Cathedral State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Cathedral Trail
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 Cathedral State Park
Location in West Virginia
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| Location | Preston, West Virginia, United States |
| Area | 132 acres (53 ha) |
| Elevation | 2,579 ft (786 m) |
| Established | 1942 |
| Governing body | West Virginia Division of Natural Resources |
Cathedral State Park is a very special place in West Virginia. It holds the largest area of ancient, untouched forest left in the state. Some trees here are as tall as 90 feet, which is like a nine-story building! Their trunks can be 16 feet around.
The park covers 132 acres. It is about one mile east of Aurora. You can also find it five miles west of Redhouse, Maryland. Cathedral State Park is mostly filled with Eastern hemlock trees. A stream called Rhine Creek flows right through the park.
In 1965, the National Park Service named this park a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a truly unique natural area.
However, the park faces a challenge. A tiny bug called the hemlock woolly adelgid is a threat. This bug harms hemlock trees. It has been found within 20 miles of the park.
A Look Back in Time
The land for Cathedral State Park was bought in 1922. A worker named Mr. Branson Haas purchased it. He later sold it to the state of West Virginia in 1942. That's when it officially became a park.
The park is part of the Brookside Historic District. It was added to the National Registry for Natural History Landmarks in 1966. The Society of American Foresters also recognized the park in 1983.
Nature can be powerful, even in a protected park. In 2004, lightning struck the state's biggest hemlock tree. It caused the giant tree to fall. In 2012, a big snowstorm from Hurricane Sandy also damaged parts of the park.
Walking the Trails
Cathedral State Park has several trails for you to explore. These paths let you walk among the tall, ancient trees. You can see the amazing nature up close.
| Trail Name | Trail Length | |
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| ft | m | |
| Cathedral Trail | 5,898 ft | 1,798 m |
| Giant Hemlock Trail | 1,170 ft | 360 m |
| Partridge Berry Trail | 2,931 ft | 893 m |
| Trillium Trail | 668 ft | 204 m |
| Cardinal Trail | 1,201 ft | 366 m |
| Wood Thrush Trail | 3,274 ft | 998 m |
| Old Oakland Road | 2,257 ft | 688 m |
Images for kids
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An Eastern Hemlock in Cathedral State Park
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Hemlock in Cathedral State Park
