The Elk River
From Clay, WV to Frametown, WV
By Mack Samples (Originally published in the October 2007 edition of Two-Lane Livin’ Magazine)
This is the time of the year when West Virginians like to get out and enjoy the beauty of our state. There are many scenic routes to enjoy. You might want to consider taking a ride along the Elk River on Route 4 from Clay to Frametown.
The Elk, West Virginia's longest river, begins in Pocahontas County where two small streams, Old Fields Creek and Big Run, converge near Slatyfork. For many miles, the Elk is a fast-flowing stream that offers some good trout fishing. It flows through some pretty rugged country until it gets down to Webster Springs where it is joined by the "Back Fork.” From there, it meanders its way to the big dam at Sutton. From Sutton on down to Charleston it becomes a slower moving stream with deep eddies separated by intermittent fast-flowing shoals.
If you pick up Route 4 at Clay (or actually a suburb of Clay which the locals call Two Run), and head east toward Gassaway, you will get some very scenic views of the Elk. It's a scenic drive any time of the year. Perhaps the worst time is during the summer months when the river is mostly obscured by foliage. Late October is good because the Elk is usually crystal clear, much of the undergrowth has lost its leaves, and the steep hills provide a great view of the changing color of the remaining leaves.
Oddly enough, the very best time to enjoy that particular drive is during the winter months. When the leaves are all down, you get a much better view of the river itself. If you can catch a full moon night, you get some absolutely beautiful views of the moonlight reflecting off the water. If you are really lucky, you might get to see some deer splashing across one of the shoals.
Once you get up to the Frametown exit of I-79, the lay of the land begins to change a little. You begin to get more bottomland along the river and human habitation begins to increase. As a result, the river becomes less visible and a bit less scenic. But if you do continue, Route 4 still provides a pleasant drive. The folks along that part of the Elk take great pride in their homes and surroundings. You will see some beautiful places that will make you proud to be a West Virginian.
One of the other great things about driving Route 4 is the road itself. It's a good highway with gentle curves. There is only one curve where you might have to slow down a bit and that is the famous “End of the World Bend” between Ivydale and Duck. You will want to slow down there anyway to take a look at the interesting rock formation across the river. The traffic is always light because most travelers use I-79.
During my Extension Agent days, I used to drive Route 4 daily from Duck down to Clay. Most mornings I could set my cruise control on 55 and never have to kick it out except when I went through Ivydale. There are not many twenty-mile stretches of West Virginia highways where you can do that!