USFS · Wilderness area · West Virginia

Otter Creek Wilderness

In a natural bowl between Shavers Mountain (on the east side) and McGowan Mountain (on the west side) lies Otter Creek Wilderness. Most of the numerous streams in the area flow into Otter Creek, which...

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.

Wilderness20,705 acresUSFSWVDesignated 19754 campgrounds within 10 mi1 Forest Service site
Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Otter Creek Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net

Facts

Where each comes from ↓
DesignationWilderness
Managed byU.S. Forest Service
StateWest Virginia
Size20,705 acres (Wilderness Connect)
Designated1975, by Congress
Center point38.9991, -79.6449
Night skyAbout as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11)

Boundary map

1 outline

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

1 federal campground sits inside the boundary and 3 more are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

FS · Inside
Otter Creek Wilderness
First-comeWV
FS · 0.3 mi
Bear Heaven Campground
First-comeWV
FS · 4 mi
Stuart Recreation Area
Reservable50 sites
FS · 7.7 mi
Horseshoe Recreation Area
Reservable16 sites

Trailheads and sites

Forest Service directory · 1

The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 horse camp. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.

Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Register listings within 15 miles · 30 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Otter Creek Wilderness?

20,705 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Otter Creek Wilderness?

The U.S. Forest Service.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Otter Creek Wilderness in?

West Virginia.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Otter Creek Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1975.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Otter Creek Wilderness?

1 federal campground sits inside the boundary, including Otter Creek Wilderness. 4 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.

Source: Where to camp

Where are the trailheads in Otter Creek Wilderness?

The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site here, including 1 horse campground. Each one links to its Forest Service page.

Source: Trailheads and sites

How do I get to Otter Creek Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 38.999, -79.645. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How dark is the night sky at Otter Creek Wilderness?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 11 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.

Source: NASA Black Marble

Are there historic places near Otter Creek Wilderness?

30 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Western Maryland Depot and Tucker County Courthouse and Jail.

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.