Monongahela National Forest: Unspoiled, remote and incredible hikes - See 8 traveler reviews, 34 candid photos, and great deals for Elkins, WV, at Tripadvisor. Monongahela National Forest Hiking Guideby Allen de Hart and Bruce Sundquist This hiking guide features more than 200 maintained hiking trails with a cumulative distance of over 835 miles; trails are appropriate for hiking, backpacking and ski touring adventures. (By the way, if you're wondering how to pronounce Monongahela -- and who isn't? Don't get caught up in all the viewpoints and miss what's under your nose, though. If you want to stay in the Dolly Sods area, Red Creek Campground is the only established campsite, but backcountry camping is really common here. May 18, 2015 near Davis, WV. The area also has plenty of spots that are perfect for backcountry camping, and you might even see a black bear or 2. Seneca Rocks, Monongahela National Forest WV: Topo Hike Trails Map : All Hikes Map: Length: Difficulty: Streams: Views: Solitude: Camping: 3.7 mls: N/A: Hiking Time: Elev. There are many campsites and springs along the way. Monongahela National Forest Camping: Campendium has 41 reviews of 38 Campgrounds in Monongahela National Forest. Where to Stay: Camping is definitely the best option for the Monongahela National Forest. While hiking trails in the area offer great ways to explore the forest, rock climbing is the area's main attraction. You could either get a ride or leave a car at this trailhead. If you're looking for a spectacular multi-day backpacking trip, this is the trail for you. The Monongahela National Forest: nearly 1 million acres of breathtaking scenery and mountain recreation. The recommended seasons are spring and fall. Full view. If you're looking for a spectacular backpacking trip without too much difficulty, this is the trail for you. Camping. The road is recommended for four-wheel-drive vehicles only. A stream passes by snow-laden trees in Monongahela National Forest. The views along this trail are incredible, as you traverse the spine of North Fork Mountain. Directions to the trailhead, free maps, and more. The trail is so isolated and rugged that in places, it's in danger of being overrun by the mountain laurel, vast fern beds, flaming azaleas, and grasses that line the route. The southern terminus of the trail is 9 miles west of Franklin at ridge crest on U.S. 33. It is legal to do dispersed camping anywhere that is not otherwise restricted. Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia Situated in the Northern portion of West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest is a piece of hiker heaven called the Dolly Sods. Located northwest of the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, Dolly Sods is comprised of a 10,215-acre wilderness and a 2,000-acre scenic area. There are wild goats that have been startling hikers for years. There are various segments of this trail that require work varying from less than 50 feet to several hundred yards. More than 900,000 multi-use, public-access acres make this the ultimate natural escape. Flat Rock Roaring Plains offers 20 miles of hiking trails where you can escape the crowds. From Harrisonburg, Virginia, drive west on U.S. 33 to Franklin, West Virginia. You may consider leaving a car or getting a ride from the southern terminus at Route 33. Summers are hot and dry with highs in the 90s. Elkins, WV 26241 (304) 636-1800 . Cheat-Potomac District Parsons 304-478-3251 Petersburg 304-257-4488 Explore 82.5 miles over 26 trails in Monongahela National Forest, Davis, West Virginia. By 1915, Dolly Sods’ forest land was decimated, and the area was essentially ecologically destroyed. Twenty-five drive-in sites are RV and trailer friendly, with a maximum length of 35 feet. But wander 100 yards or less from the rim and the world becomes one of roaring wind and gnarled pines that are missing branches on their windward sides. Fees for developed campgrounds range between $5 and $30. Winters can reach lows of 20 degrees F. While walking from the trail to the cliffs, you might discover white-tailed bucks lying low in the thick mats of blueberry bushes. Blueberries and huckleberries can be found in the high alpine openings in the Spruce Knob area. you can continue southward on the trail. https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/west-virginia/monongahela-national-forest Over Columbus Day weekend my husband and I went on a two-day trip backpacking at Spruce Knob in Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia. There are many campsites and springs along the way. Add Your Photos. Any trail in the Monongahela National Forest can essentially be used as a backpacking location. You could leave a car or get a ride from the end there as well. Be aware that poisonous timber rattlers and copperhead snakes are found in the area. © 2020 Pocket Outdoor Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia: Hours, Address, Monongahela National Forest Reviews: 4.5/5. This campground is one of five in the -Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. The woodland wonderland covers the north central highlands of West Virginia. "Monongahela National Forest Hiking Guide," a detailed guidebook that contains trail locations and topographic maps, is available for $12.95 from the visitor center and Petersburg Ranger District. Monongahela National Forest Potomac Ranger District Route 3, Box 240 Petersburg, WV 26847 (304) 257-4488, Seneca Rocks Visitor Center Box 13 Seneca Rocks, WV 26884 (304) 567-2827. Will go back. ... there are maps and the trails are marked. A backpacking trip in this area will expose you to a very diverse and unique landscape with sphagnum bogs, grassy meadows lined by spruce trees, wind-carved boulders, and beautiful mountain vistas. Jan 23, 2018 near Davis, WV. Forest and trail maps are available from the National Forest office and Seneca Rocks Visitor Center. It was a bit of a drive from where we live – three and a half hours – but we figured we could recover from all the hiking and driving on Monday. The forest is beautiful! You could leave a car at either end, and then hike the whole way point-to-point to the other end. The actual North Fork Mountain Trail runs southeast all the way down to Route 33. The Seneca Rocks Visitor Center is open April 1 through October 31, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, and November 1 through March 31, weekends from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No permits are required. Like most national forests, these woods have been logged at various times, but the summit of North Fork Mountain was spared the axe. Only trained and experienced climbers should attempt to scale the rocks. Classic eastern mountain scenery along West Virginia's skyline pathway. You could also shorten this hike by taking a short access trail (Redman Run Trail) out to Route 28/11. Starting with 7,200 acres of overused and abused land, today the Monongahela National Forest is a lush, beautiful, healthy hardwood forest. 