Allegheny Trail

Bruceton Mills, WV
330 miles, easy to difficult.
Trailhead at Mason Dixon line

This north-south trail courses across the Mountain State from the Mason Dixon Line near Bruceton Mills to the Appalachian Trail on the Virginia border near Union, sampling a variety of indigenous terrains. Natural and cultural historic sites abound. Many access points intersect the route.

Battle Run Trail

Summersville Lake
6 miles, easy to moderate
Trailhead at parking area

Beginning on a dirt road at the Battle Run Recreation Area, this pleasant trail skirts the western edge of Summersville Lake. Beneath maple and oak, the trail provides excellent lake views from dikes. Deer, goose, bluebird, woodpecker frequent its margins.

Beaver Creek Trail

Little Beaver State Park
1.7-mile loop, easy
Trailhead at parking area

This loop trail follows the east bank of Beaver Creek, crosses a foot bridge, and returns along the west bank. Large trees and virgin timber stand alongside. Wildlife includes deer, squirrel, turkey, beaver, and an occasional black bear.

Beavers Tale Trail

Monongahela National Forest
.3-mile loop, easy

Trailhead at parking area across from Blue Meadow campground
This level area has been developed as a recreational trail for visually impaired hikers and features braille and lettered interpretive signs, a wading creek, and aromatic plants.

Carnifex Trail

Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park
3 miles, moderate
Trailhead at parking area

Tracing the route of the 1861 retreat of Confederate General John Floyd, this old road is wide and frequently used. It connects with the Nature, Patterson, Pierson Hollow, and Fisherman's trails and descends to the side of Gauley River at the original site of Carnifex ferry. The 7.3-mile network of trails features virgin hemlock forest , rock formations, and scenic overlooks of the Gauley River's gorge.

Cow Pasture Trail

Cranberry Wilderness
7.8-mile loop, moderate
Trailhead at parking area

This loop trail circles the bogs of the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area. Its terrain is characterized by birch and hemlock forest, old pasture, and river crossings. Beaver dams also appear along the way.

Cranberry Glades Botanical Trail

Monongahela National Forest
.5-mile loop, easy
Trailhead at parking area

An interpretive boardwalk circles open glades through shrubs, grasses, and bog forests. Its boardwalk protects the spongy peat and sphangum-moss ground cover. Signage describes vegetation such as skunk cabbage, cranberry plants, cotton grass, orchids and sundew. Guided nature walks are available in summer.

Crestline Trail

Seneca State Forest
305 miles, moderate
Trailhead at parking area

A narrow, rocky path follows the crest of Michael Mountain, providing vistas of spectacular mountain terrain. Though slight in elevation gain, footing is difficult along rough ledges and rock outcrops. The Michael Mountain Road leading to the trailhead may be impassible in winter. Watch for rattlesnakes in July and August.

Farley Branch Trail

Camp Creek State Forest
2.3-mile loop, moderate
Trailhead at parking area

A narrow foot trail follows Farley's Branch of Camp Creek through mature hardwood forests to a small waterfall and loops back along ridge to the Marsh Fork of Camp Creek. Alternate hikes lead off at the waterfall and the junction with a fire trail leading to Farley Knob.

Flatrock Run Trail

Monongahela National Forest
10.2 miles, difficult
Trailhead at parking area at Red Creek

This difficult trail climbs 2,200 feet over a short distance, starting in pasture and climbing Flatrock Run along falls and cascades. Some difficult climbing occurs in central portion where it cuts across steep railroad-grade switchbacks. It ends among spectacular views on Roaring Plains at 4,700 feet.

Fork Mountain Trail

Monongahela National Forest
21 miles, easy to difficult
Trailhead at W.Va. 39 bridge

This path climbs Fork Mountain along the North Fork of Cherry River, descending to the spectacular Falls of Hill's Creek and ascending to meet the Pocahontas Trail on Spruce Mountain. The terrain includes extremely rocky sections, mossy patches, wildflowers, and hardwoods. Turkey and deer are spotted frequently.

Gentle Trail

Blackwater Falls State Park
1.2 miles, easy
Trailhead at parking area

Developed for barrier-free accessibility by the Women's Club of Thomas and other local sponsors, this wide, level, asphalt trail features decorative plants, red squirrels, and an observation deck of spectacular Blackwater Falls and the Blackwater Gorge.

High Falls Trail

Monongahela National Forest
5 miles, moderate to difficult
Trailhead off Forest Route 44

This blue-blazed trail begins in relatively flat, open fields and ends with a steep, rocky ascent to the summit of Shaver's Mountain. Scenery includes hawthorne and wildflower pastures, cherry trees, and river and stream crossings. The highlight is, of course, the High Falls of Shaver's Fork. The route intersects the Allegheny Trail.

