Panther State Forest: Twin Rocks Trail (Blog Hike #1125)

Trail: Twin Rocks Trail
Hike Location: Panther State Forest
Geographic Location: southwest of Iaeger, WV (37.44761, -81.87644)
Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: April 2026
Overview: An out-and-back on an old coal tram path beside Panther Creek.
Park Information: https://wvstateparks.com/parks/panther-state-forest/
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 22, 2027)

Directions to the trailhead: From Iaeger in rural southwest West Virginia, take US 52 west 1.5 miles to Panther-Mohawk Road and turn left on Panther-Mohawk Rd.  Drive Panther-Mohawk Rd. west 6.1 miles to CR 3 and turn left on CR 3.  Drive CR 3 south 3.6 miles to the signed turnoff for the park office on the right.  Turn right, cross Panther Creek on a concrete bridge, and park in the gravel lot beside the park office in another 0.4 miles.

The hike: Tucked deep in the remote hills and hollows of southern West Virginia, Panther State Forest occupies 11,389 rugged acres along the West Virginia/Kentucky border.  The forest is named for its main watercourse, Panther Creek, which in turn got its name from a pioneer who supposedly killed a panther here.  The forest was established in 1940 partly as the result of a locally-organized "Pennies for Panther" campaign that raised more than $9000 in donations.

            True to its designation as a state forest rather than a state park, Panther State Forest is light on amenities.  The forest offers a tiny developed campground, hunting and fishing, a swimming pool, and 4 hiking trails totaling just over 5 miles.  I came here on a rain-filled day in late April, so I needed to keep my hike short to get it in between the rain showers.  Thus, I hiked this park's shortest and easiest trail: the Twin Rocks Trail described here.  The Twin Rocks Trail offers an out-and-back along Panther Creek that follows an old coal mining tram path.  I managed to do the out portion of this hike rain-free but got soaked on the return portion.

Trailhead a park office

            From the park office parking lot, walk a few feet back up to the road and turn left to begin heading southeast on the old coal mining tram path, which today makes a wide two-track treadway.  A sign designates this trail as a Mountaineer Mile Trail, a state health initiative that encourages people to walk 1 mile each day.  The trail passes through dense forest that is a mixture of pines and deciduous trees, and Panther Creek is visible and audible downhill to the left.

Wild grass field and wooden structure

            Near 0.4 miles, the trail curves right and gains distance from the creek.  Soon you come to a wild grass field, and if you look to the left across the field you will see an old wooden structure.  While I could not find any history on that structure, it probably predates the park.  Some large sycamore trees grow along the creek here.

First bridge over Panther Creek

Panther Creek

            At 0.7 miles, you reach a wooden bridge that crosses Panther Creek.  The trail map shows the Twin Rocks Trail forming a loop by continuing up the west side of the creek and crossing another bridge, but the trail becomes very overgrown past this first bridge.  Also, the second bridge was missing when I came here.  Thus, I spent a few minutes admiring the creek and some nearby rock outcrops before turning around and retracing my steps to the park office to complete the hike.