About This Park
Located on top of Rich Mountain along the western edge of the Allegheny Highlands, Kumbrabow State Forest in Randolph County is West Virginia’s highest forest. With 9,474 acres of forest at an elevation of more than 3,000 feet above sea level, Kumbrabow is used for recreation, watershed protection, commercial forestry and wildlife management.
Things to Do
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Biking
Biking
Enjoy mountain biking in a haven for nature lovers and photographers looking for a relaxing getaway. Go for a bike on one of Kumbrabow’s eight trails and take in the marvelous views of West Virginia’s mountain landscape. Trail maps are available at the park office.
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Camping
Camping
Kumbrabow State Forest’s Mill Creek Campground offers 13 sites in pristine settings near patches of Rhododendron and a native brook trout stream. The campground is open mid-April through the first week of December. West Virginia State Park campground reservations are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year. Campgrounds are open on a first-come, first-serve basis after Labor Day. A campsite reservation application is available here. Note: during the month of September 2018, campers may stay two or more nights at 50 percent off the standard campsite rate by asking for the September camping discount.
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Fishing
Fishing
Cast a line! Fishing enthusiasts can enjoy Kumbrabow’s Mill Creek, a native brook trout stream, as long as you have a proper license and stamps.
Fishing in Kumbrabow State Forest
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Geocaching
Geocaching
Go on a geocaching adventure and hunt for the two cache sites within Kumbrabow State Forest. You never know what treasure you might find!
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Hiking
Hiking
Let’s go on a hike! A variety of scenic trails are available for forest visitors and all lead to beautiful overlooks of the mountain terrain.
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Horseback Riding
Horseback Riding
Own a horse? Holly River State Park has overnight camping, corrals, and trails for equestrians.
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Hunting
Hunting
Kumbrabow is an attractive destination for hunters and anglers. With a proper license, hunters may aim for deer, bear, turkey, bobcat and ruffed grouse. Licenses available at West Virginia DNR. Happy hunting!
Hunting in Kumbrabow State Forest
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Museums & Historical Sites
Museums & Historical Sites
The historic town of Helvetia has oodles of charm. Swiss and German heritage is richly evident—especially if you dine at the Helvetia Hutte Restaurant!
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Outdoor Adventures
Outdoor Adventures
The nearby Cass Scenic Railroad State Park has no shortage of outdoor activities. Tour a historic town, ride steam locomotives, and visit a recreated 1940s logging camp.
Park Pack
West Virginia is home to some of the most beautiful and remote areas in the United States. Be sure to download your Park Pack for maps and other park information.
DownloadContact
Phone: 304-335-2219
Email: kumbrabowsf@wv.gov
Address: 219/16, Kumbrabow Rd, Huttonsville, WV, 26273
History
The area now known as Kumbrabow State Forest was once covered with magnificent stands of red spruce and hemlock. During a logging boom in the 1880s, four major sawmills cut timber from the forests. Then, in the 1920s, wildfires ravaged the land. The area’s high elevation, abundant rainfall and forest management promoted rapid forest regrowth. Kumbrabow State Forest was established in 1934. The distinctive name “Kumbrabow” comes from the surnames of the park’s earliest supporters: Governor Herman G. (Kum)p, Spates (Bra)dy and Hubert (Bow)ers.
Accommodations
Cabins
Kumbrabow State Forest features six completely furnished pioneer cabins, open from April to the first week of December. The cabins are equipped with cooking utensils, dishes, flatware, bed linens, towels and outdoor charcoal grills.
Camping
Kumbrabow State Forest’s Mill Creek Campground offers 13 sites in pristine settings near patches of Rhododendron and a native brook trout stream. The campground is open mid-April through the first week of December. West Virginia State Park campground reservations are available from Memorial Day through Labor Day each year. Campgrounds are open on a first-come, first-serve basis after Labor Day. A campsite reservation application is available here.
