Kumbrabow State Forest Overview & History
Forest Overview
Kumbrabow State Forest sits on top of Rich Mountain along the Western edge of the Allegheny Highlands in Randolph County. Made up of 9,474 acres at an elevation of more than 3,000 feet above sea level, it is West Virginia’s highest state forest. Next to its enjoyable recreation, Kumbrabow provides watershed protection, commercial forestry and wildlife management. There are six completely furnished and fully equipped pioneer cabins, open from April to the first week of December and 13 primal sites on Mill Creek Campground. All campsites include a fire pit and picnic tables.
Forest History
What is now Kumbrabow State Forest was once covered with magnificent stands of red spruce and hemlock before the 1880s logging boom. When the logging era ended in the 1920’s, fire consumed any remaining forestry. Despite this devastation, red spruce is present in the forest and ever-growing. The forest’s name derives from three prominent families under the land purchase, KUMp – BRAdy – BOWers. Two Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps were established for area development. Later, CCC enrollees constructed nine miles of access roads through the forest and seven miles of horse trails. They also built five log cabins, eight table and bench accommodations, three stone fireplaces and picnic shelters. By 1977, the first of many timber harvests was complete. As a result of the success, a timber-growing comprehensive program was created as a necessity for West Virginia State Forest management, except for Kanawha State Forest.
