North Fork Mountain

North Fork Mountain
Mountain
North Fork Mountain
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
Counties	Grant, Pendleton
Range	Allegheny Mountains
Summit	Pike Knob in Pendleton County, WV
- elevation	4,291 ft (1,307.9 m) [1]
- coordinates	38°40′03″N 79°26′16″W / 38.6675°N 79.43778°W / 38.6675; -79.43778
Highest point	Kile Knob
- location	Pendleton County, WV
- elevation	4,588 ft (1,398.4 m) [2]
- coordinates	38°36′58″N 79°28′55″W / 38.61611°N 79.48194°W / 38.61611; -79.48194
Topo maps	USGS Upper Tract, Moatstown, Circleville, Franklin, Hopeville
Nearest city	Circleville, West Virginia
Location of Pike Knob in West Virginia
Website: Nature Conservancy: North Fork Mountain

North Fork Mountain is a mountain ridge in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. It is within the Monongahela National Forest. Considered the driest high mountain in the Appalachians,^[who?] it has been proposed for wilderness status.^[3]

Geography and geology

North Fork Mountain runs roughly northeast to southwest for 34 miles (55 km) throughout Grant and Pendleton Counties, defining the eastern edge of the North Fork South Branch Potomac River basin. Near its northern end, it also forms the western edge of Smoke Hole Canyon.

The mountain begins in the north at North Fork Gap (near Cabins) where a water gap carries West Virginia Route 28 and the North Fork river through the mountain. It continues southwest from there to Dry Run Gap in southern Pendleton County.^[4]

Structurally, North Fork Mountain is part of the Wills Mountain Anticline network that encompasses much of the region including parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania.^[4] The same geologic ridge that forms North Fork Mountain is known as New Creek Mountain north of North Fork Gap. At North Fork's southern end, the ridge fragments into Devils Backbone, Brushy Mountain and Monterey Mountain.

North Fork Mountain achieves its highest elevation at Kile Knob, reaching 4,588 feet (1,398 m). Other notable points along the mountain include Panther Knob at 4,498 feet (1,371 m)^[5] and Pike Knob. Tuscarora Formation sandstone, a layer of rock only about 50 feet (15 m) thick, is the major ridge-forming stratum in eastern West Virginia, and forms Chimney Top, Harmon Rocks and other salients of North Fork Mountain.

Ecology

Flora

Vegetation on North Fork Mountain consists mainly of mixed oaks and other hardwoods along with mountain laurel, flame azalea and wintergreen. The North Fork Mountain Trail leads to the 4,300-foot (1,300 m) summit of Pike Knob where red pines live with both Appalachian-restricted species and with boreal species such as the southernmost examples of the bristly rose. Pine barrens, created by frequent fires, cover several peaks; the southernmost native red pine forests blanket others.

From Nelson Sods, a mountaintop meadow, spectacular views of Shenandoah Mountain, Roaring Plains, Spruce Mountain, and the North Fork Valley may be experienced. No trails lead to the cliff-skirted 4,508-foot (1,374 m) summit of Panther Knob, where the largest pine barren in the Central Appalachians is found; this area supports the world's largest population of variable sedge, a globally vulnerable plant dependent upon fire. Beach heather, typically found on coastal dunes, also occurs here, along with the pink-edged sulfur, a boreal butterfly whose larvae feed on the blueberries that thrive after fires. Paper birch groves thrive along Little Creek; this northern tree is quite rare this far south. Other rare plant species include butternut and Smoke Hole bergamot. Fern beds and an abundance of wildflowers are also found.

Monongahela National Forest has designated 10 acres (40,000 m²) of red pine old growth forest on the mountain as the North Fork Mountain Red Pine Botanical Area.^{[citation needed]}

Fauna

Wildlife includes whitetail deer, wild turkey, black bear, and a variety of other bird and mammal species. Peregrine falcons, a US Fish and Wildlife Species of Concern are also found in the North Fork area. The Allegheny woodrat, another Species of Concern is also present. Occurrences of other rare species have been observed in the area.

Recreation

Spectacular views abound from these many rocky outcrops overlooking the North Fork South Branch Potomac River; sights visible from the ridge top include the River Knobs (including Seneca Rocks), Germany Valley, Fore Knobs, Hopeville Gorge and Champe Rocks. Backpacker Magazine described these views, visible along the 24-mile long North Fork Mountain Trail (NFMT)^[6], as some of “the best mountain scenery in the East”. The NFMT was called the best trail in West Virginia by Outside magazine ^[7].

Photo gallery

North Fork Mountain to the east of Germany Valley (mountain on right)	Looking south along North Fork Mountain from Nelson Sods	Nelson Sods	Pike Knob from the north
Foundation from the former Pike Knob Fire Tower	Overview of North Fork Mountain

See also

• List of old growth forests
• Monongahela National Forest

References

Citations

Other sources

• Core, Earl L. (1952), "Botanizing on Panther Knob, West Virginia", Wild Flower, 28:35-38.

External links

• At The Nature Conservancy Website:
  • NFM Page
  • Pike Knob Preserve Page
  • Smoke Hole/NFM Page
• WV Wilderness Coalition Proposal