Lake Sherwood Trail

Monongahela National Forest
3.7-mile loop, easy
Trailhead at parking area

Level area encircles Lake Sherwood and offers views of Allegheny Mountains and Lake Sherwood, crossing a spillway and bridges over Meadow Creek. Wild ducks and beaver are often spotted. Joins Virginia and Meadow Creek trails.

Laurel Creek Trail

Monongahela National Forest
8-mile loop, moderate
Trailhead at Rimel parking area

Trails begins with walk upstream along trout-stocked Laurel Creek, through narrow valley to Lockridge Mountain. Wide trail through meadow and wooded scenery passes Adirondack shelter, crosses several streamlets and curves around Lockridge Mountain spur ridges before descending back to trailhead.

North Fork Mountain Trail

Monongahela National forest
23.8 miles, moderate to difficult
Trailhead at parking area off U.S. 33

This high-country tail stretches from Judy Gap to Smoke Hole Caverns, following the eastern slope of North Fork Mountain near its ridge line. Spectacular scenery abound upon its level summit -- vistas of the Germany Valley, Spruce Mountain, Seneca Rocks, the Potomac Valley, the Fore Knobs, and the Dolly Sods Wilderness.

North-South Trail

Monongahela National Forest
22 miles, moderate to difficult
Trailhead at visitor center

Crossing the Cranberry Wilderness, this trail connects the Cranberry and Tea Creek campgrounds. Switchbacks ascend to skirt the 4,000-foot-high ridgeline. It interconnects with nine others for loop hikes. Several campsites pepper the route, but water sources are some distance away.

Pocahontas Trail

Monongahela National Forest
20 miles, easy to difficult
Trailhead at visitor center

This long trail offers sampling of the best of the Monongahela National Forest . Terrain includes easy and steep grades, ridgelines, hardwood forests, boggy areas and switchbacks. Points of interest include Hanging Rock, Blue Knob, and Mike's Knob.

Raven Rock Trail

Coopers Rock State Forest
2 miles, moderate
Trailhead at camping area

This level trail begins along the forest's entrance road and ends at Raven Rock Overlook, which provides spectacular view of Cheat River. Its gradual-yet-steep ascent traverses several ridges.

Rich Mountain Fire Trail

Kumbrabow State Forest
8.6 miles, moderate to difficult
Trailhead off Randolph County Route 15

Accessed via Raven Rocks Trail from the campground, this fire trail climbs to 4,400-foot summit of Rich Mountain, affording spectacular views. Primarily grassy, the trail winds through Norway spruce, red spruce, birch, and maple. Deer, turkey, and an occasional black bear are spotted along the way.

Rocky Ridge Trail

Greenbrier State Forest
4.2 miles, difficult
Trailhead near swimming pool

A steep and rocky climb to the 3,200-foot summit of Kate's Mountain affords rewarding vistas of the Greenbrier Valley. The trail is mostly wooded and wildlife is abundant.

Syline Trail

Babcock State Park
4 miles, moderate
Trailhead at Mann's Creek overlook

This high-country trail follows the rim of the Glade Creek Canyon through the forests of this large state park. Openings along the cliffline provide spectacular views of Mann's Creek Gorge. A connection with Rocky Trail completes a loop back to origin.

Spring Ridge and Huckleberry Trails

Monongahela National Forest
9 miles, difficult
Trailhead at parking area

The Spring Ridge Trail ascends hardwood forest spotted with wildflowers to the summit of Allegheny Mountain. There, it joins the Huckleberry Trail and climbs 1,000 feet along Seneca Creek to Spruce Knob, West Virginia's highest peak, at 4,863-feet above sea level. Huckleberries, blueberries, and azaleas fill the trail's margins, and ridgeline sections provide breathtaking vistas east and west.

Tea Creek Trail

Monongahela National Forest
12.8 miles, difficult
Trailhead at Tea Creek campground

An old railroad grade along Tea Creek creates a trail between Turkey and Tea Creek mountains which rises to the summit of Gauley Mountain at 4,400 feet above sea level. A footbridge marks first of many crossings, but rock hopping is necessary thereafter. The trail is rocky and wet, with steep climbs and switchbacks. Small waterfalls, rock formations, and beaver lodges highlight its margins. An adirondack shelter near Gauley Mountain summit provides an overnight camp.

Whispering Spruce Trail

Monongahela National Forest
.5-mile loop, easy to moderate
Trailhead at Spruce Knob parking area

An interpretive loop, this trail begins and ends at Spruce Knob's summit, West Virginia's highest point, at 4,861 feet above sea level. The trail leads to an observation tower that provides spectacular views of the region's massive mountains and broad valleys.