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. NEWSLETTER
Allegheny Highlands Trail News -
The first 21 miles of the AHT was completed in 2001 from Elkins to Parsons. An additional 2.63 miles along the Black Fork River from Bretz to Hendricks was completed in the spring of 2004. The Parsons trail will link existing sections to form a continuous, 25-mile trail from Elkins to Hendricks.
HTF will also continue working to extend the AHT from its northernmost trailhead at Hendricks through the Blackwater Canyon to Thomas and along the Francis Grade from Douglas toward Mt. Storm. Coming Events XC Ski Outing - Saturday, February 23, 2008 Wildflower Hike - Saturday, tba 2008 Geocache Treasure Hunt - Saturday, June 7, 2008 Elkhenge Music Festival - 4pm - Saturday, September 20 2008 Blackwater Canyon Bike Ride - Saturday, September 27, 2008 Highlands Trail Foundation will host a guided bike ride in the Blackwater Canyon on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2008. The ride will begin in Thomas and end at the U.S. Forest Service Nursery Bottom in Bretz. HTF volunteers will transport shuttle drivers to Thomas, but space constraints will not permit transport of bicycles or passengers. Shuttle drivers will meet at noon at the Bretz trailhead. 1:00pm Blackwater Canyon Bike Ride Riders will depart from Purple Fiddle in Thomas at 1:00pm. Helmets are required. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Participants will not only enjoy the beauty of the canyon and the Allegheny Highlands Trail, but will also learn about railroad history and future plans for AHT development. All downhill, the 12.5-mile ride will take approximately three hours including rest stops and exploration of historic sites.
The ride is appropriate for all skill levels, but generally not recommended for children under 10. A parent or guardian must accompany children under 18. Helmets are required for all participants, who should carry plenty of water and dress for the weather. Mountain bikes or other fat tire bicycles are recommended for the packed dirt and gravel trail surface, but hybrid or cross bikes are also suitable. For more information on the ride, contact HTF by email at karen@elkinsbike.com or by phone at 304-636-4519. For information on the Leaf Peepers Festival, visit www.canaanvalley.org or call 800-422-3304 toll-free.
Riders will meet at the Purple Fiddle in Thomas for a 1 p.m. departure. Parking is available at the Miners & Merchants Bank. Shuttle drivers will meet at noon at the USFS Nursery Bottom trailhead in Bretz. HTF will transport drivers back to Thomas. Trail Maps Trail maps are available at AHT trailheads and area bike shops. They are also distributed at visitor centers in Elkins and Davis. Join HTF and get a free copy by mail! New T-shirts! Our latest design features the black & white AHT logo on an attractive heather gray shirt. Join HTF Your membership and contributions help us maintain the Web site, highlandstrail.org, produce maps and informational literature on area trails, perform trail maintenance projects and provide recreational outings for the community. Future projects include historic interpretation of the AHT, originally part of the West Virginia Central & Pittsburg Railway founded by Henry Gassaway Davis. Highlands Trail Foundation also participates in the Allegheny Highlands Trail Partners, a bi-state coalition of trail enthusiasts working to connect AHTs from Thomas to Cumberland or Frostburg, Maryland.
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A new
section of the AHT is now under construction in Parsons. Completion of the
1.04-mile section from Kohler St. to the U.S. Forest Service Nursery
Bottom is expected by the end of the September. Construction will also
include parking and trailhead facilities at the Parsons Railroad Depot.
This
new construction is an important step in reaching HTF’s goal of connecting
the historic railroad depots of Elkins and Parsons. We will now focus on
the .8-mile southern section of the trail from Highland Park in Elkins to
the restored Western Maryland Railway Station located in the Elkins
railyard. 