Yankauer Nature Preserve (Blog Hike #758)

Trails: Kingfisher, South, and Cedar Trails

Hike Location: Yankauer Nature Preserve

Geographic Location: northeast of Martinsburg, WV (39.50144, -77.85321)

Length: 1.8 miles

Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)

Date Hiked: July 2019

Overview: A semiloop featuring a blufftop bench overlooking the Potomac River.

Preserve Information: https://www.potomacaudubon.org/preserves/yankauer/

Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=759516

Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: In West Virginia’s eastern panhandle, take I-81 to SR 9 (exit 16E).  Exit and go east on SR 9.  Drive SR 9 east 2 miles to US 11 and turn left on US 11.  Drive US 11 north 4.1 miles to Bedington Road and turn right on Bedington Rd.  Take Bedington Rd. east 1.5 miles to Scrabble Road and turn left on Scrabble Rd.  Drive Scrabble Rd. 3.6 miles to Winding Neck Road and turn left on Winding Neck Rd.  The signed preserve parking lot is 0.3 miles ahead on the right.

The hike: Owned and maintained by the Potomac Valley Audubon Society, Yankauer Nature Preserve protects 104 blufftop acres overlooking the south bank of the Potomac River.  The preserve came to be in 1966 when Dr. Alfred Yankauer and Mrs. Marian Yankauer donated their weekend getaway house to The Nature Conservancy.  The land was transferred to the Audubon Society in 1994.

            True to its nature preserve status, the preserve’s only amenity is a pavilion used to host nature programs.  The preserve does feature 2.8 miles of well-maintained trails open only to hikers.  This hike uses most of the preserve’s trails to form a grand tour of all that Yankauer Nature Preserve has to offer.

Trailhead at parking area

            From the signed trailhead at the parking area, a gravel trail heads into the forest, which features many red cedar trees.  All of the land at Yankauer Nature Preserve is reverting farmland, but the area near the trailhead is earlier in the reversion process than other parts of the preserve.  Thus, you see many red cedar trees here, but some large oak and black walnut trees will be seen later in this hike.

            Quickly you pass the pavilion, a restroom building, and an information board to reach the signed start of the Kingfisher Trail, the preserve’s main trail.  Angle right to start the Kingfisher Trail.  Soon the gravel trail surface turns to dirt.  Where the Kingfisher Trail splits to form its loop, turn right following a sign that says “To South Trail.”

Starting the Kingfisher Trail's loop

            After dipping through the upper reaches of a ravine, you reach another trail intersection.  Turn right to leave the Kingfisher Trail and begin the lesser-used South Trail.  The South Trail treads the preserve’s highest ground as occasional vehicle traffic on Winding Neck Rd. becomes audible to the right.  Large amounts of Japanese stiltgrass, an invasive grass, appears in the understory here, and I broke many spider webs when I hiked here early on a hot and sweltry July morning.

            Just shy of 0.5 miles, the seldom-used Dan Fisher Trail exits left.  Stay right to remain on the South Trail.  A gradual descent over a winding course brings you to the South Trail’s eastern terminus at another junction with the Kingfisher Trail.  Turn right to continue the Kingfisher Trail.

Hiking the Kingfisher Trail

            At 1.1 miles, you reach the highlight of this hike: a blufftop bench that overlooks the Potomac River.  While the river can be seen some 40 feet below, trees preclude any expansive views.  Nevertheless, the bench makes a nice place to sit and have a snack just past the midpoint of this hike.

Bench overlooking Potomac River

            Past the bench, the trail heads northwest up a ravine that provides some of the preserve’s highest relief.  Interpretive signs point out sinkholes, which are above-ground evidence of the below-ground cave system that exists beneath this land.  At 1.5 miles, you finish a brief steep climb out of the ravine before closing the Kingfisher Trail’s loop.  Turn right to head back for the parking area.

Hiking the Cedar Loop

            Rather than retracing your steps all of the way to the parking area, consider adding on the short Cedar Loop.  The Cedar Loop is a 0.2 mile loop that passes through the nicest red cedar forest in the preserve.  The Cedar Loop returns you to the Kingfisher Trail, where a right turn will return you to the parking area to complete the hike.