By:
Submission
Stay on designated trails.
Do not create new trails
Camp at existing campsites. These usually have a fire ring and show bare ground around them.
If you camp at a place without a fire ring DO NOT create one. Use a backpacker-type stove for your cooking needs and enjoy a night
without a campfire.
Map: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5152038.pdf
The 17,371 acre Dolly Sods Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. It is located in Grant, Randolph, and Tucker Counties, West Virginia. The Dolly Sods Wilderness contains much of the Red Creek drainage and contains bog and heath eco-types, more commonly typical to southern Canada. Elevations range from 2,500 to over 4,700 feet. For more information, see Dolly Sods Wilderness Brochure, Trail Map, and Expansion Map.
Practice Leave No Trace outdoor ethics: do not build a camp within 200 feet of roads, streams and trails. Dolly Sods Wilderness has 47 miles of trails, many of which follow old railroad grades and logging roads. There are fords on some of the trails that may be a problem to cross during high water events. There may be additional small stream crossings as well.
Most beautiful and rugged place I visited that's close from Northern Virginia. However the final few miles drive to summit is through unpaved roads. Avoid during rainy season.
Beautiful hiking trails with stunning vistas, always register at trail heads and get a paper map. The weather is constantly changing so be prepared! The service road to get to bear rocks is treacherous with pot holes, but worth it!
We rode our trail bikes up to Dolly Sods during our last visit in the fall, it quickly became favorite visit to my favorite WV spot. We found lots of berries along our hike. The view from Bear Rocks is expansive, take your time there and soak it all in. I love its natural beauty, Visitors, please be respectful of where you park, and always pack it in = pack it out. ENJOY!
A fantastic taste of Canadian tundra like climate. A diverse and unique species of flora! I love the blueberry bushes and fungi. The wind burned pines seem so comfortable despite the harshness the area can be at times. There is such a wide variety of lichen! I come back to this spot every year, and I always am in such awe at the beauty and mysticism surrounding this place. I could spend weeks here if I had the time. It is a backpackers paradise! The history behind Dolly sods is fascinating as well! One of the most underrated places I have been to in the USA. Please add this to the list of places you must visit! You won’t be disappointed!
This is a must visit place if you like remote hiking and alpine like vegetation at low altitude. Also amazing to see the large wild beaver population, ponds and lodges. It is a gem for backpacking and enjoyed a 30+ mile loop.
