Hurry, hurry, hurry, there's no time to waste.  The window of opportunity is narrow, and I don’t mean for a sale that is going on at Bonton’s, or two for the price of one at Shoe World.  The attraction is the Monroe Run hiking trail, awash in  dazzling white.  Take a leisurely, all downhill, six mile saunter, and at this particular time of year have the opportunity to be surrounded and astounded by the beauty of thousands of blooming rhododendrons.  So hop in your car and head on out to Garrett County, but don’t delay too long if you want to experience the beautiful flowering of the forest.

Follow the light and come to a magical kingdom.

Click on Read More to get a feel for what is in store for you, but take my word for it:  these pictures don’t do justice to the real McCoy, you just have to get out there and put yourself in the midst of the enchantment and serenity.

You will find the trailhead to Monroe Run on New Germany Road, south of Interstate 68.   Take exit 22 (North 219), and when you come off the exit ramp, make a left onto Chestnut Ridge Rd. You will cross over the interstate and continue on for several miles until you come to a stop sign at a T intersection.  There take a left onto New Germany Road and enjoy the countryside for about nine or ten miles, until you see the sign for the trail on the left-hand side.  You can do the hike by yourself but will have to walk uphill back to your car, or else you can share the enjoyment of the hike with a friend and do a shuttle. To set the shuttle, take Big Run Road (a left off New Germany Road before you come to the Monroe Run trailhead) all the way down until almost coming to Savage River Road where there is a sign on the right for parking.

Before heading out from the trailhead, however, I would highly recommend taking a few minutes and going just a tad further on New Germany Rd. for the enjoyment of the Monroe Run overlook, complete with the woodcarvings done by Mr. Frank Wilt, who was featured in a previous article in the Appalachian Independent (see New Residents of Garrett County).

At the overlook you can see the vista that you will be entering when you head down the trail to Monroe Run itself.

Now that you know your destination, go back to the parking area at the trailhead and start your eye-opening journey.  Guaranteed to be a feast for your eyes, and free of crowds.

Before starting down the path, check out some of the information that has been provided by the Savage Rive State Forrest personnel.

The one warning I will give you is to be sure that you wear long pants, and the reason for this will be shown to you shortly.  A hat, wide-brimmed preferable, would also be of benefit in keeping some of those pesky bugs away from your face.  Yesterday when I was taking these pictures, the bugs didn't seem all that bad, but I can attest that on other hikes, they have been swarming and keep you swatting.  On second thought, wear a long-sleeve shirt as well as the long trousers.

Even before you start to make the descent into the darker part of the forest, there are quite a few beautiful flowers to check out; the better to get you in the mood for the flood of huge white flowers yet to come.

These will make a scrumptious pie if you have the urge to take a little extra time and pick some.  I have a great pie crust and berry pie receipe if you want to do some baking after you get home and take a refreshing shower.  Send me an e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and I will share it with you.

It's not long at all until you start to see the flood of rhdodendren that line the creek as you go deeper into the forest.

Soon you will get to the area where you will be glad to have listened to my advice and worn long pants, for here you are about to enter into the realm of the wicked weeds that I know as saw grass.  

These serrated edges are obviously looking like the teeth of a saw, and let me tell you, if you have bare legs and rub up against these things, you are going to regret it.  They cause an intense itching and burning sensation, and people have been known to go irreversibly loco with intensity of the pruritis. Trust me, your trip will be much more enjoyable if you avoid contact with these boogers and don't end up with the urge to claw off your skin in an attempt to get some relief.

There are also some beautiful ferns lining the path in various areas, and they are always a treat as well

As you go down the hill and come to Monroe Run itself, you will find that  in following the trail to the end, you have to cross the creek numerous times, perhaps a dozen all together.  Depending on what time of year it is will determine what kind of shoes you may want to wear.  Now, when the water level is low, you can easily traverse the creek by stepping on exposed rocks, and with a minimum of agility, keep your tennis shoes or hiking boots from getting wet.  In the early spring when the water is running high, you will be hard-pressed to keep your tootsies dry, but that is not to say it cannot be done, but it requires an ability to leap and maintain your balance on slippery rocks.

But now is the time to get up off the couch and go, for this is the occasion for you to see the amazing number of rhododendren that line the creekbanks.  You can't help but be astounded by their beauty and sheer numbers.  It seems a bit like you have entered a magical kingdom of a different world.

As you can see, the creek is pretty narrow, and the water level is low; no problem in getting across.  Of course, you can always a bit more ambitious and show off your balancing skills and make it more challenging:

Regardless, the rhodies are the attraction and are to be savored for the short time they share their flowers with us.

So enjoy yourself, as I have done on many occasions.

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