FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va — From windswept mountain summits to dramatic river overlooks, West Virginia is home to some of the most scenic hiking trails in the eastern United States. While beauty is subjective, certain trails consistently leave visitors speechless, offering views and experiences found nowhere else in the Mountain State.
The best hiking trails in West Virginia? Rankings were based on scenery, trail experience, accessibility, popularity, and reviews from hikers who frequent West Virginia’s public lands.
1. North Fork Mountain Trail
Stretching along a narrow mountain ridge above the South Branch Valley, the North Fork Mountain Trail offers perhaps the most sustained views of any hike in West Virginia. For miles, hikers walk atop a sandstone spine, overlooking farms, forests, and distant mountains.
Unlike many scenic trails that culminate at a single overlook, North Fork Mountain Trail rewards visitors with panoramic vistas throughout the journey. On clear days, visibility can extend for dozens of miles.
Most readers aren’t going to hike the entire 24-mile ridge trail. The Chimney Top route is the hike most people know and photograph. The full ridge trail is about 24 miles and is a strenuous backpacking route.
The combination of wilderness, elevation, and nearly continuous views earns North Fork Mountain the top spot on this list. Distance: 5.2 miles round trip / Difficulty: Difficult
Plan your hike: Find trail maps, directions, and hiking information from WVU DIY Outdoors.
2. Bear Rocks Preserve
At first glance, the landscape around Bear Rocks feels more like northern Canada than Appalachia. The sweeping sandstone outcrops here rise above high-elevation plains covered with blueberry bushes, spruce groves, and windswept heath barrens. Sunrise and sunset transform the landscape into a sea of gold and purple.
Located within the Dolly Sods region, Bear Rocks offers one of the most remarkable and otherworldly landscapes in the eastern United States. There’s no single trail. Most visitors simply walk through the sandstone outcrops. Distance: 0.5-1 mile / Difficulty: Easy
Plan your hike: The Monongahela National Forest provides maps, access information, and updates for the Dolly Sods Wilderness and Bear Rocks area.
3. Endless Wall Trail
Located in the northern New River Gorge near the New River Gorge Bridge, the Endless Wall Trail has become one of West Virginia’s most celebrated hikes.
The relatively easy route winds through hardwood forests before emerging at dramatic cliffs overlooking the New River, hundreds of feet below. Diamond Point, the trail’s signature overlook, offers one of the state’s most photographed views.
Its accessibility, scenery, and location within one of America’s newest national parks make Endless Wall a favorite among visitors from across the country. Distance: 2.4 miles one way / Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Plan your hike: The National Park Service offers maps, trail details, and current conditions for the Endless Wall Trail.
4. Long Point Trail
Few trails offer such a dramatic payoff for so little effort. The Long Point Trail winds through the forest before reaching a narrow rock promontory overlooking the New River Gorge Bridge. The iconic bridge, framed by rugged canyon walls and dense forest, creates one of West Virginia’s most recognizable vistas.
The overlook, which is about 1.6 miles from the trailhead, has become a must-see destination for photographers and first-time visitors alike. Distance: 3.2 miles round trip / Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Plan your hike: Visit the National Park Service for trail maps, parking information, and seasonal updates.
5. Seneca Creek Trail
For hikers seeking wild beauty rather than iconic overlooks, Seneca Creek may be unmatched. The trail follows a crystal-clear mountain stream through dense forest, passing waterfalls, cascades, and moss-covered boulders before reaching the high country near Spruce Knob.
The remote setting and pristine waters create an experience that feels increasingly rare in the eastern United States. Distance: 8-10 miles round trip (to upper valley) / Difficulty: Moderate
Plan your hike: WVU DIY Outdoors provides detailed route descriptions and backpacking information for the Seneca Creek Trail.
6. Lindy Point Trail
Short but spectacular, the Lindy Point Trail offers access to one of the state’s most breathtaking canyon vistas. The rocky overlook sits above Blackwater Canyon, where rugged cliffs plunge toward the Blackwater River far below. Morning fog and autumn foliage often create scenes worthy of a landscape painting.
Its combination of accessibility and scenery makes it one of West Virginia’s finest short hikes. (Distance: 0.8 miles round trip / Difficulty: Easy)
Plan your hike: The West Virginia State Parks website includes visitor information for Blackwater Falls State Park and nearby Lindy Point.
7. High Falls Trail
Located deep within Monongahela National Forest, the High Falls Trail passes through a gap on Shavers Mountain to the High Falls of the Cheat River, which are actually on the Shavers Fork of the Cheat. It wanders through old-growth forest and remote mountain wilderness along the way.
The hike offers solitude, wildlife viewing, and an authentic backcountry experience. (Distance: 3 miles round trip / Difficulty: Easy to Moderate)
Plan your hike: Find out more about the High Falls Trail at MyHikes.org.
8. Red Creek Trail
Red Creek winds through the heart of Dolly Sods, descending from the upland tundra for which the sods are best known into a narrow canyon filled with waterfalls and swimming holes.
In autumn, the trail becomes especially spectacular as the plateau erupts in shades of crimson, orange, and gold. (Distance: 6-8 miles round trip / Difficulty: Moderate)
Plan your hike: The Monongahela National Forest provides maps and visitor information for the Red Creek and Dolly Sods trail system.
9. Spruce Knob Summit Trail
Though short, the trail to West Virginia’s highest point offers sweeping views into Virginia and Shenandoah Mountain more than 20 miles away.
At 4,863 feet above sea level, Spruce Knob often experiences weather more typical of New England than the Mid-Atlantic. The summit’s rocky outcrops and stunted spruce trees create a distinctly alpine atmosphere.
Visitors often arrive for sunrise, sunset, or stargazing. (Distance: 0.5 miles round trip / Difficulty: Easy)
Plan your hike: The Monongahela National Forest offers maps, weather information, and visitor resources for Spruce Knob.
10. Raven Rock Trail
Raven Rock Trail at Coopers Rock State Forest leads hikers through mature hardwood forest to a rocky overlook with sweeping views of the Cheat River Canyon and the surrounding Allegheny Mountains.
The moderately challenging hike is less crowded than the park’s main overlook, making it a favorite for visitors seeking both solitude and some of the finest scenery in northern West Virginia. Note that there are several Raven Rock Trails in West Virginia. (Distance: 2.8 miles round trip / Difficulty: Moderate)
Plan your hike: Visit West Virginia State Parks for trail maps and visitor information for Coopers Rock State Forest.
West Virginia: A State Built for Exploration
Ranking beauty is never easy in a state blessed with thousands of miles of trails. Many hikers will argue for favorites such as the Cranberry Glades Boardwalk, Big Schloss, Cathedral State Park, or the Allegheny Trail.
Yet these ten routes collectively showcase the landscapes that make West Virginia one of America’s premier hiking destinations—soaring cliffs, wild rivers, remote forests, and mountain vistas that stretch to the horizon.
For travelers seeking to experience the Mountain State at its finest, these trails offer an unforgettable introduction to the natural beauty that continues to draw visitors from across the nation.
Whether you’re tackling the rugged ridges of North Fork Mountain or watching sunrise from Bear Rocks, these trails showcase why West Virginia remains one of America’s most underrated hiking destinations.