Mike's Epic Road Trips: 2007 - SPRING ~ Coopers Rock State Forest ~ Raven Rock Trail

Cycling buddy Kelly and I went out to Coopers Rock on Monday to go birding.

We hiked the Raven Rock trail which starts at the main access road and then ends at a rock outcrop at the edge of the Cheat Canyon. This outcrop serves as the base for utility poles which carry power lines across the canyon.

"The trail is a moderately steep and very rocky. It is wide and travels through very open woods. There are large boulders off the trail in areas and the view at the end is spectacular. You have a great view of the Cheat River Canyon. There is plenty of wildlife to see and be ware of rattlesnakes. For those interested, there is both a geocache and letterbox near Raven Rock."

Source: LocalHikes.com

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The Interrupted Fern (Osmunda claytoniana) was common along the trail.

There were large drifts of New York Fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis)along the trail in the woods.

Kelly tries to get a look at an American Redstart, a small, insect-eating warbler with orange patches on sides of the chest, in the wings, and in the tail.

Looking towards Morgantown. The Coopers Rock Overlook is on right, but not visible.

Another view of the Cheat River gorge.

One of my favorite small trees is Striped Maple (Acer pensylvanicum), also called Moosewood.

The next three photos show the flowers (inflorescence is in a drooping raceme) and the still expanding leaves.

FINIS