Welcome to the 145 acres of pristine forestland located on Shirkey Branch in the heart of Kanawha County, West Virginia. This magnificent property provides an exceptional opportunity for those who appreciate the natural beauty of the outdoors, offering endless opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, and wildlife observation.

Nestled in the rolling hills of West Virginia, this property is surrounded by mature forests, which are home to a wide variety of wildlife species, including whitetail deer, wild turkey, black bear, and small game. The property also boasts a beautiful creek that runs through the center of the land. Nearby Blue Creek provides a great fishing spot at the mouth of the hollow.

The timber inventory completed on this property highlights the exceptional quality of the forest, which provides ample opportunity for logging and timber management. The forest is comprised of a mix of hardwoods and softwoods, offering both a diverse ecosystem and potential for sustainable timber harvesting.

With its stunning natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and potential for timber harvesting, this property is truly a one-of-a-kind opportunity for anyone seeking a private retreat, hunting paradise, or sustainable timber investment. Don’t miss out on the chance to own this exceptional piece of land in West Virginia’s picturesque countryside.

The surrounding area near Shirkey Branch in Kanawha County, West Virginia is filled with a variety of amenities and attractions that are sure to appeal to those seeking outdoor recreation and natural beauty. Some of the nearby attractions and amenities include:

1. Kanawha State Forest: This nearby state forest covers over 9,000 acres and offers over 25 miles of hiking trails, fishing, and camping opportunities.

2. Charleston: The capital city of West Virginia, Charleston is just a short drive away and offers a variety of cultural attractions, including museums, galleries, and restaurants.

3. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve: This nearby park covers over 70,000 acres and offers stunning views of the New River Gorge, as well as opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, and whitewater rafting.

4. Charleston Area Medical Center: The largest hospital in the state, the Charleston Area Medical Center is just a short drive away and provides exceptional healthcare services to the surrounding community.

5. Golf Courses: There are several golf courses located within a short drive of Shirkey Branch, including the Edgewood Country Club and the Big Bend Golf Course.

Overall, the area surrounding Shirkey Branch in Kanawha County offers a variety of amenities and attractions that are sure to appeal to those seeking outdoor recreation, cultural activities, and access to quality healthcare.

It’s important to note that the access road to this property is currently recommended for four-wheel drive vehicles. While the access road is passable with a standard vehicle in dry weather, it may be more difficult to traverse during inclement weather. However, this added seclusion and remoteness is also part of the property’s appeal, providing a private and peaceful escape for those seeking to get away from it all.

County: 20-Kanawha

District: 15 – Elk District

Map Number: 50

Parcel Number: 21, 25

Deed Book: 2638

Deed Page: 334

Deeded Acres: 144.84

2022 Taxes: $604.62

Entrance: Access is a county road going up Shirkey Branch from Sanderson. A gate is located protecting the interior of the property.

Length: +/- 5,300 ft to the property line out Shirkey Branch Road

Surface: Due to varying topography, road surface will from from paved to gravel to dirt.

Condition: Road conditions vary as you continue out Skirkey Branch. The front of the road is paved turning to gravel. Certain sections along the road will become rocky and more eroded before becoming solid gravel with better drainage again. The road crosses a narrow portion of the creek. Interior access into the property is on the right of the coutny road. A gravel road brings you to a gate with a level clearing. For entering the property, a 4×4 vehicle is recommended for wetter conditions.

Power: No power existing. Nearest pole would be at the gate by the hard road.

Water: No existing well

Sewage: No existing septic

Forest Acres: +/- 139

Cleared Acres: +/- 6 (pipeline ROW and small clearings)

Terrain: Steep hillsides with level creek bottoms and ridgetops

Water: Blue line stream (Shirkey Branch) running through the middle of tract with several ephemeral streams feeding into it. There are two small ponds located on the property as well.

Surface: Surface rights convey

Mineral: Seller does not own and does not convey

Timber: Attached to surface and conveys

Mineral Production: Records show at least 1 well on the property that has little to no production

Existing Wells: 1

Last Harvest: est. 2007 select cut

Harvest Scenario: Select Cut est. 5-15 years, Clearcut option estimated possibly sooner (Market conditions dependent)

Acres Harvested: +/-145

Hardwood Species Typical for Region: White Oak, Red Oak, Yellow Poplar, Hard Maple, Soft Maple, White Pine

Description: This property should be qualified as a timberland investment with long term return on investment. Due to a select cut harvest around 15 years ago, 15-25 more of growth would be needed for another substantial harvest under select cut management.

