Wildflowers on the Highland Scenic Highway: Part 2

Most people drive the Highland Scenic Highway for the scenery—and rightly so. There’s not another highway in West Virginia that offers such continuous vistas. Nevertheless, as the Parkway crosses such high elevations, it creates and accesses some unique environs for plant communities. Wildflowers and meadows thrive in the abundant rainfall of the high country. Particularly in the summer months, I find as much to see and enjoy by the side of the road as at the vistas. Indeed, it seems as if the entire 23 mile length of the Parkway is lined with summer wildflowers, both common and rare. It’s like a narrow garden winding across the summits of the Allegheny Highlands.

TEA CREEK MEADOW

Across from the Little Laurel Overlook north of the Williams River crossing, lies the Tea Creek Meadow (GPS: Lat. 38.341527, Long. -80.163410). This 40-acre man-made meadow is composed of fill dirt created by the road cuts on the Parkway and is chock full of wildflowers all summer long. Early in the summer, buttercups carpet this gorgeous field in gold. Scattered among the buttercups are other wildflowers such as yellow goat’s-beard and rough-fruited cinquefoil.

Purple Cone Flower

In late summer, large patches of crown vetch dot the meadow, along with purple cone flower, tall bellflower, black-eyed susan, virgin’s bower, field thistle, and teasel, to name a few. Lovely stands of sweet goldenrod grace the meadow in September.

Sweet Goldenrod

You can walk among the wildflowers down an easy path mown through the meadow. The path is part of the Tea Creek Interpretive Trail (TR 489) that runs the length of the field and then descends the foot of the fill dirt pile into a small wetland and beaver pond area where a new set of wildflowers grow. Interpretative signs and benches help educate the mind and rest the weary feet. The trail loops back up the slope of the fill dirt and onto the flat meadow where another mown path leads back to the trailhead. The entire trail loop, probably no more than 0.8 miles, is an easy excursion and well worth it for the wildflower display.

Tea Creek Meadow

RED LICK OVERLOOK

Continuing to the north end of the Highway, the Red Lick Overlook (GPS: Lat. 38.309662, Long. -80.137348), the last overlook on the Highway, is a worthy wildflower stop. In the middle of the parking lot and around the periphery, some gracious souls have planted a wildflower garden where beauties abound. Bee balm, tall bellflower, evening primrose, fringed loosestrife, and a Turk’s cap lily plant flourish in this garden in the wild. The view from the overlook is pretty sweet, too.

Turk's Cap Lily

Bee Balm

Phyllis and I are eager to explore the Parkway again this year, for we know that more beautiful wildflowers are just waiting to be found. Whatever species we discover, a trip along the Parkway in summer is like driving down a wildflower garden 23 miles long. Add the scenic overlooks, and you have beauty afar and beauty at your feet. What more could you ask of a lovely summer day in West Virginia?

Red Lick Overlook