Seneca Creek and the Lost Meadow (West Virginia, 10/1/'16)
Oct 3, 2016 9:35:14 GMT -5
Post by GaliWalker on Oct 3, 2016 9:35:14 GMT -5
Seneca Creek and the Lost Meadow (Spruce Knob Wilderness, West Virginia – Oct/1/2016)
Seneca Creek is a pretty stream, located near Spruce Knob, West Virginia's highest point. Every fall trip I've made there in the past has been too late for the best colors. So, this year I decided to schedule a beginning of October trip there, hoping to time my arrival to just before or near a peak fall foliage display.
Route: Seneca Creek Trail – Horton/Huckleberry Trail – High Meadows Trail – Lost Meadow – Lumberjack Trail – Horton/Huckleberry Trail – Judy Springs Trail – Seneca Creek Trail
I left Pittsburgh for West Virginia at 2:20am, but after encountering heavy rain on the drive I was only able to reach the trailhead for Seneca Creek around 6:30am. Thankfully, the rain had stopped by then and I began to rub my hands in glee, in anticipation of what was turning out to be a perfect day for hiking.
I knew that all the recent rain we'd been having would lead to muddy trails. I wasn't too worried though, since I knew that all the waterworks on Seneca Creek would be running at full strength. Sure enough, as I started hiking down the Seneca Creek Trail – using my headlamp for the first 15min or so – there was quite a bit of water running down the footpath. Navigating the side streams that the trail crossed required some nimble footwork, but I was able to do so without having to take my boots off. I was also able to rock hop the first crossing of Seneca Creek in boots, although some of the rocks I had to step on were submerged ankle deep.
The final three crossings of Seneca Creek all required wades; I had to switch footwear for my water shoes for these. However, since this part of the Seneca Creek Trail is the prettiest bit the slight inconvenience of the stream crossings was more than made up by the impressive show put on by the cascading stream. Upper and Middle Seneca Creek Falls, in particular, were lovely.
Upper Seneca Creek Falls
Middle Seneca Creek Falls
The last crossing of Seneca Creek, and the end of the Seneca Creek Trail, is just upstream of Lower Seneca Creek Falls. This is a spectacular waterfall, especially when it's flowing well. And that was exactly what it was doing. Since I was already in my water shoes I made a beeline for the splash pool. I spent the next 1hr 45min taking pictures of the waterfall, almost entirely while standing knee-deep in the water.
After my romance of Seneca Creek Falls, I picked up the Huckleberry Trail (which is what my map called it, but which was identified as the "Horton Trail" by the trail marker), heading east, up the hillside. In a half-mile I left the Huckleberry/Horton Trail via the High Meadows Trail. As I steadily climbed upwards I broke out of the woods and into a series of open meadows, with sweeping views of misty mountains. Goldenrod, bejeweled with raindrops, injected color into the surroundings, which was welcome because fall's color show was almost a complete no-show. There was the occasional splash of vibrant orange, but far too much green for my liking. Looks like I had guessed wrong on peak fall foliage one more time.
Ruing my whiff on peak fall foliage
At the junction of the High Meadows and Lumberjack Trails I took a left. It was time to search for the Lost Meadow, which I had visited once before. I must have selected a better access point then, because it took me a little bit of brush bashing before I was able to locate the trail. Thick mist had the visibility setting on "poor", as I made my way across a large squishy meadow, and then through a precious little dark forest grove. Exiting said grove put me smack in the middle of the Lost Meadow. Fenced in by spruce trees, artistically sprinkled with hawthorn bushes, ferns and clumps of asters, the Lost Meadow was a beautiful expanse of golden grasses. In clear conditions, it sports lovely views, but I only got the occasional glimpse due to rolling mist. I also got wet by all the rain-soaked thigh high grass, but that was a small price to pay for the sensory extravaganza.
Dark forest
I had lingered on my hike to this point, and it was high time I sped up. I worked my way back to the Lumberjack Trail, which I took for the next 2mi, to its junction with the Huckleberry/Horton Trail. I took a right on this one, heading back down the mountainside and into the Seneca Creek valley. A short 0.2mi later, a left on the Judy Springs Trail continued the downhill. A short but beautiful bit of meadow walking ensued, after which I made my way back in the Seneca Creek forest and intersected the Seneca Creek Trail. A left here closed my lollipop loop.
I tried to put my head down and hike back to the car, but Seneca Creek kept distracting me with its charms. It was almost 4:30pm when I finally made my car.
