Dobbin Slashing Preserve: A ‘point of pride’ in the Canaan Valley

By Vanta Coda III, RealWV

Perched high on the hills overlooking Canaan Valley is one of the largest acidic bogs in Central Appalachia, along with the headwaters of Red Creek, creating an ecological wonderland.

This area has been shaped significantly by the intense logging that has historically occurred from the 1800s till the early 1900s. The recently acquired Dobbin Slashings Preserve has opened access to recreationists, and is emerging as one of the newest ecotourism destinations in this already beautiful region of West Virginia. 

Owned by the West Virginia Nature Conservancy, Dobbin Slashings Preserve was acquired on November 1, 2024, from Western Pocahontas Properties, LLC, and opened to the public this past June. The opening has generated excitement among the community in the surrounding Canaan Valley area and has been a point of pride for the West Virginia Nature Conservancy employees, including Erica Byrd, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager, and Mike Powell, Director of Land Management and Stewardship, since West Virginia Nature Conservancy took ownership of the property late last year.

“TNC has been working in the Canaan Valley/Dolly Sods landscape for decades, and the Dobbin Slashings property fits nicely into the Allegheny Front,” said Byrd. “This property is incredibly important, not only for the extreme biodiversity of the landscape, but also for local and continental connectivity. With the preserve siting between two public lands—the Monongahela National Forest’s Dolly Sods Wilderness Area and the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Dobbin Slashings Preserve will connect nearly 80 miles of trails in the area.”

Members of the public can access the property through existing trails in the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area; Dobbin Grade and Rocky Ridge Trails, and the Canaan Valley

National Wildlife Refuge; Cabin Mountain and Cabin Mountain Spur Trails. Designated trails on the property will be open to the public for hiking, cross-country skiing, wildlife observation, and potentially mountain biking. Hunting will be available for deer only through an agreement with the Mountain Top Hunt Club. Mountain Top has been leasing the property for decades and has exclusive hunting rights to the property. 

“The Nature Conservancy has been working with land managers at the Monongahela National Forest and Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, along with other interested parties, to prepare for public visitation,” said Powell. “We have had the property assessed by a reputable trail company to identify areas where sustainable trails could be installed to connect existing system trails on the Dolly Sods Wilderness and Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Staff have also been working to install directional signage so visitors can use the existing jeep trails, historical rail grade, and other paths of travel. Continued engagement with land managers and the public will help guide future efforts to enhance the visitor experience.” 

The Dobbin Slashings Preserve is 1,393 acres and is home to the headwaters of Red Creek, and the largest peatland bog system in Canaan Valley. Before purchase by West Virginia Nature Conservancy, Dobbin Slashings Preserve was one of the largest unprotected wetlands in Central Appalachia, with over 800 acres of high-elevation acidic bog habitats.

“The site has high restoration potential for recreating an important core conservation property and connecting existing conserved lands of the Monongahela National Forest and Cannan Valley National Wildlife Refuge,” said Powell. “This property has been sought as an addition to conserved lands since at least the 1970s and was finally accomplished through the The Nature Conservancy’s purchase.” 

The preserve is home to more than 400 priority plant and animal species of greatest conservation need. Species found here include Red Spruce, Balsam Fir, blueberries, cranberries, peat-forming sedges and mosses, Ruffed Grouse, Southern Rock Vole, 

Vesper Sparrow, Two-spotted Skipper, Northern Spreadwing, Black Bears, and bobcats. The Dobbin Slashings addition helps this migration and wildlife habitat corridor connect to the Monongahela National Forest to other conserved lands in Pennsylvania.

“Our goal is to create a future condition where the site is functioning ecologically and hydrologically, as well as providing food and habitat for the host of species that currently occupy the site, as well as species that may find suitable habitat in a changing climate,” said Powell. “Public use of the preserve is a way that enhances The Nature Conservancy’s conservation goals through education, engagement, and inspiration to act will be guiding principles for future management efforts.”