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Best Hiking in West Virginia

This list represents the most popular hiking in West Virginia (learn more about Top Trails). Use this list to plan your next West Virginia hiking trip. Select a state and/or activity below to find even more top trails.

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Activity: State: Reset

#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"
Petersburg, WV - Hiking - 19.4 miles

(About Top Trails)

#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"
Harpers Ferry, WV - Hiking - 12.1 miles

(About Top Trails)

#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"
Parsons, WV - Hiking - 20.5 miles

(About Top Trails)

#4. 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"
Seneca Rocks, WV - Hiking - 13.5 miles

(About Top Trails)

#5. 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"
Hillsboro, VA - Hiking - 6.5 miles

#6. 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"
Davis, WV - Hiking - 18.2 miles

(About Top Trails)

#7. Spruce Knob Summit

A “must hike” trail! The summit ridge of Spruce Mountain is a hiker’s delight. With more than 60 miles of trails through beautiful northern hardwood forests, it’s easy to understand why Seneca Creek B…

From the guidebook "Hiking West Virginia"
Harman, WV - Hiking - 11 miles

(About Top Trails)

#8. 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"
Franklin, WV - Hiking - 23.8 miles

(About Top Trails)

#9. 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"
Richwood, WV - Hiking - 20.4 miles

(About Top Trails)

#10. Appalachian Trail: Snickers Gap to VA 605

This 6.8-mile stretch of the AT seesaws in and out of a succession of hollows and over numerous side ridges as it crosses through an area once dominated by Confederate Col. John Singleton Mosby. Duri…

From the guidebook "Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Virginias"
Bluemont, VA - Hiking - 6.8 miles

#11. Chimney Top

This is one of the best, and most interesting day hikes in West Virginia. Pass by an old homesite, and while on your way to great views, maybe you'll be lucky enough to see a peregrine falcon, which n…

From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest"
Petersburg, WV - Hiking - 5.8 miles

(About Top Trails)

#12. 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"
Petersburg, WV - Hiking - 7.3 miles

(About Top Trails)

#13. Big Run / Leading Ridge

This loop traverses the lesser-used west side of the Seneca Creek Backcountry. Though this area rivals the eastern side of the hiking area in overall beauty, the crowds stay away from here because it…

From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest"
Seneca Rocks, WV - Hiking - 11.4 miles

(About Top Trails)

#14. Blackbird Knob

This hike passes through the Dolly Sods Scenic Area, which adjoins the Dolly Sods Wilderness. This whole plateau of spruce forests, rock outcrops, clear streams and open fields is the Monongahela's tr…

From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest"
Petersburg, WV - Hiking - 4.6 miles

(About Top Trails)

#15. Sods Circuit

This is a highly recommended hike encompassing the best of what this wilderness has to offer. The trail hikes along the cascading Red Creek and Stonecoal Run and travels through the wonderfully scenic…

From the guidebook "Hiking West Virginia"
Laneville, WV - Hiking - 15.4 miles

(About Top Trails)