Canyon Rim Road

Overview

Canyon Rim Road (Forest Road 18) runs from Douglas to US 219, roughly halfway between Parsons and Thomas, at Olson Tower. This route is an easy drive and most SUVs should have little problem. While not a technical route, the scenery is beautiful and worth traveling to experience this part of Wets Virginia. The road is roughly 7 miles and my first time driving took an hour and a half. The time could be drastically shorter or longer depending on how much you want to stop and explore. We stopped a moderate amount of time to look around and take photos but I could have easily stayed longer. If your primary concern is driving you could probably do it in half the time without issue.

I recommend starting on the Olson Tower side. This way you can end near Thomas and Davis to refuel at one of the many great restaurants and/or breweries. Before starting on Canyon Rim Rd, drive up Forest Road 717 (the same turn off from 219) to visit Olson Tower. Climbing the tower provides an amazing view of the surrounding area and is well worth the 10 minutes it takes. We visited in winter and if you do the same, you’ll want good shoes for the icy stairs and warm clothes. It’s windy up there!

The road is fairly well maintained and most of the trip is no worse than many back roads in West Virginia. Even in winter, much of the road is lined with rhododendron and evergreens if you wish to escape the dreariness elsewhere. There are a few minor water crossings but most vehicles will be fine so long as they have a little bit of clearance. One area shows considerable wash out and if any more occurs it could prove impassable for most vehicles without serious modifications. As it is, simply driving around it is easily done. If you have time, there are a handful of camping spots, one of which is right after the washout, that seem like great weekend trips.

There are a couple roads leading off that we did not have a chance to explore but look promising on the maps. At the end of the trail, I would definitely stop at Douglas Falls. It only takes a few minutes to get to and is a beautiful spot. From Douglas Falls, head into Thomas or Davis for a beer, food, and check out the cute shops in town. If you’re feeling adventurous and you have time to spare for some more adventure, you can tag Canaan Loop Road onto this for a rougher ride.