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 runs north across the Wilderness into the Dry Fork River. These streams frequently flash flood during periods of heavy rain. From the mouth of Otter Creek, the terrain rises to about 3,900 feet on McGowan Mountain. The area, logged extensively between 1897 and 1914, now sports a second-growth forest, dense thickets of rhododendron and mountain laurel along the streams, and a variety of mosses in damper regions. Spruce dominate the higher country and give way to hardwoods such as black cherry and yellow birch lower down.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | West Virginia |
| Size | 20,705 acres |
| Designated | 1975, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.00° N, 79.64° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
Boundary map
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.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
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.
Trailheads and sites
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.
- under 1 miOtter Creek Wilderness ↗Horse camp
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Trails
12 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 48 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Otter Creek Trail ↗ | 11.4 | |
| Shavers Mountain Trail ↗ | 8.7 | |
| Green Mountain Trail | 4.1 | |
| Moore Run Trail | 4 | |
| McGowan Mountain Trail | 3.7 | |
| Turkey Run Trail | 3.7 | |
| Middle Point | 3.5 | |
| Possession Camp | 3 | |
| Mylius Trail | 2.4 | |
| Yellow Creek Trail | 1.3 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 3.1 miWestern Maryland Depot ↗Parsons, WV
- 3.1 miTucker County Courthouse and Jail ↗Parsons, WV
- 3.2 miTucker County Bank Building ↗Parsons, WV
- 5.9 miDay--Vandevander Mill ↗Harmon, WV
- 7.6 miRandolph County Courthouse and Jail ↗Elkins, WV
- 7.6 miSt. George Academy ↗St. George, WV
- 7.6 miKump, Gov. H. Guy, House ↗Elkins, WV
- 7.6 miWarfield--Dye Residence ↗Elkins, WV
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for West Virginia
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
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?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Otter Creek Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 38.999° N, 79.645° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Otter Creek Wilderness?
The National Register has 30 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.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- 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.