GREEN BANK, W.Va.— More than 80 miles of the 311-mile Allegheny Trail wander through Pocahontas County in eastern West Virginia, a fact that the state's outdoor recreation community will celebrate Sept. 6-8 at the Green Bank Observatory to mark the trail's 50th anniversary.
According to Jake Hyer, marketing specialist for the Pocahontas County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the weekend event will include workshops, live music, guided hikes, storytelling, educational programs, and a premier of a short film about the trail. It will also include a question-and-answer panel session with trail founders.
Hyer said the event, which the West Virginia Trails Association is hosting, is being celebrated at a time when the trail is enjoying more use.
"Since its inception in 1974, the Allegheny Trail has been mainly a footpath," Hyer said. "Today, backpackers, day hikers, anglers, hunters, and mountain bikers use it.
"These users seek one-of-a-kind experiences like the stunning vistas in Seneca State Forest, the dark skies viewing in Watoga State Park, the history of timber and trains industry at Cass Scenic Railroad, along with the Green Bank Observatory, the largest steerable telescope in the world!"
Hyer said the trail has been a testament to community support and the unyielding spirit of adventure that has defined West Virginia.
Volunteers maintain what is the longest trail in the Mountain State through the nonprofit West Virginia Scenic Trails Association.
Nicole Flood-Sawczyszyn, the association's outreach coordinator, emphasized the role of West Virginian spirit in maintaining and developing the route, which travels northward from the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in Monroe County to the Mason-Dixon Line in Preston County.
"This trail holds a special place in the hearts of hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, and this anniversary is a testament to the enduring beauty and spirit of adventure that defines West Virginia," she said.
Ticket prices include three days of the event. For more information, visit the event ticket portal. Festival organizers remind visitors that cell phone service is unavailable near the Green Bank Observatory.
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