Trails
Clay Run Trail |
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| Beginning at Forest Headquarters, Clay Run Trail crosses Mill Creek then follows an old logging railroad grade north alongside Mill Creek. Approximately .5 mile downstream, this trail turns east and ascends to the top of Mill Ridge. Once reaching the top of Mill Ridge, the Clay Run Trail ends at the Mill Ridge Fire Trail. | |
| Distance | 0.75 miles |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Meatbox Run Trail |
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| Beginning in the picnic area, Meatbox Run Trail is a steady incline following a hollow leading up to the Rich Mountain Fire Trail. Hikers may return by way of Raven Rocks or Potato Hole Trail. | |
| Distance | 1.5 miles |
| Difficulty | Difficult |
Mill Ridge Fire Trail |
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| Mill Ridge Fire Trail follows the top of Mill Ridge between Clay Run and Mowry Run. A picnic table overlooks Tygart Valley to Cheat Mountain. | |
| Distance | 1 mile |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Mowry Trail |
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| The Mowry Trail begins just south of Forest Headquarters, crosses Mill Creek and ascends to the top of Mill Ridge. Mowry connects to the Mill Ridge Fire Trail. | |
| Distance | 0.5 miles |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Potato Hole Trail |
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| Starting behind Forest headquarters, Potato Hole Trail gradually climbs to the top of Rich Mountain, following Potato Hole Fork. The trail ends at the remains of a forest fire lookout tower on a branch road of the Rich Mountain Fire Trail. | |
| Distance | 2 miles |
| Difficulty | Difficult |
Raven Rocks Trail |
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| Beginning just north of the picnic area, Raven Rocks Trail starts as a sharp incline leading up to a rock overlook surrounded by lush rhododendron. The trail then gradually climbs to the top of Rich Mountain to the end of the Rich Mountain Fire Trail. | |
| Distance | 1 mile |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
Rich Mountain Fire Trail |
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| Beginning from Turkey Bone Road, the trail follows the top of Rich Mountain to the northern border of the forest. This fire trail takes you along the highest point in the forest (Buck knob: Elevation 3855 feet) and will lead you into the most remote sections of the forest. Potato Hole, Meatbox Run and Raven Rocks trails connect to this trail. | |
| Distance | 3.5 miles |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
Whitman Trail |
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| Whitman Trail connects Turkey Bone Road to Kumbrabow State Forest Road. The suggested route is to begin from Turkey Bone Road; the trail then gradually descends off Rich Mountain. | |
| Distance | 2 miles |
| Difficulty | Difficult |
Additional Information
Picnicking
Change pace and enjoy a picnic at one of the forest’s picnic sites, equipped with tables, fireplaces, drinking water and toilet facilities. Furnished with tables, fireplaces, drinking water and toilet facilities, numerous rustic picnic sites are provided for forest guests. Playground equipment is located at the picnic area for the little ones to enjoy!
Nearby Attractions
Cass Scenic Railroad
All aboard for a trip back through time! Cass Scenic Railroad State Park offers excursions that transport visitors to relive an era when steam-driven locomotives were an essential part of everyday life.
Helvetia Swiss Village
Helvetia is a small Swiss village in a high mountain valley of West Virginia. The original Swiss and German settlers arrived in 1869. Their descendants remain and carry on the traditions of dance, music and food.
Holly River State Park
Located in Webster County, the 8,101-acre Holly River is the second largest park in the West Virginia park system.
Snowshoe Mountain Resort
Guests can find comfortable lodgings and recreational opportunities with this mountain resort, no matter the season.
Monongahela National Forest
The Monongahela National Forest is located in the north central highlands of West Virginia. Elevations range from just under 1,000 feet to a breathtaking 4,863 feet above sea level. The variations in terrain and precipitation have made the Monongahela one of the country’s most ecologically diverse national forests.
Visitors to this beautiful place will enjoy breathtaking vistas, peaceful country roads, gently flowing streams and glimpses of the many species of plants and animals that inhabit the Forest. You will also see a ‘working’ forest, which produces timber, water, grazing, minerals and recreational opportunities for the region and nation.
WV Wildlife Center
The West Virginia State Wildlife Center is a modern zoological facility displaying native and introduced state wildlife. Operated by the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, the Wildlife Center is dedicated to presenting visitors a realistic and factual understanding of our state’s wildlife. The West Virginia State Wildlife Center is located in Upshur County in north-central West Virginia, 12 miles south of Buckhannon.
Elk Springs Resort
Unwind at this luxurious fishing getaway, where trout are plentiful. Get help from professional guides or load up at the fly shop— the largest in West Virginia. Stylish lodging and cabins make your mountain stay complete.
