Revised Proposal With Options
Dolly Sods Wilderness Area
Monongahela National Forest
Near Petersburg, West Virginia
Troop 759
Backpacking Trip – Options 1, 2a, & 2b
Option 1 – 6.6 miles Round Trip (3.3 miles each day)
Option 2a – 13.7 Miles Round Trip (8.6 first day, 5.1 miles second day)
Option 2b – 12.6 Miles Round Trip ( 9.2 first day, 3.4 miles second day)
Itinerary:
Friday, 12 November 1999
5:00 PM – Meet at Ellicott City Armory
5:15 PM – Depart Ellicott City Armory
6:00 PM – Dinner at fast food restaurant in Frederick, MD)
10:30 PM – Arrive Red Creek Campground
off Forest Service Road 75 in Dolly Sods Wilderness Area
Saturday, 13 November 1999
6:30 AM – Breakfast and cleanup
7:15 AM – Begin backpacking from Red Creek Campground West on Blackbird Knob
Trail (TR511) 2.2 miles to the junction of Red Creek Trail (TR514)
[Blackbird Knob Trail (TR511) is used to gain access to the North end of Red Creek Trail
(TR514). It is also used for viewing the open country that Dolly Sods is so well-known for. Since
vegetation in this area is sparse, there are good views of the surrounding hills for most of the trail’s
length. The trail however is rocky, heavily eroded, and turns into a stream in wet weather. Starting
from FS75, Blackbird Knob Trail skirts a spruce-covered knob just North of Red Creek
Campground. A number of side trails an excellent camp sites are found on this knob. The trail
offers a splendid view from a sandstone outcrop at 0.25 miles. At 0.3 miles watch for a rock cairn
where the trail turns abruptly left. Just before the Red Creek junction are some excellent streamside camp sites. It is necessary to cross Red Creek (usually involving wading). The trail leaves
USFS land 0.8 miles West of FS75, and the remainder is on private (Quintana) land. The trail
officially ends at Red Creek Trail (TR514), though one could continue on to the top of Cabin
Mountain north of FS80 where rock outcrops offer spectacular views of Canaan Valley.]
9:15 AM – Hike South 1.1 miles on Red Creek Trail (TR514) to the junction of the left and
right forks of Red Creek.
10:15 AM – Arrive junction of left and right forks of Red Creek. There are many campsites
here.
OPTION 1: Those who wish to may camp at the junction of Red Creek forks and return to Red
Creek Campground the same way as they came for a round trip of 6.6 miles.
OPTION 2: Continue hiking across the left fork of Red Creek and along the West shore of Red
Creek for a short distance to join Breathed Mountain Trail (TR553).
10:25 AM – Begin backpacking up the steep hill West on Breathed Mountain Trail
(TR553) 2.5 miles to the common junction of Forest Service (FS) Road 80 and Big Stonecoal Trial
(TR513). We’ll be traversing the following description of the trail in reverse: [Breathed Mountain
Trail begins at Forest Service Road 80 on Cabin Mountain at a common junction with Big
Stonecoal Trail (TR513). The first 0.75 miles from FS 80 is a jumble of heavy rocks and offers no
camp sites. It leads East through open meadows, extensive areas of huckleberries, shady stands of
young hardwoods, and alongside several beaver ponds. At about 1.5 miles, after the first beaver
Revised Proposal With Options
pond meadows, the trail rises slightly to cross a ridge through a hardwood forest and then
continues through a stand of pines which offer an excellent camp site (although there is no close
water). More beaver ponds and good camp sites can be found just before the trail descends steeply
over heavy rocks to Red Creek Trail (TR514) just below the “Forks” of the North Fork of Red
Creek. Beaver ponds occasionally grow and cause problems on the trail.]
11:30 AM – Eat Lunch by one of the Beaver Ponds
12:15 PM – Begin backpacking to the end of Breathed Mountain Trail
1:45 PM – Arrive at FS80/TR514/TR553.
1:45 PM – Begin backpacking North on Harmon Trail for 1 mile to Harmon’s Knob for
spectacular view of Canaan Valley.
2:45 PM – On top on Harmon’s Knob viewing Canaan Valley.
OPTION 2a: Continue hiking North off Harmon’s Knob on Harmon Trail to meadow by left branch of Red
Creek. (1.8 miles)
4:45 PM – Arrive meadow by left branch of Red Creek. Make camp for the night.
Sunday, 14 November 1999
7:30 Sunday AM – Begin Backpacking trail East then South 3 miles to join Blackbird
Knob Trail (TR 511) at Red Creek crossing.
10:30 AM – Backpack Blackbird Knob Trail 2.1 miles back to cars at Red Creek
Campground
12:30 PM – Depart Red Creek Campground for fast food restaurant
1:45 PM – Lunch at a fast food restaurant
5:45 PM – Arrive Ellicott City Armory
OPTION 2b: Instead of continuing North off Harmon’s Knob in option 2a, return South off of Harmon’s Knob
for 0.8 miles to join Blackbird Knob Trail (TR511)
3:30 PM – Depart East on Blackbird Knob Trail (TR511) for 1.6 miles.
5:00 PM – Arrive left fork of Red Creek. Make camp for the night.
Sunday, 14 November 1999
7:30 Sunday AM – Begin backpacking Blackbird Knob Trail (TR511) East for 3.4 miles
back to cars at Red Creek Campground.
11:00 AM – Depart Red Creek Campground for fast food restaurant.
12:15 PM – Lunch at fast food restaurant.
4:15 PM – Arrive Ellicott City Armory.