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Mile: 0 RT 0:00The bike ride begins at the entrance of the Whittaker Campground Since this loop takes several hours to complete I always stay there the night before so I can get an early start. Turn left onto Gum Road. |
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Mile: 0.3First Cass Scenic Railroad crossing. There will be more of these later in the trip. More info on the railroad HERE. |
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| Roadside Art on Gum Road |
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Mile:1 RT 0:09Gum Road |
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Mile: 1.6Gum Road ends. Turn left onto Back Mountain Road. |
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Mile:2 RT 0:19Back Mountain Road |
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Mile:3 RT 0:25Back Mountain Road |
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Mile:4 RT 0:32Back Mountain Road |
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Mile:4.3Wanless Cemetery |
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| This is the view directly across the the road from the cemetery. You are looking up at the observation platform at the Bald Knob picnic area. The second photo is a zoomed view of the platform. To see what the cemetery looks like from the observation platform click HERE. |
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| Local dog patrol. There are no lease laws so be warned that you might have a barking dog come at you. They were all bark, no bite. |
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Mile:5 RT 0:39Back Mountain Road This is a farm at mile 5 with the view looking again back up at the observation platform. To see what the farm looks like from the observation platform click HERE. |
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Mile:6 RT 0:45Back Mountain Road |
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Mile:6.4Turn Back Mountain Road onto Forest Road 235. In the second photo on the right side of the of the road is a small sign that reads "235". This will be the only Forest Road sign on the entire bike loop. |
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Mile:7 RT 1:02Forest Road 235 First of three hairpin turns on this section of Forest Road 235. |
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Mile:8 RT 1:18Forest Road 235 Still climbing. |
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Mile:8.3Forest Road 235 Second turn. |
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Mile:9 RT 1:35Forest Road 235 Third and last hairpin turn. |
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Mile:9.8The road suddenly flattens out. There is a parking area here used by hunters and hikers. Forest Road 235 continues from here across the mountain to Cheat Bridge. We are going to leave FR 235 and get on Forest Road 267. In the picture below FR 235 comes up from the right and leaves right of center. FR 267 begins on the left side behind the gate. |
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| Map of the Bald Knob area |
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Mile:13 RT 2:27Forest Road 267B The road runs alongside the railroad tracks it's entire length. They will both end at the Bald Knob picnic area. |
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Mile:13.2This is a spring fed water tank used by the Cass steam locomotives to refill on their trip up the mountain. There is a slight oil sheen on top of the water so I wouldn't drink from it but it is plenty cold so a splash will cool you down on a hot day. |
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Mile:13.4Crossing for the path to Bald Knob. Cross the tracks and head 0.5 mile up the path to reach Bald Knob. |
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Mile:13.8Path to Bald Knob. This is the view just before you reach the top of Bald Knob. You can just see the Wilderness Cabin and the fire tower. |
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Bald Knob Wilderness Cabin You can rent this cabin by the night. The train brings you up the mountain and drops you off at the crossing. You catch the train to go back down the mountain when you're done. Cabin facilities are rustic. Rental details available HERE |
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Bald Knob fire tower This thing has seen better days. All the lower steps have been removed. Bald Knob is offically considered the second highest point in the state. Snowshoe is now claiming to be higher. |
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Mile:14 RT 2:42Path back down from Bald Knob. |
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Back at railroad crossing Looking right up the tracks you can see Forest Road 267B to the left of the tracks. Get back on Forest Road 267B and head towards the picnic The "Flag Stop" is used to stop the train if you stayed at the cabin. area. |
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Mile:14.7Bald Knob Observation Platform and Picnic Area Forest Road 267B ends here. |
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| The view from Bald Knob Overlook. |
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In the middle of the overlook photo you can see a small white shape in the distance. It is the top of the G.B.T. at the Greenbank National Radio Astronomy Observatory . This is the world's largest fully steerable single aperture antenna. Here's a closer photo of it. |
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View looking from the observation
platform back at the picnic area.
On the far right you will see a caboose. You can rent the caboose by the night. The train will bring you and the caboose up the mountain and you stay as long as you like. The train comes up and takes you and the caboose back on it's regular run. More info on caboose rentals can be found here. |
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If you're at the overlook at the right
time you'll be able to hear the train coming up the mountain. Being coal fired the locomotive produces a lot of smoke going uphill. |
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This is a
Shay Locomotive.
There were designed for steep and windy mountain railroads. If you look closely at the wheels on the engine you can see the gearing. This engine was built in 1923. One engine in use at Cass is over 100 years old. |
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Mile:15 RT 2:52Forest Road 267B Heading back the way we came. |
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