Little Canaan is Big on Scenery

Don’t let the name “Little Canaan” Wildlife Management Area (LCWMA) fool you. This place is big on scenery. 

Little Canaan Wildlife Management Area

The LCWMA is 3,168 acres of forest, meadow, and wetlands located just east of Davis, WV. It’s accessed by SR 32 south of Davis and on Camp 70 road (CR 32/18) east of Davis. In addition about 3 miles of the Blackwater River runs through it providing fishing for trout, rock bass, and other species. A forested area lies south of the river and provides hunting opportunities for deer, bear, grouse, woodcock and turkey.

Little Canaan Wildlife Management Area

But my interest in the LCWMA is hiking and photography. About mid-September is a good time to visit this area. The ferns are just changing color then, and the cottongrass is out in full display. In fact, one of my favorite landscape subjects is cottongrass. To me a field of cottongrass is magical. The tiny puffs of white seem to hover weightlessly above the earth. But cottongrass needs a partner, a contrasting subject, to make an interesting photograph. Ferns decked out with fall colors pair up nicely with cottongrass to make a dream-like image. There are patches of both in LCWMA.

Little Canaan Wildlife Management Area

You can make a good loop through the meadows, forest, and wetlands of the LCWMA on the Beaver Creek Trail. Two trailheads lie on Camp 70 Road out of Davis. The first one is about a mile east of Davis (GPS: Lat. 39.12955, Long. -79.44846) and the other about a mile and a half (GPS: Lat. 39.13484, Long. -79.43879). Taking the second trailhead, you’ll follow a power line right-of-way for about a half a mile through meadows of goldenrod and aster. There are stands of cottongrass as well.

Little Canaan Wildlife Management Area

At a half mile turn west to follow Beaver Creek for 0.6 mile. The trail then turns south and weaves in and out of meadow and forest. Wetlands lie to your left (east). After a half mile the Beaver Creek Trail ends at its junction with Trials Road. Turn left on Trials Road, which alternates forest and ferns with meadow and wildflowers.

Goldenrod

After about 0.6 mile, Trials Road meets up with the power line and takes you back to the starting point. It’s a loop of about 2.2 miles. I hope you enjoy this peaceful trail with plenty of variety. Click here for a trail map Little Canaan Wildlife Management Area.