Exploring the Rock Pinnacle at Meadow River

Towering sandstone cliffs, a boulder-lined riverbed, and rolling whitewater rapids–sounds like the New River. But it isn’t. And there’s more. A rock walled grotto, a 30-foot sandstone pinnacle, a little stone chapel, and a couple of waterfalls. Where is this place? I’m referring to the Lower Meadow River. In some respects, it’s like the New River and then some. Indeed, if I had only one day to hike in Southern West Virginia, I’d head for the Meadow River. It offers so much and is so accessible. In my new book “Exploring the Wilds of West Virginia,” I point out a couple of hikes and points of interest along the Meadow River. Let me mention one of those in this blog—the sandstone pinnacle. 

Meadow River

How Do You Get There?

So how do you get to this wild river? It’s surprisingly easy. The best access is at the Kevin Ritchie Memorial Bridge, which crosses the Meadow River on U.S. Highway 19. While driving U.S. 19, I noticed from time to time a few cars parked off the berm just north of the bridge (GPS: Lat. 38.15305, Long. - 80.92434). I made a mental note to check it out some day. And my only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner. As it turns out, this is a great spot from which to explore the Meadow River both upstream and downstream. By the way, if you enjoy exploring areas that are off the beaten path, then be watchful for parking spots such as this one. They may lead you to some interesting places.

At any rate, hike down the dirt road that parallels U.S. 19. After passing a waterfall on your left, a few yards further down look for an obvious fork in the road. It’s next to a large rock outcrop with an overhanging ledge. The left fork is the best way to explore the Meadow River upstream. Take this road to its end at the Meadow River and turn left on a road that runs along the north side of the river. 

The First Buttress

Upper Meadow Walls

To explore the upstream cliffs called the “Upper Meadow Walls,” hike the road for about three quarters of a mile. Look for a faint path breaking off to the left toward the cliffs. If you come to a little camp by the river’s edge, you’ve gone too far. Backtrack about 80 paces to find the trail to the cliffs. 

The Pinnacle

The Pinnacle

The trail leads to the base of one of the tallest set of cliffs that I’ve seen in the New River Region. Called the First Buttress, it’s a vertical to slightly overhanging wall of sandstone some 120 to 140 feet high. The wall is orange and brown from weathering and will have you craning your neck to appreciate it. Continue to the right along the base of the cliffs to the Second Buttress, and remember there are surprises around every corner. In this case, you’ll be amazed by a column of sandstone some 30 to 40 feet high. Pinnacles or pillars of stone are fairly rare around here and are exciting to find. This one is mushroom shaped with a tree growing on top. The pinnacle guards the entrance to a deep V-shaped notch in the cliff wall. This secluded cove of stone, called the “Grotto” by rock climbers, has a couple of small caves, some overhanging roofs of stone, and a trickle of water down the back wall. 

The Pinnacle

There’s much more to explore at the Meadow River all of which is covered in my new book “Exploring the Wilds of West Virginia: A Hiker’s Guide to Beauty off the Beaten Path.” 

For more info or to order book online click HERE.