West Virginia Explorer West Virginia Explorer News
Browse

National Forests

See our Attractions Travel Guide

National forests in West Virginia showcase the state’s stunning natural beauty and provide endless opportunities for outdoor adventure and relaxation. Home to the vast Monongahela National Forest and parts of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, West Virginia offers visitors over 900,000 acres of scenic woodlands, rugged mountains, and pristine rivers. Hikers, campers, hunters, and wildlife watchers can explore miles of trails, secluded campsites, and breathtaking overlooks throughout these protected lands. Popular spots like Spruce Knob, Dolly Sods Wilderness, and Cranberry Glades highlight the rich biodiversity and unique landscapes that make West Virginia’s national forests a top destination for nature lovers seeking an authentic Appalachian escape.

A sign marks the Beaver Dam Cooperative Wildlife Management Area in Monongahela National Forest, one of several areas where the U.S. Forest Service and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources cooperate on wildlife management.
National Forests

Why West Virginia manages wildlife inside a federal national forest

by David Sibray

ELKINS, W.Va. — Much of the wildlife habitat inside West Virginia’s largest national forest isn’t managed by the federal government alone. For generations, biologists with the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources have worked alongside the U.S. Forest Service to manage trout streams, wildlife habitat, and sensitive species across the Monongahela National Forest. The two agencies … Read more

Snow and ice coat the high-elevation spruce forest at Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia. Winter conditions can arrive in the Allegheny Mountains while lower elevations remain snow-free. (Photo courtesy Rick Burgess)
National Forests

Winter comes early to West Virginia’s highest mountains as forest sites begin closing

by David Sibray

ELKINS, W.Va. — Autumn is just beginning across much of West Virginia, but preparations for winter are already underway in the state’s highest mountains, where recreation facilities in the Monongahela National Forest have begun closing for the season. The closures reflect a defining characteristic of the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia: elevation can produce … Read more

September view at Dolly Sods Wilderness, Tucker County, Allegheny Highlands Region
National Forests

More road closures coming to Monongahela National Forest as fall travel season begins

by Clyde Craig

ELKINS, W.Va. — Travelers heading into the Monongahela National Forest during West Virginia’s fall recreation season will encounter two more road closures, including restrictions along Cranberry River Road near Richwood and Forest Road 19 along the eastern side of the Dolly Sods area. U.S. Forest Service officials announced the closures Wednesday as construction continues on … Read more

The Williams River flows through the Monongahela National Forest in Pocahontas and Webster counties. Road repairs planned for nearby Forest Road 86 could affect access to campgrounds, trailheads, and recreation areas in the Williams River and Cranberry regions this summer.
National Forests

Road closures to affect access to Cranberry and Williams River recreation areas

by Will Reedy

RICHWOOD, W.Va. — Visitors planning trips to the Cranberry and Williams River regions of the Monongahela National Forest this summer should prepare for detours and temporary road closures as the U.S. Forest Service begins repairs to flood-damaged forest roads serving some of the area’s most popular recreation destinations. Construction is expected to begin in late … Read more

Forest projects have included stream restoration, erosion control, invasive plant removal, native tree planting, wildlife habitat improvements, and trail or road maintenance.
National Forests

Monongahela National Forest seeks conservation proposals in five West Virginia counties

by Clyde Craig

ELKINS, W.Va. — The W.Va. Resource Advisory Committee is seeking proposals for conservation and infrastructure projects that benefit the Monongahela National Forest and surrounding communities. Funding is provided through the federal Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, a program designed to compensate counties that contain large amounts of federally owned land exempt from local … Read more

A new partnership is working to improve and maintain more than 500 miles of trail in the northern region of the Monongahela National Forest.
National Forests

Partnership to enhance more than 500 miles of Monongahela National Forest trails

by David Sibray

ELKINS, W.Va. — Recreational trails are a major part of West Virginia’s tourism economy, especially in the rugged landscape of the Monongahela National Forest, where thousands of hikers and mountain bikers explore its scenic backcountry each year. To strengthen tourism and improve trail conditions in the forest’s northern region, a new partnership has been formed … Read more

Cunningham Knob Addition
National Forests

Monongahela National Forest acquires Cunningham Knob acreage in Randolph County

by David Sibray

ELKINS, W.Va. — The Monongahela National Forest has acquired a 427-acre tract in Randolph County known as the Cunningham Knob addition, expanding public land near Cunningham Knob and the Laurel Fork area. The property was purchased from Cunningham Knob rises above the Sunks of Gandy. Photo by Rick Burgess[/caption] Greenbrier District Ranger Shane Jones said … Read more

National Forests

Woodside Fire in West Virginia national forest reaches 75% containment

by Clyde Craig

CIRCLEVILLE, W.Va. — Firefighters in West Virginia continue to make progress in ending the Woodside Fire in the Monongahela National Forest, with containment now at 75 percent. Cooler temperatures and weekend precipitation have helped moderate fire behavior. Crews used the favorable conditions to construct additional handline and dozer line along the 385-acre fire’s perimeter, according … Read more

Dolly Sods at Sunrise
National Forests

Breathtaking Dolly Sods wilderness attracts throngs to West Virginia’s high country

by Hinaa Noor

LANEVILLE, W.Va. — At more than 4,000 feet above sea level, the Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia has become one of the most recognizable outdoor recreation destinations in the Appalachian Mountains. Once considered remote and difficult to reach, the completion of the US-48 expressway from Washington, D.C., has dramatically changed how people experience the … Read more