Best Trails of West Virginia

hiking, road biking, mountain biking, walking, running

 

#1. Dolly Sods Wilderness
Make this loop in the renowned Dolly Sods Wilderness. This slice of the Monongahela has nearly everything: rocky vistas, open glades resembling the western United States, thick spruce, northern hardwo...
From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest"
Hiking Trails
Petersburg, WV - Hiking - 19.4 miles

#2. Appalachian Trail to Loudon Heights Trail Loop
This hike passes through three states and the town of Harpers Ferry, providing river hiking, ridge crest hiking, and great views. The Appalachian Trail extends from Georgia to Maine. This section of ...
From the guidebook "Hiking West Virginia"
Hiking Trails
Harpers Ferry, WV - Hiking - 12.1 miles

#3. Lower Otter Creek Wilderness
This loop takes you through classic Appalachian mountain country. First, hike and camp on a mountain stream -- Otter Creek -- where clear waters crash over boulders, rest briefly in pools where secret...
From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest"
Hiking Trails
Parsons, WV - Hiking - 20.5 miles

#4. Canaan Backcountry Overnight Loop
This loop takes place atop the high elevation plateau of Canaan Mountain, in the 13,532-acre Canaan Mountain Backcountry. The elevations here range from 3,100 feet to 4,145 feet. This high country mor...
From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest"
Hiking Trails
Davis, WV - Hiking - 18.2 miles

#5. North Fork Mountain Trail
The North Fork Mountain Trail is an excellent two- to three-day backpack, offering some of the most scenic vistas in the entire state. The major drawback to this trail is a lack of water along the cre...
From the guidebook "Hiking West Virginia"
Hiking Trails
Franklin, WV - Hiking - 23.8 miles

#6. Appalachian Trail: Keys Gap to Blackburn Trail Center
Following mostly along the ridge crest, this hike offers a number of excellent views of the Shenandoah Valley as it bounces up and down over often rocky terrain. The rocky footing and steep climbs ma...
From the guidebook "Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Virginias"
Hiking Trails
Hillsboro, VA - Hiking - 6.5 miles

#7. Cranberry Backcountry
This loop rambles through the Monongahela's historic Cranberry Backcountry, a primitive area that campers and hikers have been enjoying since the inception of the national forest. Start your loop by w...
From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest"
Hiking Trails
Richwood, WV - Hiking - 20.4 miles

#8. Seneca Creek / High Meadows
This loop traverses some of the most spectacular scenery in the Seneca Creek Backcountry. First, walk down Seneca Creek, with its meadows, waterfalls, and trout fishing opportunities, to stay at Judy ...
From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest"
Hiking Trails
Seneca Rocks, WV - Hiking - 13.5 miles

#9. Boars Nest Loop
This hike loops through the Flatrock / Roaring Plains area, which is much like the heralded Dolly Sods, and actually adjoins the Dolly Sods, but receives lesser visitation. Climb up the South Fork Red...
From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest"
Hiking Trails
Petersburg, WV - Hiking - 7.3 miles

#10. Greenbrier River Trail
The queen of West Virginia’s rail-trails, and one of the longest and most scenic in the country, the Greenbrier River Trail parallels the rapid-filled Greenbrier River in a landscape punctuated by tal...
From the guidebook "Rails-To-Trails: Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia"
Hiking Trails
Cass, WV - Rail-Trails - 77 miles

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