July 26-29, 2024
For two days I couldn’t decide if it was Cooper’s Rock or Coopers Rock. The sign when you enter the park says Coopers. I’ve seen on the internet Cooper’s – I’m settling on Coopers.
As I’m trying to keep my drives less than 4 hours and it would be 6 hours from Bardstown to Coopers Rock I sopped at a KOA half way.
It was a one nighter and a laundry stop. Also worked on this blog a bit:
On to Coopers Rock. Stopped on they way and made an espresso.
There are two Campgrounds but only one handles RVs – McCollum. It has 25 sites and they are in the process of adding 25 more. Most do not have water hookups and I don’t think any have sewer hookup. I’m in Site 16.
I set up, showered and headed into Morgantown to visit a friend that manages a rooftop bar along the river. From the roof you see WVU and all of Morgantown. But it was HOT!! And I did not stick around for long.
There is a trail that runs along the river with upscale restaurants and and quirky college town stuff..
Coopers Rock is all about trails. The next day, July 28th, I hikes two trails that connected to the McCollum Campground. The Nature Trail – the signage indicates it was an Eagle Scout project. It was buggy. Probably not more than a mile. There were markers identifying many of the trees – I thought this was common to all of the trails but it seems this is the what makes the Nature Trail as none of the other trails i hiked had such signage.
I thought these rock formations on the Nature trail were pretty cool – I had no idea what some of the other trails would reveal.
After the Nature Trail I went for Raven Rock – All Trails marks it as moderate, 2.6 miles, 442 feet elevation gain. At the end of the trail there is an overlook, Raven Rock, giving a great view of the Cheat River.
This is a phonographic.
The Raven Rock trail was a bit of workout and I need to get ready for some of the hikes I’ll want to do in the Tetons and Rockies. I showered, lunched and want to visit the Short Story Brewery.
And now there are two stickers on the fridge:
That night a lit a fire … I thought it unusual to light a fire in July but most campers had fires. They keep them to a a smolder as a way to keep bugs away – and there are plenty of bugs to be kept away.
And after dark I sipped bourbon and watched the fire.
The next morning I went to the Coopers Rock. It is the Overlook Trail. It’s a very short trail from a parking area.
With views similar to Raven Rock.
And some signage:
The McCollum camp host recommended the Henry Clay Furnace trail for its historic significance. That was next.
After walking this trail I cannot imagine how four tons of anything was moved in and out in the 1800s. The furnace is in the middle of nowhere. And, it was so damn buggy I didn’t stick around for more than a few pictures.
After lunch my friend Luis visited and we hiked a few trails including the Underpass Trail which goes under Coopers Rock. And then just easy trails in the camping areas.
Tomorrow I move on to Pennsylvania.