200 Sycamore Street. Be prepared for rain throughout the year and snow in every season but summer. Hikers can start this route from either direction, and there are even access trails for those looking to shorten their trip, or make it a point-to-point. Ridgetop winds can be fierce. Respect areas of private land; the trail crosses private land in four areas. May 18, 2015 near Davis, WV. Monongahela National Forest is a national forest in West Virginia. The … Explore camper reviews and photos of the campgrounds in Monongahela National Forest. Dec 3, 2018 near Marlinton, WV. You'll have to park your car right along 33, but there is parking there. In all its autumn grandeur, I thought it was the most beautiful place on Earth, so wild, remote, untrammeled, diverse, and pulsating with foliage that it overloaded the senses. North Fork Mountain, along with the Smoke Hole Canyon on the eastern spine of the mountain, was recently highlighted by the Nature Conservancy as one of the most remarkable natural areas in the eastern United States. The route on this page has the hiker starting at the southern terminus, Route 33, and then hiking the entirety of the route. In an effort to protect and restore Dolly Sods, the United States government purchased the area in 1916 and incorporated it into the Monongahela National Forest. -- it's moh-NON-ga-HEE-la, with the accent on the second and fourth syllables.). The Monongahela National Forest comprises roughly a million acreas of National Forest System lands in West Virginia and lies within 400 miles of an estimated 96,000,000 people. The Monongahela National Forest is located in eastern West Virginia, 100 miles northeast of Charleston and 8 miles west of Franklin. This Forest ranges in elevation from 900 feet at Petersburg to 4,861 feet at Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia. Usually ripening from late June to early July, these morsels are delicious when eaten still warm from the sun. The mountain plays host to a dizzying assemblage of rare plants and animals. Findit! I can happily report that this mountaintop trail in West Virginia is still as good as mountain country gets in the East. For more information on the area, contact the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce at (304) 257-2722. It's a place where such far-north species as aspen and white birch are treated to a little southern hospitality, and warmth-loving magnolias get a Yankee nod of approval for toughing it out so far north. The larger trail systems in the forest that would be good for backpacking include: Lake Sherwood/Middle Mountain Area , Olson Tower/Blackwater Canyon , and Shavers Fork Area . There are several trail options that pass this overlook, including a 24 mile point-to-point backpack of the North Fork Mountain Trail, but this adventure details the hike via the Landis Trail off of Smoke Hole Road. The only thing missing the trail maps is distance of hikes, so again, lesson learned- … Most of the forest roads are narrow and winding, surfaced with gravel, and are often very rough. Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. Camping is allowed outside of designated areas, and there are cabin rentals in some areas. United States ; West Virginia (WV) ... Best national Forrest we visited in two weeks hiking. Seneca Shadows is the newest campground within the Monongahela National Forest and offers exceptional views of the famous Seneca Rocks. Boyer Station is nestled within the beautiful mountains of the Monongahela National Forest, in the town of Boyer, Pocahontas Click to Read More. Our favorite hike was Dolly Sods , it is a breathtaking experience that stays with you for months to come. There is no available water along the trail. Offices. Also, beware that many of the roads leading to trailheads are unsaved, ... We drove through part of the Monongahela National Forest when leaving Elkins, WV. Chimney Rock (also referred to as Chimney Top) is a hidden gem in the Monongahela National Forest that offers some of the best views in the state of West Virginia. Read more. Eyeball to beak with impressively taloned hawks in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest. It is located in Pocahontas and Webster Counties, West Virginia. Grouse often thunder out of the brush, and turkey vultures soar overhead. Feb 28, 2020 near Franklin, WV. The Monongahela has five federally-designated Wilderness Areas: Otter Creek, Dolly Sods, Laurel Fork North, Laurel Fork South, and Cranberry; and one National Recreation Area, Spruce Knob - Seneca Rocks.. Seneca Rocks is one of the best-known landmarks in West Virginia. Forest and trail maps are available from the National Forest office and Seneca Rocks Visitor Center. Photo by: U.S Dept. The Monongahela National Forest just might be the definitive high-mountain forest experience that includes roughly a million acres and reaches an elevation of 4,863 feet. System is available for hiking, Mountain biking and horseback riding monongahela national forest backpacking 3,795 feet, with some saddles! # 5 - North Fork Mountain trail runs southeast all the viewpoints and what... Actual North Fork Mountain trail runs all the way from Route 33 be aware that may. 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