The Mountain State
West Virginia
Monongahela National Forest, the Allegheny Highlands, and the best whitewater in the East flowing through ancient mountains.
West Virginia at a Glance
Allegheny Highlands
Monongahela National Forest's Allegheny Mountains contain the highest terrain in the state, with Spruce Knob at 4,863 ft the highest point in West Virginia
New River Gorge
The New River Gorge National Park in the coalfields contains one of the most technically challenging whitewater rivers in the East
Spruce Forests
Dolly Sods Wilderness in Monongahela National Forest contains a unique red spruce and blueberry heath ecosystem that resembles Canadian boreal forest
Black Bears
West Virginia has one of the healthiest black bear populations in the eastern US, with Monongahela National Forest providing core wilderness habitat
Greenbrier River Trail
The 78-mile Greenbrier River Trail follows a converted railroad grade through Monongahela National Forest, one of the best rail-trails in the eastern US
Seneca Rocks
Seneca Rocks in Monongahela National Forest is a dramatic Tuscarora quartzite fin rising 900 ft above the valley floor, the most prominent climbing area in the East
When to Visit
May through October for most hiking. The Allegheny Highlands can get snow any month above 4,000 ft. Fall color is spectacular in October, when mixed hardwood forests turn gold, orange, and red.
Top Activities
Gateway Cities
Elkins
Northern West Virginia hub at the eastern edge of Monongahela National Forest, with Seneca Rocks, Dolly Sods, and the Greenbrier River Trail all within an hour.
Fayetteville
New River Gorge gateway town serving the national park's whitewater corridor and the Bridge Walk at the famous New River Gorge Bridge.
Did You Know?
Dolly Sods Wilderness was once used as an artillery range during World War II, and unexploded ordnance is still occasionally found in the area.
The Cranberry Glades in Monongahela National Forest is the largest bog in the Appalachians south of New England, with carnivorous plants and a subarctic feel.
West Virginia became a state in 1863 when western counties refused to secede with the rest of Virginia, making it the only state created by breaking away from a Confederate state.
Seneca Rocks is the only major technical climbing area east of the Mississippi with routes on its main face exceeding 700 ft vertical.
The Elk River in Monongahela National Forest is one of the finest native brook trout streams remaining in the southern Appalachians.