High Meadows Trail

Posted by Marc on September 30, 2003. Categories: Spruce Knob and Seneca Creek Seneca Creek

Steep Mountain Meadows

As we left Seneca Creek falls we hiked up the Horton Trail and headed northeast on the High Meadows Trail (TR 564). the deep valley pictured here contains the Seneca Creek. The trail crosses steep mountain meadows. Rock cairns and trail blazes are infrequent through the meadows, and the trail is lightly used. As a matter of fact, my Monongahela National Forest Hiking Guide, 7th Edition lists this trail, while the 6th Edition does not have the trail. I always wondered what the differences between the editions were. I just got a new one because the pages started to come apart. I guess that the trail is not well known.



Cool Red Flower

We took our trip in early August and found more flowers than we ever expected. This red flower was abundant. Does anyone know what it is?



Canada Thistle

The Thistles were commonplace, especially in the meadows. These seemed to be larger and more sinewy than those that you normally find in the lowlands of the eastern US.



Bovine Backpacking

We found numerous cows throughout the region. As a matter of fact, the first cow we spotted was wandering in the woods. I spotted it from a long distance and was briefly in a panic to identify what kind of strange bear or deer could be so large and have such a unique color. Hiking up the High Meadows Trail we had to pass among 5 cows grazing. They seemed a bit suspicious of us, although I too wasn't particularly happy about having to pass within a small herd of cows. Humans are fragile you know.


Add Your Comments (2)

Mark Sprouse said:
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
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.

Jim Kirk said:
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
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.