Cathedral State Park, Ancient hemlock forest in Aurora, West Virginia, US.
Cathedral State Park is a nature preserve in West Virginia featuring an old-growth hemlock forest spread across 133 acres. The woodland contains over 170 tree and plant species, with some hemlocks reaching heights exceeding 90 feet.
A hotel worker named Branson Haas purchased the land in 1922 and later sold it to West Virginia in 1942 with the condition to preserve the forest. The state government later recognized its ecological value by granting it National Natural Landmark status in 1965.
The name comes from the cathedral-like hall created by towering hemlocks rising like columns through the forest. Visitors come to experience this natural architecture and walk beneath the dense canopy that filters sunlight into a hushed, sheltered space.
The park offers six miles of hiking trails suitable for different fitness levels and is easily reached via Route 50 in Preston County. Picnic shelters, tables, and restroom facilities are available throughout the property, allowing visitors to spend a full day comfortably.
The forest stands as the largest surviving old-growth woodland in West Virginia, with trees that are several centuries old. These undisturbed hemlock stands have become rare in the region and allow visitors to see what the landscape looked like before European settlement.
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