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From Shingletree Trail on the south side of Parsons, to Middle Mountain Trail in the heart of Canaan Valley, Tucker County, West Virginia is full of trail options. Tucker County is home to more than 400 miles of trails to accommodate recreational activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, and hunting. And it’s about to get a little bit better.
Canaan Valley Institute (CVI) has been awarded $65,623 in federal funds to construct 3.1 miles of multi-use trail that will connect Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge trails to the Town of Davis and Blackwater Falls State Park . CVI intends to use recreational trail program grant funds to construct the trail on the south side of the Blackwater River near Davis. Planning and design work have already been initiated by CVI and trailhead parking is in place. This new length of connector trail will be located on CVI property and add miles to CVI's existing trail system, which has been designated by the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Recreation Trail system. CVI’s trails are easily accessed from Davis and utilized by a variety of trail users. One online reviewer dubs CVI’s trail system as “one of the most awesome places in the Tucker County area that any [mountain bike] rider can enjoy.”
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The construction of this route will offer a trail loop, from Davis up the north side of the Blackwater River and down the south side of the river back to Davis, suitable for all abilities and trail users. It will also offer access for CVI, the National Youth Science Foundation, and its partners to conduct research, provide management for research sites, monitor restoration sites, and host outdoor educational programs and workshops. The National Youth Science Foundation has pledged $20,000 in matching funds for the project. Tucker County Trails, will contribute 120 hours of volunteer labor to this project. Ken Dzaack, CVI land manager, is proud to be part of such a community-wide effort. “I can’t say enough about the contributions made by members of the Tucker County Trails. They have donated countless volunteer hours in improving the trail systems in the county.”
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CVI trails will also provide an important link for the “Heart of the Highlands” trail network. This initiative is designed to connect the trail systems of five agencies in Tucker County– the Monongahela National Forest, CVI, Canaan Valley State Park, Blackwater Falls State Park, and the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. By creating a trail network, the partnering agencies hope to encourage responsible outdoor recreational use of public and private lands that enhances the area’s economic possibilities through increased tourism opportunities. In addition to connecting trails, partners plan to work together to standardize maps and trail markings and coordinate the marketing of the area as a destination area for a regional trail system. With connections to the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, Allegheny Trail, American Discovery Trail, and Allegheny Highlands Trail, it is hoped that the Heart of the Highlands Trail would eventually join the National Trails System. Through a similar funding avenue, the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge received $156,800 to assist with the Heart of the Highlandstrail network. “The idea about having an interconnecting trail system has been around for 25 years or more,” Dzaack said. “We finally have an avenue to get the ball rolling on this project. The key will be to keep building on this success.” |
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The funding for CVI and the Heart of the Highlands was made available through SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy of Users), which is administered by the West Virginia Department of Transportation and funded by the Federal Highway Administration.
For more news coverage, click here.
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For more information about CVI's trails, contact Land Manager Ken Dzaack by email, or by calling 304-259-5330.
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