* Timberland investment analytics are available through Kanawha Forestry. A timber cruise from 2019 has been provided by seller.

Forest Acres: +/- 139

Description: Private landowners in Kanawha County, West Virginia can benefit financially from forest carbon by implementing sustainable forestry practices to sequester carbon and generate carbon offsets. As the demand for carbon offsets grows, landowners can capitalize on this trend by managing their forests to sequester more carbon and selling the resulting offsets to businesses and individuals seeking to offset their carbon footprint. In addition to the sale of carbon offsets, sustainable forestry practices can improve the health and productivity of the forest, leading to increased revenue from timber and other forest products. Programs such as the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Forest Carbon Works program provide financial incentives for landowners to implement sustainable forestry practices, further increasing the financial benefits of forest carbon. For a discussion about the carbon possibilities with this property, contact WVLandCo with questions.

Big Game: Deer, Turkey, Bear

Small Game: Squirrel, Rabbit, Grouse, Dove

Furbearers: Beaver, Bobcat, Coyote, Foxes, Mink, Muskrat, Opossum, Raccoon

Fish: Stream on property not large enough to support game fish. Blue Creek is located at the mouth of the hollow which provides fishing opportunities

Description: The property shows signs of great wildlife habitat with a water source, forest variation with areas of undergrowth and open woods, diverse vegetation, and a large amount of wildlife sign including tracks, rubs, and sightings.

Description: The Sanderson area in Kanawha County, West Virginia boasts a diverse ecology, consisting of forested areas, wetlands, and agricultural lands. The region supports a rich biodiversity of mammals, birds, fish, and plant life, including species such as white-tailed deer, eastern cottontail rabbits, blue jays, trillium, and water lilies. The humid continental climate and fertile soils of the area make it an ideal location for agriculture, providing important food sources for wildlife and insects.

The Sanderson area’s flora is also quite diverse. The forests in the region are primarily composed of deciduous trees, including species such as red oak, white oak, hickory, and maple. The region also features several species of wildflowers, including trillium, phlox, and jack-in-the-pulpit.

Description: Under the documents link at the top of the page, you can access the soils map with boundaries and descriptions of various slope and oil composition throughout the property.

Description: The possibility of development would depend on the budget of the new owner. Current conditions allow for the possible construction of a small, off grid hunting cabin along the road and above the floodplain of the creek. Further improvements could include road improvement with gravel, land clearing for a cabin, grass, or pasture, and well construction.

Wildlife Observations: Large amount of game sign including tracks, rubs, scat, and sightings.

Wildlife Cover: Good amount of cover for wildlife with 15 years of growth from timber harvest to allow for species and size variation for trees and plant life. Area of undergrowth and brush for cover, as well as areas of more open woods to allow for shooting and spotting lanes.

Hunting Opportunities: Property is very well suited for hunting during all game seasons. Property is accessible by vehicle, with smaller trails for ATV use or hiking to access the interior of the property.

Primary Road: Approximately 5,300 ft to property, approximately 2,000 ft of county road going through the property

Access road described above. Runs throughout the property running with the creek above the creek bed and crossing at a narrow section once. Accessible year round. 4×4 recommended when wet.

Secondary Trails: These trails include an old road running up the old homestead where there is still a cabin (not habitable). Another possible point of access that is not guaranteed is coming off of Dutch Ridge Road to enter at the top of the property at the pipeline ROW.

Logging Roads: Network of old logging roads and trail run throughout the entire property. Not currently accessible by vehicle, but could be opened up with chainsaw for ATV use. Currently can serve as walking trails.

* GIS Mapping will be available soon *

Most contour maps will show 20-40 foot lines. 10 foot contour maps show a higher definition of the actual topography.

Color coded regions show the relative slope of the terrain. Flat ground will be one color and as slope changes, color changes.

Aspect maps show the relative north facing and south facing slopes of a property. For timber investment, north facing slopes are better growing sites, and will have better timber.

Hillshade maps are Lidar generated and give a 3D visual representation of the terrain.

Most recent aerial map available of the property. (Leaves off)

Aerial map taken in 2007 showing recent timber harvest.