Visit the official page for details…

Work will be primarily focused on trail drainage maintenance.  We will maintain, improve, and build new drainage features such as dips, waterbars, culverts, and drainage ditches on selected trails.  We will be using shovels, mattocks, rakes, wheelbarrows and other tools.  Trails targeted for work include Roadside Trail, Reservoir Ski Trail (between Intermediate Loop and Reservoir Loop), and Rhododendron Trail.  This type of drainage maintenance helps keep trails dry year-round for all kinds of uses.

The meeting place for volunteers upon arrival at Coopers Rock at the start of each day will be the entrance to the Day Use Parking Lot, near the Front Gate.  This is the first parking lot on the right along the main road toward the Overlook.  Latecomers are welcome, and should go to the information kiosk at the back of this parking lot, near the restrooms, to find a map and description of where to find trail maintenance work sites.

Volunteers will be provided with work gloves, tools, instruction and supervision, along with Halloween candy.  Volunteers are requested to dress for the weather and wear clothes that can get dirty.  No sandals, for safety reasons.

This is a great time to earn Community Service hours, for anyone who needs them.

Questions?  Contact Adam Polinski, at trailwork@coopersrock.org

“Lots of people are drawn to the rocks on the edge of the canyon at Coopers Rock for various reasons, such as climbing, bouldering, scrambling, and exploring,” says Greg Corio, Director of WVU’s Adventure West Virginia Program. “But their popularity has also placed them in danger of being loved to death.”

“What happens is the soils around these really popular areas amongst the rocks get compacted from so much human activity,” explains Jan Kiger, of Adventure’s Edge and the Coopers Rock Foundation. “Some impact is to be expected, and is acceptable, but we put the brakes on it so the impact zones don’t keep expanding and expanding endlessly.”

Brett Hagerty, Director of WVU’s Outdoor Recreation Center, explains that “what we do is collect downed limbs, branches and logs from other parts of the forest – areas with a lower environmental quality rating – and truck them to trailheads near the most popular rocky areas, such as Upper Rock City. Then we carry all these logs and branches into the rocky areas of the forest, construct impact zone barriers, and we delineate some trails and block off others that aren’t needed. We also block off erosion-prone sites. Simply put, where and how we place materials encourages people to recreate in some places but discourages them from others.”

“What the placement of all these logs and branches accomplishes is the creation of dozens and dozens of set-aside areas, or exclosures of sorts. By using natural materials thoughtfully placed, we allow for natural forest regeneration to occur,” said Corio. “There is still plenty of room for people to go where they want in the rocky areas, and to climb and explore, but our efforts insure that the next generation of forest amongst the rocks will stay healthy and grow.”

Adam Polinski, of the Coopers Rock Foundation, noted that “there are literally thousands of oak seedlings within our managed areas. The success of our efforts is clearly visible throughout the areas where we have worked annually over the past decade or so. We’ve also put the brakes on needless social trails that have sprung up and we’ve prevented erosion and loss of topsoil in the most special habitat within Coopers Rock.”

“This is a great opportunity for students to earn Community Service hours,” said Marcedes Minana, with the Adventure West Virginia Program. “If you are a WVU student who wants some good hard outdoor work that really accomplishes something, this is the event for you.”

“The rimrock environment at Coopers Rock is one of the highest quality natural habitats in northcentral West Virginia,” added Kiger. “From old-growth Northern Red Oaks to Pink Lady’s Slipper orchids, and from Allegheny Woodrats to Bobcats, the rocks have a great diversity of life among them. Anyone who wants to help us out with managing impact to the forest and soils in the most heavily-used of these areas is very appreciated.”

The event runs from 11-4 Sunday the 2nd of October. Meet and register in the large gravel parking lot just before the Concession Stand/Overlook parking lot, by the green Climber’s Kiosk. Volunteers should wear clothes that can get dirty and sturdy shoes; bring work gloves if you have them and a water bottle and snacks. The Coopers Rock Foundation will provide pizza midway through the workday. The event is organized by the WVU Outdoor Recreation Center, Adventure West Virginia, Adventure’s Edge, and the Coopers Rock Foundation.

Questions? Contact trail work coordinator Adam Polinski, at: trailwork@coopersrock.org, or (304) 288-1211.

This concert/fundraiser coincides with the Coopers Rock Spring Cleaning Trailwork Weekend, which will feature trailwork from 10-4 on Saturday April 9 and 1-5 on Sunday April 10. Help us kick-off the trailwork season by joining us at Coopers Rock State Forest during the day and relaxing with us in the evening at Rhythm & Brews. For more information on the concert or trailwork, email trailwork@coopersrock.org.

For more information, a complete schedule, and workshop preregistration, see the main page:

2011 Coopers Rock Celebration of the Outdoors

We have just a few days remaining in this year’s legislative session and there is still a chance to keep the issue and question of the appropriate management of Coopers Rock State Forest in front of the legislators.  You can do this by contacting the members of the House Rules Committee today or Tuesday and request that House Resolution 120 be put on the Special Agenda Calendar. Here is the link to review the resolution: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Bill_Status/resolution.cfm?billdoc=hcr120%20intr.htm&yr=2011&sesstype=RS&i=120.   Below are listed the members.  It is especially important to contact Speaker Thompson.

Thanks for your help!  Please contact CRF Board President Gwen Jones at gwenjones23@yahoo.com if you have any questions.

House of Delegates House Rules Committee Members:

Speaker Thompson – Chair: Speaker.Thompson@frontier.com

Delegate Boggs:  brent.boggs@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Caputo: mike.caputo@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Fragale: ron.fragale@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Hatfield: bobbie.hatfield@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Marshall: charlene.marshall@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Miley: tim.miley@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Morgan: jim.morgan@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Paxton: brady.paxton@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Poling, M.: mary.poling@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Talbott: joe.talbott@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Varner: scott.varner@wvhouse.gov

Delegate White: hkwhite@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Anderson: bill.anderson@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Armstead: tim.armstead@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Ashley: bob.ashley@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Border: larry.border@wvhouse.gov

Delegate Carmichael: mitch.carmichael@wvhouse.gov