Canyon Rim Road

Total Miles
8.6

Elevation

1,114.49 ft

Duration

Technical Rating

Easy

Best Time

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Trail Overview

This route travels from just outside Thomas, WV connecting back to WV 48. The route is not well maintained and has varying terrain. Mud and natural rock make up the base with some small washes and ledges throughout. Several small stream crossings with flow dependent on recent weather. Multiple scenic views of the canyon along the route with a nice viewpoint as listed on the map on a rock outcropping. Dispersed camping sites can be found along the route. The Olson Fire tower offers 360 degree views of the surrounding area.

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Difficulty

rocks aren't overly large but recent weather conditions contribute to the amount of mud or water flow.

Technical Rating

Status Reports

Traveled East to West. Snow/ice covering most of the road, the washout near the middle was a slight challenge being icy, even the bypass has large rocks. Some deep ruts and short water holes that were deep. The pipe that was mentioned in a previous report has deteriorated to the point I'd consider it unsafe. If you straddle the hole, you drive over a section that is falling in. It flexes bad just standing on it. We turned around after crossing it with the lighter vehicle and the hole opened up even more.

there was a down tree towards the middle, but I won't call it an obstruction. honestly felt like a down branch. This is more challenging with snow: one way path and slippery. There is an area with a big pipe you drive on. that pipe is now in such bad shape, with sharp edges (see pic attached)

Made first tracks in the snow after the storm on Thursday/Friday. Snow was heavy and 12-16” deep. Foggy. Would’ve been uneventful if it weren’t for four downed trees. I cleared all of them with my puny electric chainsaw, except the last one closest to Parsons. Packed the snow and bumped the truck over it. Sketchy but it worked.

some of the "puddles" were pretty deep and hiding large rocks. the washout close to midway on the trail pushed the limits of my stock hight yukon. luckily a guy in a highlander helped spot me through it, otherwise I'd likely have turned around. the one overlook we stopped at was breathtaking. and we had it all to ourselves.

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