucker and Randolph Counties 3 It is crossed by 42 miles 68 km of hiking trails Otter Creek Trail is the longest at 11 miles 18 km 4 Otter Creek WildernessIUCN category Ib wilderness area 1 Otter Creek Trail shown near Condon Run trailhead runs the length of the Wilderness Location of Otter Creek Wilderness in West VirginiaLocationWest Virginia United StatesCoordinates39 01 58 N 79 39 13 W 39 03278 N 79 65361 W 39 03278 79 65361Area20 698 acres 83 76 km2 2 Established1975 3 OperatorMonongahela National ForestWebsiteOtter Creek Wilderness Contents 1 History 1 1 2009 addition 2 Ecology 3 Activities 4 References 5 Further readingHistory editBy 1914 almost all of the virgin forest in the Otter Creek watershed had been timbered mostly by the Otter Creek Boom and Lumber Company but also by the owners of several small farms and homesteads 2 In 1917 key land purchases were made by the U S Forest Service as part of the formation of the national forest system The Otter Creek area was managed as a multiple use forest including some second growth logging until the passage of the Eastern Wilderness Act in 1975 5 The last private in holding was acquired the same year 2009 addition edit The Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 added 698 acres 282 ha to the original 20 000 acres 8 100 ha of the Otter Creek Wilderness 6 This addition is situated on the northern and eastern flanks of McGowan Mountain leading down to Dry Fork It provides much of the scenic view for this popular river which contains excellent whitewater paddling and trout fishing nbsp Lichen covered boulder in Otter Creek Wilderness The species is Umbilicaria mammulata Ecology editThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it December 2013 The Shavers Mountain Spruce Hemlock Stand a 68 acre 280 000 m2 red spruce hemlock stand of old growth forest is partly within the Otter Creek Wilderness Activities editOtter Creek Wilderness located in West Virginia offers a plethora of activities for outdoor enthusiasts Here are some activities you can enjoy there 7 Hiking Explore the numerous trails that wind through the wilderness offering varying degrees of difficulty and stunning scenery Popular trails include the Otter Creek Trail which follows the creek for several miles and the Red Creek Trail which leads to high mountain ridges and expansive views Backpacking With over 40 miles of trails Otter Creek Wilderness is a backpacker s paradise Spend a night or more under the stars camping along the trails and immersing yourself in the tranquility of the wilderness Fishing Otter Creek and its tributaries offer excellent trout fishing opportunities Spend a day casting your line into the clear mountain streams and enjoy the peaceful surroundings Wildlife Viewing Keep an eye out for the diverse wildlife that calls Otter Creek Wilderness home Deer black bear wild turkey and numerous bird species can often be spotted throughout the area Photography Capture the beauty of the wilderness with your camera as you hike along scenic trails cross crystal clear streams and take in breathtaking vistas Birdwatching Bring your binoculars and bird guidebook to spot a variety of bird species including warblers thrushes woodpeckers and more Nature Study Take a leisurely stroll through the forest and observe the diverse plant life from towering hardwood trees to delicate wildflowers Picnicking Pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic at one of the designated picnic areas or find a scenic spot along the trails to stop and have a meal surrounded by nature Geocaching Join the treasure hunt by searching for hidden geocaches scattered throughout the wilderness It s a fun way to explore the area while adding an element of adventure to your hike Stargazing On clear nights take advantage of the lack of light pollution and gaze up at the star filled sky The remote location of Otter Creek Wilderness makes it an ideal spot for stargazing References edit Otter Creek Wilderness Protected Planet IUCN Retrieved 30 April 2018 a b c Otter Creek Wilderness Monongahela National Forest Retrieved April 13 2010 a b Otter Creek Wilderness page GORP web site accessed April 15 2008 Otter Creek page Wilderness net web site accessed April 18 2007 Wilderness Description page West Virginia Highlands Conservancy web site accessed April 18 2008 Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 Library of Congress Retrieved 2009 05 14 Visit Wilderness wilderness net Retrieved 2024 05 06 Further reading editOtter Creek Wilderness at American Byways Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Otter Creek Wilderness amp oldid 1222534140, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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