Comments: High Meadows Trail

The red flower is Bee Balm or Bergamot(sp?). Monarda or Monardia is the species I believe. Comes in a variety of colors. We have the white and purplish and some red in Cabell Co(WV). It's a kind of mint. Good in tea.

I backpacked the High Meadows Trail in mid-July of 2010 and it has changed a bit. I recommend reversing the hike mentioned in the famous guide book "Day and Overnight Hikes in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest", by Johnny Molloy. It is much easier to start on the Lumberjack Trail and go level and the hike down using the High Meadows Trail to the Seneca Creek Trail. Hiking in this direction also allows you to see a more panoramic view. Also I think it's easier to see the trail markers. The trails are not well marked in many places and if you take a wrong turn like I did you can end up hiking a half mile up hill in the wrong direction. Changes since 2003 - 1) There are no longer cows on or near this trail and I've been hiking it since 05. No cow patties is proof positive this is no longer their range. 2) The meadows are growing up, partially due to the cows not helping to keep the vegetation down, many more sticker and thorny bushes in late spring and summer some growing across the trail. 3) The campsite at the top of the High Meadows Trail is overgrown, not scenic and was a disappointment. A much better sight exist about .7 miles down the mountain. It has a beautiful view at the edge of one of the high meadows. 4) The guide book says water can be had at the last series of seeps on the High Meadow Trail. Well it has been a very dry summer and these were all but dried up. I managed with a little work to get enough to take care of the dog for the night and to dampen a hand towel to wash off some trail mud. I wouldn't count on this supply in mid summer, unless you have alot of time and maybe not even then.