2016 Map of Lead Mine

About this map

Lead Mine and the surrounding high-country settlements of Pierce, Benbush, and Coketon occupy this rugged portion of the Monongahela National Forest. The landscape is defined by its deep drainage basins, where Horseshoe Run and the North Fork Blackwater River carve through the terrain near the Preston and Tucker County line. Long-standing family and community connections are preserved in the locations of Rose Hill Cem, Kight Cem, and Knotts Cem, which dot the ridges near Shafer and Douglas. High-elevation landmarks such as Backbone Mountain and Close Mtn rise above a network of forest trails, including the Allegheny Trail and McKinley Run Trail. This documentation provides a clear view of the rural crossroads and mountain geography that have shaped this pocket of West Virginia.