Trail Guide
West Virginia Hiking: Best Trails & Hiking Guide
From the sheer sandstone cliffs of the New River Gorge to the wind-scoured bogs of Dolly Sods, West Virginia packs an extraordinary range of terrain into a state you can cross in a few hours. This guide covers the classic hikes, the hidden backcountry, and the practical details you need to plan a day on the trail.
Quick Info
- Best For
- Day hikes, ridge views, waterfall walks, overnight backpacking
- Best Season
- April–June and September–October; high country into early November
- Difficulty
- Easy boardwalks to strenuous 10+ mile climbs and rock scrambles
- Fees/Permits
- Most trails free; some parks charge a small entry fee; backcountry permits rare
- Where
- New River Gorge, Monongahela National Forest, Potomac Highlands, state parks statewide
Why West Virginia Is a Hiker's State
West Virginia sits at the crossroads of the Appalachian Plateau and the Ridge-and-Valley province, so the geology changes with every county. In the south, the New River has carved one of the oldest gorges on the continent, leaving exposed Nuttall sandstone that draws hikers and climbers from around the world. To the northeast, the Allegheny Highlands rise above 4,000 feet, where red spruce, heath barrens, and alpine-style bogs create landscapes more reminiscent of Canada than the mid-Atlantic.
Trails here are rarely crowded outside a few marquee overlooks. You can hike to a waterfall in the morning, stand on a windswept plateau at lunch, and finish the day on a gorge rim with no one else around. That combination of variety and solitude is what keeps people coming back.
Must-Hike Trails in the New River Gorge
The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is the state's hiking anchor. The Endless Wall Trail (2.4 miles round trip) follows the rim through rhododendron and hemlock to Diamond Point and the Nuttall sandstone cliffs, with several fenced overlooks along the way. The Long Point Trail (3.2 miles) is the classic photo hike — a broad ledge staring straight at the New River Gorge Bridge. For history, the Kaymoor Miners Trail drops 800 feet on switchbacks and 820 stairs to a preserved coal-mining town, and the Grandview Rim Trail links several of the most dramatic canyon views in the park.
- Glade Creek Trail — 5.6 miles of gentle creek-side walking past waterfalls.
- Tunnel Trail & Brooklyn-Southside — quieter former rail grades with big timber.
- Castle Rock & Grandview — short, family-friendly paths to sandstone overlooks.
- Sandstone Falls — a boardwalk to the state's widest falls on the New River.
Allegheny Highlands: Seneca Rocks, Spruce Knob & Dolly Sods
In the Potomac Highlands, the Seneca Rocks Trail climbs 2.6 miles and 700 vertical feet to a viewing platform atop a 900-foot quartzite fin — a rite of passage for West Virginia hikers. Just up the road, the Spruce Knob area offers the High Knob Tower and the Whispering Spruce Trail, an easy loop around the highest point in the state at 4,863 feet. The North Fork Mountain Trail, a 24-mile ridge route, is the state's finest long-distance hike, with repeated views west toward Germany Valley and east into the Shenandoah.
No landscape in West Virginia surprises people more than Dolly Sods Wilderness. A rare high-elevation plateau with rocky plains, boulder fields, and stunted red spruce, it feels like the far north. Trails such as the Bear Rocks Preserve loop and Rohrbaugh Plains are marked by cairns rather than blazes — carry a map and compass, because fog and snow can roll in any month of the year.
Cranberry Glades & the Monongahela Backcountry
The Cranberry Glades Botanical Area protects a series of true boreal bogs at 3,400 feet, ringed by a boardwalk that lets you walk among cranberry, cotton grass, and sundew. Nearby, the Cranberry Wilderness spreads across 47,815 acres of roadless spruce and hardwood forest — the largest wilderness in the state and a superb place for multi-day loops. Combine the Glades boardwalk with the Falls of Hills Creek trail, a steep 1.2-mile descent past three waterfalls, or the High Rocks and tea-table overlooks on the Highland Scenic Highway.
Blackwater Falls & Canaan Valley
Blackwater Falls State Park centers on a 57-foot amber waterfall on the Blackwater River, reached by a long staircase of 214 steps. The park's Elakala Trail and Balanced Rock paths make an easy half-day, while cross-country ski trails double as summer hikes. In adjacent Canaan Valley, the Blackwater River Trail and Lind Point at Cabin Mountain offer sweeping valley views, and the Dolly Sods plateau is only minutes away. This corner of the state is the highest, coolest, and snowiest — pack a layer even in July.
Trail Difficulty, Safety & Leave No Trace
Check the Weather
High-country storms arrive fast. Dolly Sods and Spruce Knob can drop 20 degrees and lose visibility in minutes, so carry rain gear and a headlamp year-round.
Know Your Limits
Gorge rim trails involve stairs and exposure. Tell someone your plan and budget extra time — cell service vanishes the moment you drop off the plateau.
Leave No Trace
Stay on durable surfaces, pack out all trash, and keep dogs leashed in wilderness and park areas. Bogs are fragile — never shortcut across them.
Top hiking spots in West Virginia
New River Gorge
Endless Wall, Long Point, Kaymoor and the bridge overlooks.
Seneca Rocks
The state's signature summit scramble and viewing platform.
Spruce Knob
West Virginia's highest point and the Whispering Spruce Trail.
Dolly Sods
Alpine-style wilderness with cairn-marked routes and bogs.
Blackwater Falls
214 steps to a 57-foot amber cascade and miles of trails.
Pipestem Resort
Gorge tram, river trails and the Bluestone Turnpike path.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best first hike in West Virginia?
The Long Point Trail in the New River Gorge is the ideal introduction — 3.2 easy miles with the state's most famous view of the gorge bridge.
Do I need a permit to hike in West Virginia?
No permit is required for day hiking on public lands. Some national park and state park areas ask for a small entry or parking fee; overnight camping in certain backcountry zones may require a free permit.
Are the trails dog friendly?
Dogs are welcome on most national forest and state park trails but must be leashed in developed areas and national park frontcountry. Check regulations for the specific trailhead before you go.
When is the best time to see fall colors on the trails?
Peak color usually arrives in the high Alleghenies in late September and works south through the New River Gorge into mid-October. The Highland Scenic Highway and Dolly Sods are unbeatable then.
About Discover WV Today
Discover WV Today is an independent travel guide to West Virginia's mountains, rivers, towns, and hidden corners. We publish practical, locally researched guides — from New River Gorge trails to Hatfield-McCoy ATV routes — so you can plan a better trip.
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