How To Travel the US (without leaving Appalachia)
What if I told you that you could experience many different parts of the United States…without ever leaving Appalachia?!
There are a handful of locations that I can think of within the bounds of Appalachia (especially in West Virginia) where you get a taste of being somewhere completely different.
Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, a small taste of Canada in West Virginia.
1st stop: Canada (in West Virginia). If you want a taste of a Canadian climate, there are couple of spots in West Virginia that I would recommend. #1 is Cranberry Glades Botanical Area. Tucked in the Monongahela National Forest in Pocahontas County, this area is located inside a natural “bowl” formed in the mountains that traps cold air, creating a climate vastly different than the surrounding area. It features a sphagnum bog, rare carnivorous plants, and even animals that are usually found much farther north on the continent. The other area, #2 is Dolly Sods Wilderness. This mountaintop plateau has many of those same features, but what’s unusual is that it hasn’t always been that way. The area was heavily forested until the 19th century when loggers came and practically destroyed that forest…but then fires came and caused further destruction. However, out of the ashes rose this new swampy ecosystem. Not all of Dolly Sods is swamp, but if you explore enough of the area you will come across patches of it, especially in the northern section along the Dobbin Grade trail.
Mars Rock, near Eolia, KY. It feels like you’re in the southwestern US!
2nd stop: Arizona (in Kentucky). I’ve never been to Arizona, but I’ve seen picture and video, and if you travel to Mars Rock in Kentucky, you’ll experience just a small taste of it. Mars Rock is a former salt quarry located near Eolia, KY where you can see millions of years of geology exposed for all the world to see. You feel like you’re in a desert. Make sure your vehicle can handle DEEP potholes though. Also, be aware that Mars Rock is on private land, so be responsible and leave no trace!
Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina.
3rd stop: Rocky Mountains (in North Carolina). If you’ve explored mountains in Appalachia, you know that they’re not quite “rocky.” Many of the mountains in Appalachia are just glorified hills, but if you explore Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina, you’ll find some very challenging, craggy peaks to overcome. Here the rock is made of metamorphosed conglomerate, and they’re exposed to the elements. They’re not your typical Appalachian-type “hills” — they’re just as rugged as about any mountain you can find. Be careful if you go!