Sharon Weekley, WV ADT State Coordinator and Eric Seaborg, President of the ADT Society
Eric Seaborg, President of the American Discovery Trail Society was guest speaker at the May meeting of the Highlands Trail Foundation (HTF). The American Discovery Trail is more than 6,800 miles of continuous, multi-use trail stretching from Cape Henlopen State Park, Delaware, to Pt. Reyes National Seashore, California.
Members learned that a section of the American Discovery Trail (ADT) passes through Tucker County entering from the east at Scherr (Grant County). From there the trail leads to Jordan Run and U.S. Forest Service Road FR 75 where it climbs steeply onto the Allegheny Front in the Monongahela National Forest. At 3,500 to 4,000 feet, this segment is the highest elevation that the ADT will reach east of the Rockies.
From the Dolly Sods Wilderness area, the ADT passes Red Creek Campground before descending into Canaan Valley State Park (CVSP) where it intersects with the Allegheny Trail. From CVSP, the trail leads to Hendricks via the River Road. At this point the ADT follows the Allegheny Highlands Trail to the Parsons Depot before heading west up Smokey Hollow and on into Barbour County.
Seaborg provided HTF members with additional ADT signage to facilitate improved visibility within Tucker County.
Seaborg stated, “Tucker County’s unsurpassed scenery is one of the highlights of the American Discovery Trail. The route shows off the spectacular wilderness of Dolly Sods, the highest valley east of the Mississippi, and the unique Allegheny Highlands Trail. As a rail-trail, the Allegheny Highlands Trail offers an easy path through rugged country, alternating from woods to small towns in beautiful narrow valleys set off by the steep ridges that define the West Virginia environment.
Travelers on the American Discovery Trail have raved about the experience of traversing this area.”
ADT is different from trails like the Appalachian or Pacific Crest in that it is not a wilderness trail, it passes through cities, towns, farmland and wild areas.
The ADT is run by the American Discovery Trail Society (ADTS), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The society is managed by a board of directors, all volunteers, and one paid part time employee – the administrator. Each state that the trail passes through has a state coordinator.
WV State Coordinator, Sharon (& Paul) Weekley, of West Union were also present at the meeting to answer questions and provide information. HTF board member and former president, Don Black, was instrumental in making arrangements for this presentation.
For more information about the American Discovery Trail, visit https://discoverytrail.org/ or email info@discoverytrail.org.