Grant County
NATURAL BEAUTY The Monongahela National Forest is an expansive 921,000 acres including much of Grant County. Established in 1920, the forest provides places to hike, bike, ride horseback, swim, fish, and do just about any other outdoor activity you can think of. More than 800 miles of trails wander through the forest. The Monongahela is one of the most biologically diverse national forests and is in the forest andmore than 225 species of birds. The Monongahela has a bounty of water activities, as the headwaters of six major river systems are located in the forest—Elk, Gauley, Greenbrier, Monongahela, Potomac, and Tygart. These waterways provide excellent whitewater rafting, and nearly 600 miles of trout stream offer endless fishing opportunities.
boulder-filled meadows more common in southern Canada thanWest Virginia. In higher elevations, the area is home to animals rarely seen in the state, like the snowshoe hare, whose habitat typically ranges from Canada to Alaska. Other northern animals, like the New England cottontail also make their home in the area’s higher elevations. Rare birds, including the smallest owl in the east, the saw-whet owl, also call Dolly Sods home. Dolly Sods is great for a day hike or a multi- night backpacking trip, with 47 miles of hiking trails to explore. There’s camping at Red Creek Campground , but you can also camp for free at any number of sites within the wilderness area. The views of the beautiful forests and mountains are amazing any time of year.
Situated on the Allegheny Plateau, the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area is the highest plateau of its kind east of the Mississippi. The wilderness area ranges from 2,600 feet above sea level to 4,000 feet, where the elevation and cool weather produce unique ecosystems—like bogs and
considered byThe Nature Conservancy to be in an area of global ecological importance. Much of this diversity can be attributed to the wide variations in elevation and the resulting patterns of precipitation. At least 75 tree species are found
WEST VIRGINIA 26
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