National Children's Forest

For years we've seen the sign on Rt 18 near Boiling Spring that points to the "National Children's Forest", but we've never tried to find it or find out much about it. Yesterday we decided to check it out.

There are three Children's Forests in the U.S.: one each in California, Missouri, and Virginia. All three started with forest fires in the early 1970s that were replanted by children.

Across the road from a large parking area is an amphitheater-style monument. Almost 1,200 acres was destroyed by a forest fire in April 1971. On Arbor Day, April 28, 1972, over a thousand children from Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland planted pines. The timing was set to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Arbor Day (April 12, 1872). The work was sponsored by the US Forest Service and Hunt-Wesson foods (now part of ConAgra).

There are several trails in this area. As you leave the monument you are on the short (0.3 mile) Children's Forest Trail that is "universally accessible".

The Children's Forest Long Loop leaves the short trail and travels 2.8 miles through the forest. It is lightly traveled, and although the Forest Service site says that it is not blazed, it is well-marked, which was very useful at times! While not a difficult trail, it does rise a bit over 600 ft in a mile.

At the highest point, the Long Loop joins an old logging road that is now designated a horse trail. After about a half-mile, the trail leaves the road and has a steep descent to Spice Run.

Spice Run was the only stream that was flowing. After crossing Spice Run, the horse trail leaves the Long Loop, which returns to the short loop just before ending back at the monument.

Returning to the monument. Total hike was 3.0 miles.