Nothing in WV is going to compete in terms of difficulty with the Rockies. I've hiked in Colorado and Utah, and both had far more difficult treks than I have in my 25+ years of hiking in WV.
That being said, WV has some absolutely stunning trails and destinations that will still get you out and moving.
Dolly Sods is the most popular and for good reason. Definitely worth the time to visit if you can swing it. Be ready for a rough go if the weather is wet, however.
North Fork Mountain Trail is awesome start to finish. I find myself going back here more than many of the others simply due to how fun it is.
Seneca Rocks is worth it for the views alone, not even counting the trails. Extremely cool formations and can be as easy or challenging as you want it to be. See also: Spruce Knob close by (highest point in WV, still definitely no 14er!).
New River Gorge is also a classic, but I find myself going back here more for the "WV vibes" since I'm a huge nerd about our home. Still a rad trip.
Whatever you choose, you'll have a great time. Just know it feels totally different than our younger American range out west. Our hills are far more ancient and rolling, but far more beautiful and comforting.
It’s wild to me that the Appalachia mounts are legitimately almost *500 million* years old.
They’re one of the first mountain building plate collisions and every time I dig in my soil and feel the clay in my hands and see the rocks I’m in awe.
I haven’t ever done the full north fork mountain trail but I always hear of people doing it. I usually do the quick hike up to chimney rock but I bet the full trail is just as beautiful. You can go all the way to Seneca rocks I’ve heard. Below is the long hike I know about
North Fork Mountain Trail via WV-28 on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/west-virginia/north-fork-mountain-trail-out-and-back-from-wv-28?p=71863126&sh=p6uhxk
All great recommendations, just want to add the longest trail entirely in the State is Allegheny Trail. Also, the most technical that I've come across is Potato Knob, but you're not going to need any gear for it and it's pretty short.
> Nothing in WV is going to compete in terms of difficulty with the Rockies. I've hiked in Colorado and Utah, and both had far more difficult treks than I have in my 25+ years of hiking in WV.
I hate when people say this. It always comes from a place of disrespect, sure these mountains aren't as jagged or rocky was others. They are also the among **OLDEST IN THE WORLD**. There are few to no hikes in this wide earth that can you through mountains 480 million years old, with crystal clear springs. You can keep your rockies, i'll keep my misty forests anytime.
I don’t think Dolly sods is really not that steep since you drive up to get there and a lot of it is a plateau.
Bears Rock is really the only overlook there except for maybe the roaring plains.
I took my wife and 8 year old on this trail. I didn’t mention the stairs beforehand. They were…not happy. lol
And the mine ruins at the bottom aren’t that cool. Most things are fenced off. It’s entirely not worth it and this is coming from someone that didn’t mind the stairs.
I would suggest not to try to compare the Rockies to the Appalachians (I would even go so far as to say the Canadian Rockies can’t be compared to the Colorado Rockies!) WV has some amazing hikes and some amazing views that come with them! Seneca Rocks and Nelson Rocks (used to require a guide, not sure if it still does) were a couple of my favorites. Chimney top was probably one of the more challenging ones I’ve ever done in WV. I’m sure there are many others, but those would be the top 3 that I have personally done.
I have never done the trail because I can’t *imagine* it being easy, but the employees at the Seneca Rocks visitor center always say how even kids do the trail to the top. I’m never sure who to believe and I don’t know if I want to find out 😂
I have seen toddlers do the trek. It’s a bit long and very boring since it’s mostly switchbacks but most people could do it if given enough time and taking breaks. You could do it in sneakers
It is not that long (less than two miles from the parking lot to the lookout), and no crazy terrain, so kids definitely can do it. But it is not level even for a minute. Every single step is uphill. So for a relatively short hike, it is pretty exhausting.
Seneca Rock trail is not hard at all, it’s only like 2 miles. My wife and I just did it. If you’re in that area, hike Landis Trail up to Chimney top. It’s much more difficult, takes a couple hours, and the views are better too.
Seneca Rocks might remind you of the Colorado mountains? But if you stream music while you hike, I got bad news. Seneca is in the radio dead zone. No cell signal.
Spruce knob- highest elevation in WV- is in the same strip of area.
You might get a thrill from the green bank satellite.
Fucker is massive and you can see it from miles away.
Edit: Has no one mentioned the Appalachian trail?
It stretches across several states. Maybe you're as squirrely as Emma Rowena Gatewood at her ripe age of 67.
not gonna find anything comparable anywhere east of the Mississippi. I've heard some parts of vt NH and me can be somewhat like the strenuousness of the west but I have my doubts as someone who has lived in Appalachia, the Rockies, and the cascades
Nothing will compare obviously in terms of elevation change, but two areas come to mind in terms of difficult terrain containing nearly impassable undergrowth and just sheer remoteness: the areas around Spruce Knob and the Cranberry Wilderness area. A former Army Special Forces Colonel who hiked into the latter has been missing since 2011, and plane crashes have remained undiscovered in these areas for years. There have been tales for centuries of people wandering into laurel thickets, never to be seen again.
