live ›› outdoors F all is among the best times to hike in the Monongahela National Forest. The September air is dry and comfortable, October brings weeks of brilliant color, and, as the leaves fall in November, spectacular views re-appear. The MNF offers hiking trails of every length and difficulty and lies within a three hours’ drive of just about anywhere in the state. With 800 miles of trails to choose from, it can be hard for the newcomer to know where to start—so we’ve compiled a few suggestions.
Spruce Knob Area Several short hikes You can find a full day of adventure by combining several short hikes in the Spruce Knob and Seneca Creek Backcountry of the Potomac District. Not quite 10 miles south of Seneca
Rocks, turn right on Briery Gap Road, 33/4. In two miles, turn right on FR112 and, after 13.5 miles, turn right on FR1. The Spruce Knob Lake parking area is less than a mile farther, on the left. The 1-mile Spruce Knob Lake Trail around the small lake passes through wetland, meadow, and spruce and hardwood forests. Afterward, backtrack six miles on FR112 to a left turn on FR104. In 1.6 miles, you’ll reach Spruce Knob, the highest point in the state at 4,863 feet. Here, hike as far north along Spruce Mountain Ridge on the 4.6-mile Huckleberry Trail as you like, enjoying blueberry patches, heath barrens, and spruce forest along the way. Finish your day’s adventure by walking the Whispering Spruce Trail , a short loop around Spruce Knob marked by interpretive signs—and don’t miss the stunning vista from the observation deck.
Table Rock Overlook Trail 2.2 miles round trip, with plenty to explore along the way For a beautiful drive to a short hike with a spectacular view, pick a clear-skies day and head to the Table Rock Overlook Trail in the Canaan Mountain area of the Cheat/Potomac District. Take WV Route 32 south from Davis 3.3 miles to a right turn on Canaan Loop Road, FR13, a well-maintained gravel forest system road. Drive 9.8 miles—stopping to explore at any of the trailheads along the way—to the parking area and trailhead. The Table Rock trail climbs gradually then descends into thickets of rhododendron and mountain laurel. It emerges onto Table Rock outcrop overlooking the Red Run and Dry Fork River valleys. To the right you’ll see the Otter Creek Wilderness and, in the distance, several mountains, including the Shavers Mountain ridge a view to inspire further explorations in the MNF.
Cranberry Wilderness Multiple opportunities for long hikes At 48,000 acres, the Cranberry Wilderness in the Gauley Ranger District is the largest Forest Service wilderness area in the Eastern U.S., a
The Monongahela National Forest offers not only a great range of hikes, but picnic areas, scenic overlooks, campgrounds, shelters, and more. The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy’s Monongahela National Forest Hiking Guide , a longtime collaboration between veteran hikers and dedicated volunteers now in its ninth edition, is the ultimate resource. Order your copy at highlandsconservancy.org .
favorite destination for more experienced backcountry explorers. The area encompasses spruce forests on its mountain ridges and trout streams—the North Fork of the Cranberry River, and the Middle Fork and Little Fork of the Williams River—below. Loop hikes can be 15 miles and longer. Excellent hikes include the Big Beechy Run, Middle Fork, and North-South trails. For a detailed map of these trails, go to wvhighlands.org and search “maps.”
62 wvl • fall 2020
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