| Kanawha State Forest [message #187058] |
Fri, 12 October 2012 21:25  |
werewilfs
Messages: 329
Registered: July 2012
Location: Rappahannock County, VA
Karma: 0
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Anyone here ever taken their GMC up to the campground in Kanawha State Forest in West Virginia?
http://www.kanawhastateforest.com/camping.html
They say the entrance is a small winding road and do not recommend anything larger than 26 feet. (How convenient)
Just wondering if the road is really more meant for trucks and travel trailers or if our old girl will make it up the steep hills.
Thanks!
Jared & Stefanie Kohl
Rappahannock County, VA
1973 Painted Desert "Onslow"
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| Re: Kanawha State Forest [message #187063 is a reply to message #187058] |
Fri, 12 October 2012 21:44  |
armandminnie
Messages: 864
Registered: May 2009
Location: Marana, AZ
Karma: 2
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| werewilfs wrote on Fri, 12 October 2012 19:25 |
Anyone here ever taken their GMC up to the campground in Kanawha State Forest in West Virginia?
http://www.kanawhastateforest.com/camping.html
They say the entrance is a small winding road and do not recommend anything larger than 26 feet. (How convenient)
Just wondering if the road is really more meant for trucks and travel trailers or if our old girl will make it up the steep hills.
Thanks!
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We went there with our gmc and tow car in late July or early August. The road is very narrow with turns and switchbacks through a residential neighborhood. It is all steep downhill. Once you get to the entrance there is a sign that says 4 miles to the campground. There is no cell reception - neither Verizon nor AT&T - in the campground and the closest phone is at the entrance. It turned out that going out the back way was a lot quicker but I doubt that you could find your way in that way. Unless you like wilderness I would advise looking for some other place to spend a night. If you want some specific info PM me.
Armand Minnie
Marana, AZ
'76 Eleganza II TZE166V103202
visit my gmc blog
click here to visit gmcws.org
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| Re: Kanawha State Forest [message #187420 is a reply to message #187063] |
Tue, 16 October 2012 02:22 |
djeffers
Messages: 219
Registered: June 2004
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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I've been there many times as I lived in the area for many years. But not in my GMC. Just had no reason to take the coach 10 miles to camp there. It is a nice place, though and a good experience.
HOWEVER, there is a much easier way in than the way you folks have apparently gone. It appears you went in the "standard" way along Oakwood Road and over, down and around through the South Hills area to Kanawha State Forest.
The much easier way is to take I-64 west our of Charleston, WV for about six miles. Take the Kanawha Turnpike exit off I-64 and go about one-half mile. Turn left on Jefferson Road, a two lane road with only slight grades and normal traffic at 35-40 mph speeds.
After a little less than a mile you will go under a four lane overpass, Oakhurst Drive is over head. Continue on for about another 1500 feet. The road bends right, the road bends left. You will then come up on a road to the left, Kanawha State Forest Drive, County Route 20.
Turn left at Kanawha State Forest Drive, a narrower two lane road with less traffic. Your speed along this road should be 30-35 mph. Go a few miles. It is curvy, but level as level goes in this area. The road follows the creek bed (Davis Creek).
Just follow the road for a few miles as it just simply goes into Kanawha State Forest. If you like dirt roads, you can drive on through the State Forest and come out on the other end. Make a left turn at the hard road to get back to civilization, (Ha-Ha) a couple of miles or so.
If you are approaching from the west on I-64 eastbound from the Huntington, WV area, exit at the MacCorkle Ave exit in South Charleston, WV and take a right on MacCorkle and a 100 feet or so take another right on Jefferson Road. Go as described above.
No up and down and around. It takes about 20 minutes from I-64.
The up and down and around route is proscribed because it goes throuh some "better" neighborhoods in the area. Also, it was established in the 1930s for Model A Fords coming from "town", not GMC motorhomes.
The route along Kanawha State Forest Drive goes through a "less advantaged" neighborhood. Nice folks, but not upscale.
As you drive along Kanawha State Forest Drive note the state of the area along the way. Then as you go into Kanawha State Forest you will see quite a contrast. The natural beauty of wooded West Virginia in the forest stands in stark contrast to the drive you just took.
Sorry Armand, but I had to chuckle a bit at you calling it wilderness. Never thought of it that way. Why not just build a fire in one of the many fire pits, sit up late into the night drinking your favorite beverage and enjoy the night air in the woods. You might see some deer. Just don't leave any hamburger and beans out when you go to bed as a baby bear is seen once every few years.
My great grand-daddy lived and died on the other side of the "crick" not much more than a couple of stone throws before you get to the entrance to the forest.
If overnight in the forest doesn't suit your fancy, go back to Oakhurst Road (US 119), take a left and go south about a mile and you will fine a Walmart on the left. Or go back to MacCorkle Road(US 60)where you started out and then go left and six or seven miles west to the small town of Saint Albans and stay in their roadside park on the right, beside the Kanawha river. They have three free camping spots and a dump station.
If anyone would like some more help, PM me in advance as I am not on the Forum but every few days or so. It's really pretty easy to get there.
Don J
[Updated on: Tue, 16 October 2012 03:00] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Kanawha State Forest [message #187435 is a reply to message #187420] |
Tue, 16 October 2012 08:43 |
armandminnie
Messages: 864
Registered: May 2009
Location: Marana, AZ
Karma: 2
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Don,
It sounds like you are describing the route we took out of the park. It was much shorter but, without detailed instructions like the ones you provided, it would be pretty tough to find your way in that way and pretty intimidating with that neighborhood and probably unmarked dirt roads.
Armand Minnie
Marana, AZ
'76 Eleganza II TZE166V103202
visit my gmc blog
click here to visit gmcws.org
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| Re: Kanawha State Forest [message #187465 is a reply to message #187435] |
Tue, 16 October 2012 13:02 |
djeffers
Messages: 219
Registered: June 2004
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Armand,
The way you took out, the dirt road, was to the east and would be a difficult navigation to get in by that way.
The way I described comes in from the west. It is all well paved roads and an easy drive.
You actually were on the road I described when you arrived at the entrance to the park. If you remember when you took the up and down and around route, you go to the bottom of a steep hill and turned a sharp left on a creek side road that led to the entrance to the park, that is the road I am describing.
That paved creek side road to the right is the way I am describing in, all paved and quite easy.
The way out that you took on the dirt road is an interesting drive, I just would only recommend it to the more adventuresome among us.
But if dirt roads don't intimidate you, I think it is a pretty drive. You got a good look at the more primitive parts of the area on your little journey to and through Kanawha State Forest.
And Susan wanted me to point out to the group that the little free camp ground I recommended at Saint Albans,WV, also has free electricity in addition to water and a dump station. That is just a turn off Route 60 and into and through the parking lot to the three free campsites.
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