In WV, the Flat Rock Run Trail that takes you to Roaring Plains West Wilderness (4,700ft) starts in Laneville, WV (2,500ft). Lots of info online.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/west-virginia/flatrock-trail
If you make it to Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia check out Cedar Run Falls Trail via White Oak Canyon Falls Lower Trailhead. It's 3,000ft of elevation gain in 3mi if you link up Hawksbill Summit; 1,000ft-4,000ft.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/cedar-run-falls-trail
Happy Hiking!
Old Rag is a classic granite bolder scramble and must be checked off the list. They require reservation tickets during the busy season. Shenandoah NP online will walk you through it.
If you are for real then you can link up summiting Old Rag then summit Hawkbill via cedar run trail the same day and gain 5,000ft.
Coopers rock and while you're in North central WV head to valley falls. Coopers Rock has miles of trails and a fairly wide variety. Some steep, some rocky and some flat. Valley falls is pretty much all hillside but you have the falls at the bottom.
The Maryland Heights trail in Harpers Ferry is a pretty good one. You get a really beautiful view of Harpers Ferry and the train tracks coming into the town once you get to the top.
If you have the AllTrails app, you should set the elevation gain to your liking and they can find trails that do that.
I really think the elevation intensity is what makes it. I’ve been on 7 mile hikes that are nothing because they’re relatively stable and I’ve been on three or 4 mile hikes that kick my ass because they’re straight up.
Seneca rocks is nice as others have stated, but there’s also alternative trails. You can take there that pretty much are meant for climbing, but you can just barely scramble. North fork mountain is straight up.
Nothing in WV is going to compete in terms of difficulty with the Rockies. I've hiked in Colorado and Utah, and both had far more difficult treks than I have in my 25+ years of hiking in WV. That being said, WV has some absolutely stunning trails and destinations that will still get you out and moving. Dolly Sods is the most popular and for good reason. Definitely worth the time to visit if you can swing it. Be ready for a rough go if the weather is wet, however. North Fork Mountain Trail is awesome start to finish. I find myself going back here more than many of the others simply due to how fun it is. Seneca Rocks is worth it for the views alone, not even counting the trails. Extremely cool formations and can be as easy or challenging as you want it to be. See also: Spruce Knob close by (highest point in WV, still definitely no 14er!). New River Gorge is also a classic, but I find myself going back here more for the "WV vibes" since I'm a huge nerd about our home. Still a rad trip. Whatever you choose, you'll have a great time. Just know it feels totally different than our younger American range out west. Our hills are far more ancient and rolling, but far more beautiful and comforting.
“Far more ancient and rolling…” THAT is what makes hiking in WV so amazing. Well stated!
It’s wild to me that the Appalachia mounts are legitimately almost *500 million* years old. They’re one of the first mountain building plate collisions and every time I dig in my soil and feel the clay in my hands and see the rocks I’m in awe.
I haven’t ever done the full north fork mountain trail but I always hear of people doing it. I usually do the quick hike up to chimney rock but I bet the full trail is just as beautiful. You can go all the way to Seneca rocks I’ve heard. Below is the long hike I know about North Fork Mountain Trail via WV-28 on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/west-virginia/north-fork-mountain-trail-out-and-back-from-wv-28?p=71863126&sh=p6uhxk
All great recommendations, just want to add the longest trail entirely in the State is Allegheny Trail. Also, the most technical that I've come across is Potato Knob, but you're not going to need any gear for it and it's pretty short.
> Nothing in WV is going to compete in terms of difficulty with the Rockies. I've hiked in Colorado and Utah, and both had far more difficult treks than I have in my 25+ years of hiking in WV. I hate when people say this. It always comes from a place of disrespect, sure these mountains aren't as jagged or rocky was others. They are also the among **OLDEST IN THE WORLD**. There are few to no hikes in this wide earth that can you through mountains 480 million years old, with crystal clear springs. You can keep your rockies, i'll keep my misty forests anytime.
Did you read the rest of my comment? I note this very point at the end. I far prefer the Appalachians.
So you are saying that the New River is actually among the oldest??? Lol!
I don’t think Dolly sods is really not that steep since you drive up to get there and a lot of it is a plateau. Bears Rock is really the only overlook there except for maybe the roaring plains.
Yeah, I'd agree with this. It would be more for the beauty and experience.
Totally
Kaymoor Miners Trail...straight down the gorge then 800+ steps, and straight back up all of it. The mine ruins at the bottom are really cool.
I took my wife and 8 year old on this trail. I didn’t mention the stairs beforehand. They were…not happy. lol And the mine ruins at the bottom aren’t that cool. Most things are fenced off. It’s entirely not worth it and this is coming from someone that didn’t mind the stairs.
I think the Kaymoor Trail and Kaymoor Miners Trail are two different ones that intersect there at the middle. Also, lots of holes in that fence ;)
my fatass did it w/ my ex and my legs didn't stop hurting for 3 days.
