Virtual Tour

The Mileage and Ride Time (RT) figures were taken from my bike computer. Ride Time is just the
time spent actually moving. Your total trip time will be higher. There are two photos with the each "Mile and RT" listing.
Usually the first photo is the view up the trail and the second is the view looking back. Two views for the price of one.

Click on photo to enlarge

Mile: 0   RT 0:0

The ride begins just off of Forest Road
19 at the gate across Forest Road 70.
Click here for parking directions.

On the other side of FR 19 you can see this sign which marks the boundary of Dolly Sods Wilderness. Bikes are not permitted in the wilderness and this ride does not cross that boundary.
Warning - UXB This area was used for artillery practice during WWII. Unexploded ordnance is still found on occasion. It shouldn't be a problem with this ride but like the sign reads "DO NOT TOUCH".

On the other side of the gate are these Forest Service signs and map. Be sure to check them out before starting. Let's get going. Start coasting downhill on Forest Road 70.
Mile: 1 RT :07 Forest Road 70
Mile: 1.6 South Prong Trail
Mile: 2 RT :17 Forest Road 70
Mile: 3 RT :27 Forest Road 70
Mile: 3 Boars Nest Trail It was on this trail that autistic hiker Jacob Allen became separated from his family on 10/15/2007. He was lost for four days before being found unharmed and in remarkably good shape. Funny coincidence. The day he went missing I was hiking the next mountain over. Picture is of the National Guard helicopter heading to Dolly Sods to join in on the search that day. It's flying past New Creek Mountain.
Mile: 3.4 Second Forest Road gate This second gate marks the end of FR 70. Just the other side of the gate is the pipeline right of way. During hunting season the first gate is opened and this gate is closed. This second photo was taken at the end of April with snow still evident.
Mile: 3.4 Gas Pipeline Right Of Way This is the bottom of the South Fork Red Creek Valley. The right of way crosses the valley running roughly northwest to southeast. Roaring Plains is over 200 feet higher on the left and Flatrock Plains on the right. First photo is the view left (southeast). Second photo is the view right (northwest).

The ride continues to the left. This next section is the hardest part of the
entire ride. It is a single track that goes up the right of way. There are a series of
terraces that direct water across the right of way so it doesn't drain
straight down the hill. Expect it to be wet and muddy on the uphill side of each
of these terraces. Because of this I recommend not attempting this ride right
after it has rained, unless you like it really muddy.

Halfway up the hill.
On the way up the hill you'll see several of these posts. The buried cables are used to monitor the underground gas line you are biking over.
Mile: 4 RT :45 Pipeline Right Of Way Right at the crest of the hill. Looking back you can see Flatrock Plains on the other side of the valley. You can just see the antenna in the distance. We'll be getting a closer look at it later in the ride.
Mile: 4.1 This is Roaring Plains. "The Roaring Plains and Flatrock Plains area comprises the highest plateaus of their size in the Eastern United States."
Mile: 4.3 Continental Divide You are now on the Eastern Continental Divide. All the water that falls in front of you will drain to the Chesapeake Bay while behind you everything flows to the Gulf Of Mexico. Along here the Continental Divide also marks the border between Randolph and Pendleton Counties. Pendleton County lies ahead.

Mile: 4.4

Eastern Edge Of Roaring Plains
You are looking over the Allegheny
Front towards North Fork Mountain as
the right of way continues down
Allegheny Mountain.

I would have include a trip out to the
next ridgeline in this ride but the
ground in the middle is so wet and
marshy that no bike riding is possible.

Side Trip Now that I've suggested you not to go farther out the pipeline I'll show you what you'll see in case you do. Since this is a side trip, the distance out and back isn't included in the 13.4 mile total trip length for this ride.
Side Trip The first photo is looking back at the Roaring Plains from the low point between there and the ridgeline. You can see how wet and marshy it is. The second photo is your view after you hit the marshy part and fall over. You might not get the same view but I sure did.
Side Trip Here is the view from the far ridgeline Across the valley is North Fork Mountain. From the tracks on the right of way it looks like 4x4s must frequently come up to this point from below. The second photo is the view back to Roaring Plains. It's a little under a mile.

Side Trip
This ridgeline marks the edge of
Monongahela National Forest.

The view from the ridgeline.

This is the end of the side trip.

