Natural Tunnel State Park: We pack up camp at New River State Park and return one more time to the visitor center to watch videos before leaving. There is a lot about the hellbender salamander as well as the New River. It was a pleasant drive to Natural Tunnel State Park, VA. We set up camp, had a late lunch and then took a lovely nap! We walked around this campground which is very spread out with sites and hiking trails. The Lover's Leap overview gives a wonderful view to the natural tunnel far below.
Description of Natural Tunnel from www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/natural-tunnel More than 850 feet long and 10 stories high, Natural Tunnel was naturally carved through a limestone ridge over thousands of years. William Jennings Bryan called it the "Eighth Wonder of the World." Other scenic features include a wide chasm between steep stone walls surrounded by several pinnacles, or "chimneys." Facilities include two campgrounds, cabins, picnic areas, an amphitheater, a visitor center, a camp store and a gift shop. You'll also find the Wilderness Road historic area and a chairlift to the tunnel floor. Guests enjoy cave tours and canoe trips on the Clinch River, as well as the Cove Ridge Center, which offers environmental education, conference facilities and overnight dorm accommodations. The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Interpretive Center at 371 Technology Trail Lane in Duffield is a satellite facility of this park. The center has a museum, library, conference room, gift shop and outdoor classroom. Various events, workshops and programs, which are listed under Natural Tunnel's events, are held here. |
Battle Run Campground, Summersville, WV: It was a moving/driving day over good roads and scenic views. On the way we drove through the New River Gorge - wow! It was fun to see the New River again, although this section is very rapid and at the bottom of a steep gorge. There is a visitor center here with lots of photos and information about the gorge, river and area. What a project to build a bridge across this gorge! At this point the river is ready to flow into the Kanahwa and then onto the Ohio and Mississippi. Our campsite is right at the lake shore with a great view. A short exploration of the campground was enough for the day.
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Bush Recreation Area, Saltsburg, PA It was a long travel day as we are headed north, but roads and traffic were OK. The campground is old, nothing special, but the sites are wooded and private. We had a good dinner of zucchini, pasta, pesto... talked to Chuck, and scoped out our last campground in the Allegheny Mountains.
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Willow Bay, Allegheny National Forest, PA: Another driving day took us to Willow Bay in Pennsylvania near the NY border. So much better driving than on the way down - stay off route 81! We set up and walked around this lovely spread out park, it was very cool and uncrowded. There is no phone signal and only wifi up near the entrance booth.
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