Cumulative hiking/photography stats: 14.3mi, 2200ft elevation gain, 9.75hrs
Seneca Creek is a pretty stream, located near Spruce Knob, West Virginia's highest point. Every fall trip I've made there in the past has been too late for the best colors. So, this year I decided to schedule a beginning of October trip there, hoping to time my arrival to just before or near a peak fall foliage display.
Route: Seneca Creek Trail – Horton/Huckleberry Trail – High Meadows Trail – Lost Meadow – Lumberjack Trail – Horton/Huckleberry Trail – Judy Springs Trail – Seneca Creek Trail
I left Pittsburgh for West Virginia at 2:20am, but after encountering heavy rain on the drive I was only able to reach the trailhead for Seneca Creek around 6:30am. Thankfully, the rain had stopped by then and I began to rub my hands in glee, in anticipation of what was turning out to be a perfect day for hiking.
I knew that all the recent rain we'd been having would lead to muddy trails. I wasn't too worried though, since I knew that all the waterworks on Seneca Creek would be running at full strength. Sure enough, as I started hiking down the Seneca Creek Trail – using my headlamp for the first 15min or so – there was quite a bit of water running down the footpath. Navigating the side streams that the trail crossed required some nimble footwork, but I was able to do so without having to take my boots off. I was also able to rock hop the first crossing of Seneca Creek in boots, although some of the rocks I had to step on were submerged ankle deep.
The final three crossings of Seneca Creek all required wades; I had to switch footwear for my water shoes for these. However, since this part of the Seneca Creek Trail is the prettiest bit the slight inconvenience of the stream crossings was more than made up by the impressive show put on by the cascading stream. Upper and Middle Seneca Creek Falls, in particular, were lovely.
Upper Seneca Creek Falls
Middle Seneca Creek Falls
The last crossing of Seneca Creek, and the end of the Seneca Creek Trail, is just upstream of Lower Seneca Creek Falls. This is a spectacular waterfall, especially when it's flowing well. And that was exactly what it was doing. Since I was already in my water shoes I made a beeline for the splash pool. I spent the next 1hr 45min taking pictures of the waterfall, almost entirely while standing knee-deep in the water.
After my romance of Seneca Creek Falls, I picked up the Huckleberry Trail (which is what my map called it, but which was identified as the "Horton Trail" by the trail marker), heading east, up the hillside. In a half-mile I left the Huckleberry/Horton Trail via the High Meadows Trail. As I steadily climbed upwards I broke out of the woods and into a series of open meadows, with sweeping views of misty mountains. Goldenrod, bejeweled with raindrops, injected color into the surroundings, which was welcome because fall's color show was almost a complete no-show. There was the occasional splash of vibrant orange, but far too much green for my liking. Looks like I had guessed wrong on peak fall foliage one more time.
Ruing my whiff on peak fall foliage
At the junction of the High Meadows and Lumberjack Trails I took a left. It was time to search for the Lost Meadow, which I had visited once before. I must have selected a better access point then, because it took me a little bit of brush bashing before I was able to locate the trail. Thick mist had the visibility setting on "poor", as I made my way across a large squishy meadow, and then through a precious little dark forest grove. Exiting said grove put me smack in the middle of the Lost Meadow. Fenced in by spruce trees, artistically sprinkled with hawthorn bushes, ferns and clumps of asters, the Lost Meadow was a beautiful expanse of golden grasses. In clear conditions, it sports lovely views, but I only got the occasional glimpse due to rolling mist. I also got wet by all the rain-soaked thigh high grass, but that was a small price to pay for the sensory extravaganza.
Dark forest
I had lingered on my hike to this point, and it was high time I sped up. I worked my way back to the Lumberjack Trail, which I took for the next 2mi, to its junction with the Huckleberry/Horton Trail. I took a right on this one, heading back down the mountainside and into the Seneca Creek valley. A short 0.2mi later, a left on the Judy Springs Trail continued the downhill. A short but beautiful bit of meadow walking ensued, after which I made my way back in the Seneca Creek forest and intersected the Seneca Creek Trail. A left here closed my lollipop loop.
I tried to put my head down and hike back to the car, but Seneca Creek kept distracting me with its charms. It was almost 4:30pm when I finally made my car.
Cumulative hiking/photography stats: 14.3mi, 2200ft elevation gain, 9.75hrs
