Updated April 2021

The High Timber Trail is a self-guiding trail within the Robert W. Craig Memorial Campground. The trail is approximately 0.75-mile long and traverses fairly rugged terrain. Proper footwear is recommended. The trail starts adjacent to site #25 near the washhouse and ends near site #51 on the back loop of the campground.

This trail not only provides a relaxing walk near the campground, it also reveals the wide variety of trees that are native to the Appalachian Plateau. The trees on the trail have important aesthetic and scenic value along with economic and commercial value. All the timber in the area is second or third growth. Considering the remote, rugged, and almost inaccessible terrain, there must have been substantial value placed on these trees. Traditionally, lumbering has been one of the area's major industries. For example, walnut and cherry make fine furniture and ash is made into baseball bats. The variety of deciduous trees is staggering: American Basswood, Bitternut Hickory, Black Cherry, Black Locust, Red Oak, Black Oak, Black Walnut, Flowering Dogwood, Shagbark Hickory, Slippery Elm, Green Ash, Sugar Maple, Chestnut Oak, Red Maple, Allegheny Service Berry, Hophornbeam, Staghorn Sumac, Pignut Hickory and many more.

A half-mile connector trail along the north side of the path, connects you to Sunset Trail, a 1.8-mile hike from the entrance station looping northbound to a scenic overlook and terminating along the campground entrance road.

Directions from Elk Garden, WV: Travel east along WV State Route 46. Travel past Howell Run Boat Launch. Bear right at the fork. Travel a short distance to the campground road on the left. Signage is good. The trail begins near campsite #25 and ends by campsite #51.

Seasonal Information:
Normally Open: May - September
 

Difficulty:	Easy
Elevation:	1,682 Feet (513 Meters)
Elevation Gain:	30 Feet
Length, One-way:	0.75 Mile (1.2 Kilometers)

The Lakeside Trail connects the Howell Run Picnic Area and the Shaw Beach.  The trail is approximately ¾ of a mile long and drops about 30 feet in elevation if you are hiking from the Picnic Area to the Beach and runs parallel to the lake.  There is one lookout of Jennings Randolph Lake roughly halfway in the trail where you can view upstream of the lake through a clearing in the trees and has a bench to take a rest on.  This trail offers a wide trail surface which makes it comfortable for families to hike together.  There have even been known to be a few Geocaching items found on this trail!

A connecting trail has also been built from the Shaw Beach to the West Virginia Overlook.  This trail is one tenth of a mile long and gains approximately 28 feet if you are hiking from the Beach to the Overlook.  The main reason this trail was built was to provide an easy access point to the Beach from the Overlook, especially when parking is limited at the Beach.  We are also planning in the near future to create more fishing access on this connecting trail and on the Lakeside Trail.

Seasonal Information: Trail is subject to closure during inclement weather during Oct-April.  Contact the park office M-F, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for information. 

Difficulty:	Easy
Elevation:	1,682 Feet (513 Meters)
Elevation Gain:	115 Feet
Length, One-way:	0.5 Mile (.80 Kilometers)

The Songbird Trail is located off of the Maryland Overlook and is approximately a ½ mile “loop” trail which ends back at that parking lot near the trailhead.  The trail ascends about 115 feet however is very gradual with a switchback that leads to a scenic waterfall.  The trail then follows a meandering creek that fills a small pond which stays full until the later dry summer months.  Then the trail turns and gradually descends back to the parking lot.  To access the Maryland Overlook you can take Chestnut Grove Rd. or Walnut Bottom Rd. off of Maryland Rt. 135.
 

Seasonal Information: Trail is subject to closure during inclement weather during Oct-April.  Contact the park office M-F, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for information.