Back on the "official" ride. We are at the eastern edge of Roaring Plains. Look to your left and you'll see a path leading from the right of way to the east. The path might not be obvious in the photos but it's easy to see when you're there.
Mile: 4.6 Trail Split Look for the trail to split at these trees. Go right. In the second photo you can see the same spot in April. This is a well worn trail.

360 degree view of Roaring Plains

Mile: 4.8

East end Of the "T"
Continue out the trail and it will lead to the eastern edge of Roaring Plains
where there is a bit of a overlook. There is something else here so you'll know
when you have reached this point.
This is the end of the first leg of the Two Plains "T".
You are looking over the North Fork South Branch Potomac River Valley with
the North Fork Mountain on the other side.

Seneca Rocks
These two photos were taken while
standing at the same spot as the
above photo. The difference is that
these photos were taken in April so
the leaves aren't in the way.
If you look due south from this
point you can see Seneca Rocks in the
distance.

The second photo is a zoomed version of
the first. You can see the Rocks in the
center of the photo.

This ride doesn't go to Seneca Rocks but since it's neat place let's take a quick look.

Seneca Rocks
As seen from the
Seneca Rocks Discovery Center.

If you want you can CAREFULLY
climb to the top of Seneca Rocks

Here's the view from on top of Seneca Rocks.

From Seneca Rocks you can see where
this Roaring Plains overlook is by
facing north like in the first photo.
Follow the pipeline right of way as it
snakes up Smith Mountain.

In the second zoomed photo follow
the pipeline as it runs up the
Allegheny Front to the ridgeline then
it goes left as it crosses over Roaring
Plains. The overlook is just to the
right. Of course it's eight miles away
so it might be hard to see.

Back at the overlook. Turn around and head back the way we came. Mile: 5 RT 1:00 Roaring Plains Retracing our path.
Mile: 5.4 Back onto the right of way. Turn right. Second Photo: Cross back over the Continental Divide at mile 5.6.

Mile: 5.8  RT 1:10

Back at the western edge of Roaring
Plains. Looking across the South Fork
Red Creek valley.

Mile: 6   RT 1:13

Pipeline Right Of Way

Mile: 6.4  RT 1:18

South Fork Red Creek Valley
Back at the bottom of the valley.
Before heading up the other side let's
take a quick look around.
This seems to be a favorite spot
for butterflies. Usually see a
rabble of butterflies here.

You'll see piles of limestone next to the South Fork Red Creek. The limestone is used to counteract the effects of acid rain. Without treatment the pH of the water would drop enough to negatively affect the fish and insects that live in the creek.
Time to head up the other side of the valley. This side will be easier since there is an access road used to reach the microwave antenna we previously saw from Roaring Plains.
Mile: 7 RT 1:29 Flatrock Plains Reached the top of the hill and now on Flatrock Plains. Second photos is a look back across the valley towards Roaring Plains.
Mile: 7.6 Electric Line Sign of civilization. Power line to the microwave tower. The road goes left but we go straight ahead keeping on the right of way. You can see the antenna out the road to the left. We'll check it out on the way back.
Mile: 8 RT 1:37 Western Edge of Flatrock Plains Looking down into the Red Creek Valley. Laneville is directly below this point.
Looking across the valley you can see the pipeline right of way continuing up Cabin Mountain. Canaan Valley is on the other side of Cabin Mountain.

This is the western end of the "T".
We'll go no farther out the right of
way. From here turn around and head
back the way we just came. There is one
more place to visit.

Mile: 8.3 Road to Antenna Head back up the right of way and turn right onto antenna access road. If you're ever up here on a cloudy day it looks like this.
Looks like the antenna company was expecting some walk-up business. There's a sign advertising tower space available. When you're walking around the control building, be careful where you step. Snake in the grass.

From here we are going retrace our route
back to the beginning of the ride. It's
mostly downhill so the trip back will go
pretty quick.

Mile: 9 RT 1:48 Tower Access Road
Mile: 9.4 Eastern Edge of Flatrock Plains
Mile: 10 RT 1:57 Back at the bottom of the valley We are now facing Forest Road 70.
Mile: 11 RT 2:03 Forest Road 70
Mile: 12 RT 2:08 Forest Road 70
Mile: 13 RT 2:14 Forest Road 70
Mile: 13.4 RT 2:17 Back at the Forest Gate The end of the ride.

Click on photo to enlarge

Dolly Sods Two Plains "T"