View 3-D Map

Trail Notes: Otter Creek Wilderness has no signs or blazes within the wilderness boundaries. Trailheads on the boundaries are posted. Trail intersections are marked with rock cairns. A good map, trail notes and compass are essential.

From the parking area walk down the gravel road towards Condon Run. Turn right onto signed Hendrick Camp Trail. First walk through a pleasant grove of Red Spruce and Hemlock before arriving at a bog at the headwaters of Otter Creek. There is no bridge here and it seems getting across unscathed is never the same two times in a roll.

Once across join an old logging skid road that gradually climbs up to a saddle on Shaver Mt. In about one mile from the trailhead arrive at Shaver Mt Tr. Turn left and climb to the top of the ridge. The climb is made easy by a set of long and well placed switch-backs. As you walk along the ridge ( I think at least part of the trail is an old woods road.) you'll walk through alternating stands of hardwoods and spruce.

Descend through a tunnel of Rhododendrons and switch-back down to another saddle (Mylius Gap). In 4.2 miles from leaving the Hendrick Camp Trail come to a 4-way intersection with four cairns. Turn left onto Mylius trail and descent via footpaths and woods roads to Otter Creek in another 0.8 miles. Keep an eye out for tree fossils in the rock in the trail as you approach the final steep descent!

Follow the short remainder of Mylius trail on the other side of the creek to the junction of Otter Creek Tr.

(A) If you are doing the base loop turn left onto Otter Creek Trail (upstream). In about a mile you will ford Otter Creek twice. In 1.8 miles pass the junction of Yellow Creek Trail and soon after cross Yellow Creek itself.

Cross through a boggy area and climb up to yet another RR grade that parallels Otter Creek from a higher elevation. Follow this for another 1.13 miles back to Condon Run and your car.

(B) If you wish to visit the water works that are the highlight of any trip to the wilderness turn right and follow the trail downstream. In about 0.7 miles ford the creek and then a small feeder stream that comes in from the right. Camping options from here down to Moore Run is almost limitless.

In a mile from the Mylius Trail come to the junction with Moore Run Trail marked by a cairn on the left and Possession Camp Trail behind a large rock on the right. Just below this is a great set of rapids and the largest/deepest swimming hole on the creek. A little further downstream arrive at possession Camp, a large grassy area capable of housing 20+ tents although I've never seen more than a handful. At this point you are a little more than a mile away from the base loop. If you want to see more or are backpacking walk through Possession Camp and ford Otter Creek again. Soon pass more campsites on either side as well as a nice water fall and swimming hole (Probably #2 on the list of Otter Creek swimming holes). In 1.34 miles from the last ford arrive at a large campsite under the Hemlocks on the left and the confluence of Moore Run and Otter Creek, the crown jewel of the Wilderness. If you haven't been enticed to get a little wet yet this should do it!

After spending ample time relaxing, swimming and/or sunbathing ... perhaps camping out for the night, return to where you left Mylius Trail and follow (A) back to your car.

Printable/Downloadable Directions and Trail Notes

Critique this outing

________________________________________

_______________________________________

Name: Paul Fofonoff
Date(s) of Hike: 07/04/15
Hike Name: Otter Creek - SE Loop
Ranking (1 to 5 with 5 being the best): 4

Outing Critique: On Jul 4-6, we did a 23-mile, 2 1/2 day backpack including the Otter Creek, Possession Camp, Otter Creek, Moore Run Trail, (by a lucky boob-boo McGowan Mtn Rd), Yellow Creek Trail, with a final stretch on Otter Creek. This was my 7th backpack in Otter Creek. It was beautiful, but unexpectedly challenging. Compared to my early hikes (1996-2012), the trails were much more overgrown, with dripping rhododendrons, strewn with fallen trees, and more eroded. We were surprised to find no other hikers in the Wilderness during our trip.

The weather was close to average for summer. with a couple of long stretches of rain Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. Flooding and stream crossings were not difficult, but the Moore Run Bog crossing was wetter and more difficult than in 2 previous crossings, with no signs of a footway on the west side. I sank to my knees a couple of times. About midway across (W to E, we encountered some stones marking the path, but it was still wet.

On Monday, we missed the cairn at the McGowan Mtn junction, and wound up on the road, which was OK in the pouring rain. The road ends at Yellow Creek Trail. Here the sun came out, so the rest of the walk was pleasant.

My main point here is to point out that the Wilderness is still beautiful, but much more difficult than in earlier years. there seems to have been little recent foot traffic, and even less maintenance. One exception, is that some of the dangerous eroded sections along Otter Creek have been relocated. Overall, though hikers have to be prepared to navigate through dense rhododendrons, step over lots of logs. This should not scare everybody away, but you allow yourselves plenty of time, and prepare the people in your group.

My pictures are at http://www.meetup.com/AMC-DC/events/223342354/

________________________________________

Name: Andrew Hike: Otter Creek-SE

10/24-26/14 Rating: 4

Critique: I organized this for the Mid-Atlantic Bacpackers meetup, and we turned it into a basecamp utlizing the big campsite 1.1 miles north of the Condon Run trailhead. It was a big flat site next to the creek that could accomodate all 8 tents. On Saturday we conducted as described on MrHyker's site, and it was gorgeous to say the least. Although foliage was a little past it's peak, there was some marvelous stream scenery and beautiful mature hardwood forest. My only warning would be that the Shaver's trail south of Mylius is a little hard to detect at times. My guess is this section of trail is a little less trodded. Although the wilderness area is not signed or blazed (I saw one sign at Hedrick camp, signage for Otter Creek trail at Condon has broken off) cairns still clearly mark intersections and change of direction. Enjoy this wonderful place.

________________________________________

Name: Sara Bird Hike: Otter Creek - SE Loop
Date: April 22, 2012 Rating: 3.5

Critique: I hiked part of this loop on Sunday, April 22, 2012. I've hiked the entire loop many times and it is magnificent. At any rate, I write to post an update on trail conditions. Specifically, at the very start of the hike, a newly constructed beaver dam in the otter creek headwaters has caused quite the flood. In Mike's trail description there is no mention of a bridge, but at some point a bridge/boardwalk was built. However, it is now rendered virtually useless. The effect of the beaver dam is that the once adequate boardwalk crossing the headwaters on Hendrick Camp Trail is nearly submerged and the crossing now requires some wading. I imagine as the dam continues to back fill that bog area, hikers will need to wade what will be a rather deep, but still crossing. I for one am pleased to see such active beaver presence in the area. Also, I like it when beavers strike back against man. I recommend gingerly scoping out the beaver dam and beaver lodge on the nort
the east side of the crossing. Quite the development.

________________________________________

Name: Moonshine Hike: Otter Creek - SE
Date: 7/24-7/25/2010 Rating: 4

Critique: I hiked all Shavers Mtn Tr from Alpena Gap picnic area and camped at the old logging camp area near the intersection of Green Mt and Possession Camp trails. I have not seen anyone on the trail all day, but the trail was always easy to follow. The water source near the former shelter site was disappointing. Even after filtering the water stank.

A little below the intersection of Otter Creek, More Run and Possession Camp trails is one of the best swimming holes of the area.

If you have water shoes, exploring Devil's Gulch creek bed can be fun. I wonder how this stream got such an unusual name.

________________________________________

Name: WVwanderer Hike: Otter Creek Wilderness SE Loop
Date: June 3-4, 2006 Rating: 5

Critique: Great route! My critique can be found at http://wvwilderness.blogspot.com/

________________________________________