Monday, September 13, 2021
Coopers Rock State Forest, Cheat Lake Rail-Trail
After our last few days' escapades, we were getting worn out, so we vowed to take it easier today. We lazed most of the morning while the fog burned off, then made our way to Coopers Rock State Forest shortly before noon. The main overlook, dramatically situated on an overhanging cliff, offers an epic vista of the Cheat River Gorge.
Coopers Rock State Forest
Clifftop overlook
Cheat River Gorge
After the overlook, we hiked the .2-mile Underlook Trail, a shaded path looping beneath the sandstone cliff where we'd just stood. The short walk was easy except for a small piece of rock scrambling at one end of the trail.
Beware of snakes!
Under the overlook
I was enjoying the park so much that we decided to do one more hike, even though this was kind of our day off. The Rock City Trail is a mostly level mile and a half past boulders and between small cliff-type formations. A nice walk in the woods, through an abundance of rhododendron.
See Rock City
Fun formations
Tree-mendous!
Rich with rhododendron
By midafternoon, we made it to our next bike ride, the Cheat Lake Rail-Trail. It's not yet linked to the Mon River Rail-Trail System, but a connector trail has been proposed. This trail is only 4.5 miles long, which was perfect for our low-key day. The views along the lake were absolutely gorgeous!
Cheat Lake
We began our ride at Cheat Lake Park and first rode to the trail's northern end at the West Virginia-Pennsylvania line. It was our understanding that one could bike into PA, but when we got to the border, a locked gate blocked our path, and the only way around involved a long concrete staircase. How dare they! Not to be denied, I left Tom with the bikes and WALKED to Pennsylvania. So there.
Ready for a ride
Blocked path to Pennsylvania
Non-bike-friendly detour to PA
After conquering Pennsylvania, we turned around and rode south to the trail's southern terminus, which also ended abruptly at a fence. The Cheat Lake Rail-Trail had a much different feel than the other trails we'd ridden on this trip, woods on one side of the path but wide open to the lake on the other. It was a nice, relaxing 9.1-mile ride.
Cheat Lake Rail-Trail
Trail view
Abrupt ending
Since Tom had waited with the bikes earlier and didn't make it to Pennsylvania, after loading up our gear, we took a drive over the border to Port Marion, where the Cheat River flows into the Monongahela.
View from Port Marion, Pennsylvania
Better view from Port Marion
For tonight's dinner, we sought out a brewpub, ending up at Morgantown Brewing Company. Their food menu was small, but we were happy to have burgers again. They were DELICIOUS! Along with the fries and fried brussels sprouts, we couldn't have asked for a more satisfying meal. And lucky for us, they had Oktoberfest on tap. Perfect!
Tom
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