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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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#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    Top Trail in North America - Click to view allBest Trail in WV - Click to view all (About Top Trails)
Published by Menasha Ridge Press

#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    Best Trail in WV - Click to view all (About Top Trails)
Published by Falcon Publishing

#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    Best Trail in WV - Click to view all (About Top Trails)
Published by Menasha Ridge Press

#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    Best Trail in WV - Click to view all (About Top Trails)
Published by Menasha Ridge Press

#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   
Published by Stackpole Books

#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    Best Trail in WV - Click to view all (About Top Trails)
Published by Menasha Ridge Press

#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    Best Trail in WV - Click to view all (About Top Trails)
Published by Falcon Publishing

#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    Best Trail in WV - Click to view all (About Top Trails)
Published by Falcon Publishing

#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    Best Trail in WV - Click to view all (About Top Trails)
Published by Menasha Ridge Press

#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   
Published by Stackpole Books

#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    Best Trail in WV - Click to view all (About Top Trails)
Published by Menasha Ridge Press

#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    Best Trail in WV - Click to view all (About Top Trails)
Published by Menasha Ridge Press

#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    Best Trail in WV - Click to view all (About Top Trails)
Published by Menasha Ridge Press

#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    Best Trail in WV - Click to view all (About Top Trails)
Published by Menasha Ridge Press

#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    Best Trail in WV - Click to view all (About Top Trails)
Published by Falcon Publishing

#16. Seneca Rocks


Landmarks, by definition, stand out. However, some landmarks stand out more than others. The Seneca Rocks are one of West Virginia's most outstanding landmarks. These outcrops tower nearly 900 feet ab…
From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest"
Seneca Rocks, WV - Hiking - 2.6 miles   
Published by Menasha Ridge Press

#17. Middle Fork


This loop lies entirely within the Cranberry Wilderness. Work your way up the Middle Fork Cranberry River in a valley that has that everywhere-you-look beauty, starting in a forest of sycamore and tul…
From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest"
Richwood, WV - Hiking - 20.2 miles   
Published by Menasha Ridge Press

#18. Upper Falls of Seneca


This hike could be called "Numerous Falls of Seneca," for there are many other cataracts on this hike than the final destination, the actual Upper Falls of Seneca. Other parts of Seneca Creek have cas…
From the guidebook "Day & Overnight Hikes in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest"
Seneca Rocks, WV - Hiking - 9.8 miles   
Published by Menasha Ridge Press

#19. Raven Rock Trail


This trail descends gradually to a rock escarpment overlooking the Cheat River. The masterpiece of Coopers Rock State Forest is the Cheat River Canyon and the spectacular rock bluffs located high abov…
From the guidebook "Hiking West Virginia"
Morgantown, WV - Hiking - 4 miles   
Published by Falcon Publishing

#20. Appalachian Trail: Stony Creek Valley to Stillhouse Branch


Although this is a lengthy hike, extensive sections of flat, easy trail make it a doable, albeit long, day hike if taken at a swift stride. The 8.7-mile recommended day hike provides more opportunity…
From the guidebook "Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Hikes in the Virginias"
Pearisburg, VA - Hiking - 17.6 miles   
Published by Stackpole Books

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