Cedar Creek Backway

    Nestled in the valleys of West Virginia’s “Mountain Lakes” region, the Cedar Creek Road Backway offers travelers an enjoyable and affordable escape to the country.  Designated as a state Backway for its scenic, historic, natural and recreational resources, the route parallels much of Cedar Creek as it meanders past quaint farmsteads, meadows and forested hills.  Popular for bicycling, fishing and camping, the area is also rich in history and culture.

    As this Backway wanders from WV Route 5 to Interstate 79, the forty-two mile route offers a variety of paths.  From a rolling gravel route along the creek, across a smoothly paved and flat path through Cedar Creek State Park, to a twisting up and down hill trek, the route includes four designated Backway zones, each with its own significance and offerings.

    While the adventurous can enjoy the Backway in its completion, from end to end, other visitors with limited means or time can easily enjoy the Backway one zone at a time.

ZONE ONE:
Lower Cedar Creek

    Beginning on WV Route 5 at historic Pisgah Church, Zone One offers a rolling, unpaved, gravel path through the wide, natural valleys where water, rock cliffs, meadows, farms and forests all exist in harmony. 

    Many of the buildings along this route are reflections of architecture and Gilmer County settlement in the 1900’s.  The Pisgah Church Cemetery verifies the early settlement of DeKalb, and includes the burial sites of several Civil War veterans and one War of 1812 veteran.

    Although appropriate for motorized vehicles,  this natural wildlife area can be most appreciated by those on foot, bicycle, or horseback.  A  popular crossing for turkey, groundhog, deer and raccoon, the shaded path also runs past the homes of hawk and the great blue heron.

ZONE TWO:
Cedar Creek Road

    Winding past the creek and through Cedar Creek State Park, recreational Zone Two is a paved, mostly shaded trek, perfect for joggers and bicycling families. However, the most popular feature of this region is the state park.

     Cedar Creek State Park’s lush rolling hills are home to a swimming pool, miniature golf course, tennis court, volleyball court, paddle boats, picnic pavilions and a softball field.  The three lakes of the park are stocked seasonally with trout, muskie, bass and catfish.  With fourteen miles of hiking trails and forty-five campsites, the park offers something for both leisure and adventure.

    Unique aspects of the park include the campground check-in station, a restored cabin, and a reconstructed one-room schoolhouse, complete with desks, inkwells and a pot-bellied stove. 

    The One-Room School Teacher Memorial stands as a testimonial of the early years of education in West Virginia history.

ZONE THREE:
Cedarville  and Exchange

    Known throughout the area for their Labor Day Homecoming and Independence Day celebrations, the Cedarville community welcomes visitors to view the Butcher old time watering trough, the sites of the original Townsend’s Mill and Cedarville Mill, and the General Store, which dates back to the Civil War era.  Most buildings in the area date from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. 

    Visitors in Zone Three can also tour Cedarville School, a nationally registered historic landmark, by appointment.  Constructed in 1923, Cedarville School (now closed)  was built to meet the needs of the area’s growing population.  When Cedarville School opened, many one-room schools in the area closed, marking the end of an era.

    The path, following CR 19/26 southeast, then travels through historic Exchange, where the old mill still stands, and old bullet holes still poke through the once-ornate ceilings of the General Store.  Steel truss bridges and railways through this region represent the shift in area history from agricultural to industrial endeavors. 

ZONE FOUR:

The Spur

    The Backway Spur offers the most challenging trek, especially for bicycle enthusiasts.  The unpaved path makes an arduous climb up CR 19/22 to Sunshine Church before rattling back down hill to County Road 10/4.  The divided spur of the Backway turns back, northwest toward Cedar Creek, where it catches Route 10 back into Zone Three.

    Although Zone Four is a bicyclist’s dream, those with recreational vehicles and low-riding cars will want to avoid this eastern end of the Backway.  Instead, drivers can access the Cedar Creek Road Backway and Cedar Creek State Park from the US 33/CR 17 junction in Gilmer County.

    The Cedar Creek Road Backway may be the most affordable tourist attraction in the “Mountain Lakes” region.   With a packed lunch, travelers can enjoy an escape to the country and enjoy nature, history, hiking, and culture without spending a dime. Those who want to stay a little longer, or who welcome more adventure, can affordably do so by taking advantage of the camping and activities at Cedar Creek State Park.  From end to end, and affordable to free, the Cedar Creek Road Backway truly offers something for everyone.

    For more information contact Jim Bailey at gcfrn@rtol.net or 462-7552.