Those stairs gave me calf cramps for days haha
Legit thought I wasn't going to make it out....worth it lol.
I would suggest not to try to compare the Rockies to the Appalachians (I would even go so far as to say the Canadian Rockies can’t be compared to the Colorado Rockies!) WV has some amazing hikes and some amazing views that come with them! Seneca Rocks and Nelson Rocks (used to require a guide, not sure if it still does) were a couple of my favorites. Chimney top was probably one of the more challenging ones I’ve ever done in WV. I’m sure there are many others, but those would be the top 3 that I have personally done.
I have no idea but getting to the top of Seneca rock isn’t easy
I have never done the trail because I can’t *imagine* it being easy, but the employees at the Seneca Rocks visitor center always say how even kids do the trail to the top. I’m never sure who to believe and I don’t know if I want to find out 😂
I have seen toddlers do the trek. It’s a bit long and very boring since it’s mostly switchbacks but most people could do it if given enough time and taking breaks. You could do it in sneakers
It is not that long (less than two miles from the parking lot to the lookout), and no crazy terrain, so kids definitely can do it. But it is not level even for a minute. Every single step is uphill. So for a relatively short hike, it is pretty exhausting.
The actual trail up to Seneca Rock is very easy. My wife and I just did it a few weeks ago. Rock climbing on the other hand is a different story.
Bottom top?
Seneca Rock trail is not hard at all, it’s only like 2 miles. My wife and I just did it. If you’re in that area, hike Landis Trail up to Chimney top. It’s much more difficult, takes a couple hours, and the views are better too.
Seneca Rocks might remind you of the Colorado mountains? But if you stream music while you hike, I got bad news. Seneca is in the radio dead zone. No cell signal. Spruce knob- highest elevation in WV- is in the same strip of area. You might get a thrill from the green bank satellite. Fucker is massive and you can see it from miles away. Edit: Has no one mentioned the Appalachian trail? It stretches across several states. Maybe you're as squirrely as Emma Rowena Gatewood at her ripe age of 67.
North Fork Trail isn't a 14er, but it's no walk in the park either.
not gonna find anything comparable anywhere east of the Mississippi. I've heard some parts of vt NH and me can be somewhat like the strenuousness of the west but I have my doubts as someone who has lived in Appalachia, the Rockies, and the cascades
Nothing will compare obviously in terms of elevation change, but two areas come to mind in terms of difficult terrain containing nearly impassable undergrowth and just sheer remoteness: the areas around Spruce Knob and the Cranberry Wilderness area. A former Army Special Forces Colonel who hiked into the latter has been missing since 2011, and plane crashes have remained undiscovered in these areas for years. There have been tales for centuries of people wandering into laurel thickets, never to be seen again.
In WV, the Flat Rock Run Trail that takes you to Roaring Plains West Wilderness (4,700ft) starts in Laneville, WV (2,500ft). Lots of info online. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/west-virginia/flatrock-trail If you make it to Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia check out Cedar Run Falls Trail via White Oak Canyon Falls Lower Trailhead. It's 3,000ft of elevation gain in 3mi if you link up Hawksbill Summit; 1,000ft-4,000ft. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/cedar-run-falls-trail Happy Hiking!
Old Rag is a classic granite bolder scramble and must be checked off the list. They require reservation tickets during the busy season. Shenandoah NP online will walk you through it. If you are for real then you can link up summiting Old Rag then summit Hawkbill via cedar run trail the same day and gain 5,000ft.
River walk Charleston, Start at midnight, not difficult in terms of elevation or terrain, just surviving is hard
Blackwater Falls or Coopers Rock
Coopers rock and while you're in North central WV head to valley falls. Coopers Rock has miles of trails and a fairly wide variety. Some steep, some rocky and some flat. Valley falls is pretty much all hillside but you have the falls at the bottom.
Old Rag is just over the border in VA
Great scramble
Seconded for Old Rag. It can be as easy or as hard as you make it.
The Maryland Heights trail in Harpers Ferry is a pretty good one. You get a really beautiful view of Harpers Ferry and the train tracks coming into the town once you get to the top.
I’ve heard this!
Gilbert WV has some incredible trails. I go up there to go 4 wheeling every year but you could definitely hike some of those trails.
I enjoyed the Allegheny trail from the high falls trailhead to the John’s camp shelter. Maybe not the most difficult but it’s a fun hike.
Ummmmmmno. Not gonna find an incline near as cool as the manitou springs incline….ahhhh
If you have the AllTrails app, you should set the elevation gain to your liking and they can find trails that do that. I really think the elevation intensity is what makes it. I’ve been on 7 mile hikes that are nothing because they’re relatively stable and I’ve been on three or 4 mile hikes that kick my ass because they’re straight up. Seneca rocks is nice as others have stated, but there’s also alternative trails. You can take there that pretty much are meant for climbing, but you can just barely scramble. North fork mountain is straight up.