Spice Run Wilderness
Encyclopedia
Spice Run Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness area within the Monongahela National Forest
of West Virginia
, USA. Fairly remote, it has no passenger car access whatever.
(only fordable at low flows), or by hiking in from the adjacent Calvin Price State Forest
, or by driving a high-clearance vehicle to the southeastern corner of the Wilderness along Greenbrier County Route 16.
— known as "spicebush" or "spicewood". The Spice Run Lumber Company created a logging boom town
that harvested stands of timber to float down the Greenbrier River
for the sawmill
s. So great were these log runs, that the waterways were choked. The "Run" in Spice Run is from the definition of "Run" as a waterway: "to flow, as a liquid; or, to flow along, esp. strongly, as a stream or the sea: The rapids ran over the rocks."http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/run
In 2009, Spice Run was designated a Wilderness along with several other areas of Monongahela National Forest
.
tributaries to the Greenbrier River
. Besides fishing
, camping
, hiking
, botany
and bird watching are popular activities. There are at least 230 species of birds to watch, and 89 plant species. Nine animals are on the Federal list for endangered species
or threatened species
such as the northern flying squirrel
.
Across the Greenbrier River
rests the Greenbrier River Trail
, maintained by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
along the former Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Greenbrier Subdivision. This portion still shows traces of the old lumber-mill on the banks where the flow of logs was controlled. Of the original community of Spice Run, only one house remains standing.
Monongahela National Forest
The Monongahela National Forest is a national forest located in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. It protects over of federally-owned land within a proclamation boundary that includes much of the Potomac Highlands Region and portions of 10 counties.The MNF includes some...
of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, USA. Fairly remote, it has no passenger car access whatever.
Access
Users of SRW must enter it via the Greenbrier RiverGreenbrier River
The Greenbrier River is a tributary of the New River, long, in southeastern West Virginia, USA. Via the New, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of...
(only fordable at low flows), or by hiking in from the adjacent Calvin Price State Forest
Calvin Price State Forest
Calvin Price State Forest is a state forest in eastern Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties, West Virginia. The forest is the newest in West Virginia's system, having been mostly purchased in 1953 from New River Lumber Company. The forest is named for Marlinton newspaper editor, Calvin W...
, or by driving a high-clearance vehicle to the southeastern corner of the Wilderness along Greenbrier County Route 16.
History
Spice Run was named after a native shrub, Lindera benzoinLindera benzoin
Lindera benzoin is a flowering plant in the family Lauraceae, native to eastern North America, ranging from Maine to Ontario in the north, and to Kansas, Texas and northern Florida in the south.-Characteristics:Spicebush is a medium-sized deciduous shrub growing to 5 m...
— known as "spicebush" or "spicewood". The Spice Run Lumber Company created a logging boom town
Boomtown
A boomtown is a community that experiences sudden and rapid population and economic growth. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although the term can also be applied to communities growing very rapidly for different reasons,...
that harvested stands of timber to float down the Greenbrier River
Greenbrier River
The Greenbrier River is a tributary of the New River, long, in southeastern West Virginia, USA. Via the New, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of...
for the sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s. So great were these log runs, that the waterways were choked. The "Run" in Spice Run is from the definition of "Run" as a waterway: "to flow, as a liquid; or, to flow along, esp. strongly, as a stream or the sea: The rapids ran over the rocks."http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/run
In 2009, Spice Run was designated a Wilderness along with several other areas of Monongahela National Forest
Monongahela National Forest
The Monongahela National Forest is a national forest located in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. It protects over of federally-owned land within a proclamation boundary that includes much of the Potomac Highlands Region and portions of 10 counties.The MNF includes some...
.
Ecology
Aside from Spice Run, the Davy Run and Kincaid Run watersheds are within the Spice Run Wilderness. All three are native brook troutBrook trout
The brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, is a species of fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. In many parts of its range, it is known as the speckled trout or squaretail. A potamodromous population in Lake Superior are known as coaster trout or, simply, as coasters...
tributaries to the Greenbrier River
Greenbrier River
The Greenbrier River is a tributary of the New River, long, in southeastern West Virginia, USA. Via the New, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of...
. Besides fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
and bird watching are popular activities. There are at least 230 species of birds to watch, and 89 plant species. Nine animals are on the Federal list for endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
or threatened species
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
such as the northern flying squirrel
Northern Flying Squirrel
The Northern flying squirrel is one of two species of the genus Glaucomys, the only flying squirrels found in North America . Unlike most members of their family, flying squirrels are strictly nocturnal...
.
Across the Greenbrier River
Greenbrier River
The Greenbrier River is a tributary of the New River, long, in southeastern West Virginia, USA. Via the New, Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of...
rests the Greenbrier River Trail
Greenbrier River Trail
The Greenbrier River Trail is a rail trail operated by West Virginia State Parks. The trail is a long former railroad, now used for hiking, bicycling, ski-touring, horseback-riding, and wheel-chair use. The trail passes through numerous small towns and traverses 35 bridges and 2 tunnels as it...
, maintained by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of West Virginia. While formerly known as the cabinet-level Department of Natural Resources, it is now part of the West Virginia Department of Commerce...
along the former Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was a Class I railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from several smaller Virginia railroads begun in the 19th century. Led by industrialist Collis P...
Greenbrier Subdivision. This portion still shows traces of the old lumber-mill on the banks where the flow of logs was controlled. Of the original community of Spice Run, only one house remains standing.
See also
- List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
- Wilderness ActWilderness ActThe Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
- Greenbrier River Watershed AssociationGreenbrier River Watershed AssociationThe Greenbrier River Watershed Association is one of the oldest watershed associations in the state of West Virginia, currently on its 15th year of existence...
- Monongahela National ForestMonongahela National ForestThe Monongahela National Forest is a national forest located in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. It protects over of federally-owned land within a proclamation boundary that includes much of the Potomac Highlands Region and portions of 10 counties.The MNF includes some...