Laurel Fork South Wilderness

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Laurel Fork South Wilderness
Monongahela National Forest - Laurel Fork Overlook.jpg
Overlook of Laurel Fork valley along Middle Mountain Road on a foggy fall day.
USA West Virginia location map.svg
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Location of Laurel Fork South Wilderness in West Virginia
LocationWest Virginia, United States
Coordinates 38°42′43″N79°43′07″W / 38.71194°N 79.71861°W / 38.71194; -79.71861 Coordinates: 38°42′43″N79°43′07″W / 38.71194°N 79.71861°W / 38.71194; -79.71861
Area5,784 acres (23.41 km2) [2]
Established1983 [2]
Operator Monongahela National Forest
Website Laurel Fork Wildernesses

Laurel Fork South Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in the Greenbrier Ranger District of Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. [2] The Wilderness protects high-elevation lands along Laurel Fork (Cheat River) and is bordered by Middle Mountain to the west. It is a companion to Laurel Fork North Wilderness, the two being split by Randolph County Route 40. Laurel Fork South contains 9 miles (14 km) of hiking trails. [2]

Contents

History

The land that now comprises Laurel Fork South Wilderness was once private forestland owned by the Laurel River Lumber Company. The area was first logged by floating the logs down the Laurel Fork, and later by railroad. By 1921, the virgin forestland was fully logged. The U.S. Forest Service acquired the area soon thereafter, adding it to Monongahela National Forest. [2]

Laurel Fork South and Laurel Fork North Wildernesses were designated in 1983 by the Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia, Land Designations law. [2] Laurel Fork South was reduced by approximately 89 acres (0.36 km2) by the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 to allow vehicle travel on Forest Road 424 in the eastern edge of the Wilderness. [3] [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Laurel Fork North Wilderness

Laurel Fork North Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in the Greenbrier Ranger District of Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. The Wilderness protects high-elevation lands along Laurel Fork and is bordered by Middle Mountain to the west. It is a companion to Laurel Fork South Wilderness, the two being split by Randolph County Route 40. Laurel Fork North contains 9.5 miles (15.3 km) of hiking trails.

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Spice Run Wilderness

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Big Draft Wilderness

The Big Draft Wilderness is a 5,144-acre (2,082 ha) U.S. Wilderness area in the Monongahela National Forest of southeast West Virginia, USA. Its name derives from the nearby Big Draft, a tributary of Anthony Creek which is a tributary of the Greenbrier River. Big Draft Wilderness occupies the southernmost acreage of the Monongahela National Forest and is located just south of the Blue Bend Recreation Area. The town White Sulphur Springs lies about 5 miles south of the Wilderness and about 15 miles northeast of Lewisburg.

Laurel Fork (North Fork South Branch Potomac River tributary)

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Laurel Fork (conservation area) Protected natural area in Virginia, United States

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References

  1. "Laurel Fork Wilderness". Protected Planet. IUCN. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Laurel Fork Wilderness brochure" (PDF). Monongahela National Forest. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2010. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  3. "Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009". Library of Congress . Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  4. "Laurel Fork South Wilderness Map" (PDF). US Forest Service . Retrieved 2009-05-14.