Stewardship & Access Ethics

Much access depends on landowner permission

A striking amount of West Virginia recreation happens on private land or on public land adjacent to private land, under arrangements that volunteers renegotiate constantly. Climbing at several New River Gorge crags, entry to most significant caves, and river access at many put-ins all exist because someone maintains a relationship with a landowner. One bad interaction can close a resource for everyone, permanently.

Park where you are told

Illegal parking is the single most common cause of access loss at climbing areas and put-ins. If the lot is full, go somewhere else.

High-elevation bogs recover slowly

High-elevation sphagnum bog and heath in Dolly Sods, Cranberry Glades and Canaan Valley take decades to heal from a single season of trampling. Stay on trail and boardwalk, and camp only on durable surfaces — bare rock, established sites, or forest duff well away from wet ground.

Fire

Most of the Highlands is too wet to burn most of the time, which breeds complacency. Autumn and spring dry spells change that fast. Use a stove. Where fires are legal, use existing rings, keep them small, and drown them.

Move no firewood

Hemlock woolly adelgid, emerald ash borer and other pests move in firewood. Cathedral State Park's virgin hemlock stand is directly threatened. Buy local or buy certified heat-treated.

Decontaminate cave gear

White-nose syndrome has devastated West Virginia bat populations. Follow current national decontamination protocols for anything worn or carried into a cave, and observe seasonal closures — they exist to protect hibernating colonies.

Give back where you take

Friends of the Cheat, Friends of Deckers Creek, the New River Alliance of Climbers, the West Virginia Scenic Trails Association, the Mon River Rail-Trails Conservancy and dozens of watershed groups run on volunteer labor and small donations. If you use the resource, join the group that maintains it.

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