Beautiful West Virginia Mountains

1. Seneca Rocks

Craggy and impressive, Seneca Rocks is a large needle of rock that towers over the surrounding wooded landscape of the Seneca Rocks National Recreational Area in Pendleton Country, West Virginia.

The rocks are composed of vertically layered quartzite with deep vertical cracks that provide an irresistible lure for rock climbers and were used as a training ground for the U.S. Mountain Forces during WWII.

You can take a course in basic or advanced rock climbing techniques at the Seneca Rocks Climbing School if you are new to the sport.

If summiting Seneca Rocks seems too much like hard work, you can enjoy the remarkable views and scenery by hiking the moderately easy Seneca Rocks Trail to the base of the needle. There is a good visitors center and campground nearby.

2. Spruce Knob

Reaching 4,863 feet above sea level, Spruce Knob is the summit of Spruce Mountain and the highest point in West Virginia.

Surprisingly, you do not have to be a rock climber or even don hiking boots to enjoy the privilege of seeing the views from this highpoint – the summit of Spruce Knob can be reached by driving up a good mountain road and then taking a short walk to the observation tower.

If you prefer to explore the area on foot, you can choose from the Huckleberry Trail, the Seneca Creek Trail, or the Lumberjack Trail to reach the summit.

Camping enthusiasts can set up camp at Seneca Shadows Campground or Big Ben Camp Ground to spend a few days exploring the area.

3. Bear Rocks

Bear Rocks are one of the most frequently photographed landmarks in West Virginia and can be found in the Bear Rocks Preserve in the north of the Dolly Sods Wilderness.

The area surrounding Bear Rock is particularly scenic and the entire surrounding wilderness area is the most popular hiking area in West Virginia.

Hikers can explore the natural beauty of the area along the 2.4-mile (easy) Bear Rocks Trail or venture further south, where there are several hiking trails in the Dolly Sods Wilderness.

You can expect to see plenty of unusual flora and fauna along the route, while several established and backcountry campsites dot the trails.

4. Red Spruce Knob

The close proximity of the Highland Scenic Highway means that you have very easy access to hike or climb Red Spruce Knob, one of the highest peaks of the Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia. The Red Spruce Knob trails will lead hikers though some very attractive wooded scenery, which is home to many bird varieties as well as to the endangered Virginia flying squirrel. You can hike the trail all year round and in winter you can try some forest skiing. Visitors who would like to spend a few days in the area can set up camp at the Tea Creek or Day Run campsites or try some primitive backcountry camping.

5. Bickle Knob

Bickle Knob is yet another of West Virginia’s many 4,000+ foot peaks, which occupies a tall ridge overlooking the Otter Creek Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest. Good news for non-hikers is that you can access the peak by road along Forest Service Road (91A) and then take a short walk up to the observation tower, which was once used as a fire look-out point. If you prefer to hike you can set off along the 5.2-mile Middle Point Trail. Hikers who prefer a more challenging day out can choose between several other Otter Creek Wilderness trails that require a bit of route-finding skills. The entire area is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and there are several options for camping, including RV campsites and primitive backcountry camping opportunities.

6. Rose Benchmark

Rose Benchmark marks the highest spot in Braxton County, West Virginia, topping out at 2,183 feet, which gives it the distinction of being the 28th highest point in the state and puts it on the radar of all the West Virginia Peak Chasers. Unfortunately, the area is a hive of activity due to the number of encroaching oil/gas wells, which means that it is not a particularly attractive area to go hiking. If you happen to want to add Rose Benchmark to the list of peaks you have conquered, you can easily access the highpoint by car along Crites Mountain Road, close to the small town of Birch River. Once you have bagged your peak, you can visit nearby Summersville Lake for camping, hiking, and boating activities.

7. Cheat Mountain

Fifty miles long and over 5 miles wide at places, Cheat Mountain is an extremely high and rugged mountain in the eastern part of West Virginia. Until the logging industry stripped the mountain of its splendid forests, Cheat Mountain supported the largest red spruce forest south of Maine, but by 1960 it had been largely stripped bare. In 1960, Cass Scenic Railroad State Park was established to protect the area and re-forestation has been an ongoing project. Today you can take the scenic railway all the way to Bald Knob at the top of Cheat Mountain to admire the impressive views from the summit. Hikers can explore along the Cheat Mountain Ridge Trail, which is also good for snowshoeing in winter.

8. Back Allegheny Mountain

Running almost parallel to the massive Cheat Mountain, the Back Allegheny Mountain is also a very large mountain whose summit at Bald Knob reaches an elevation of 4,843 feet above sea level. Protected by the Monongahela National Forest, Back Allegheny Mountain lies in an environmentally sensitive area of large red spruce forests that are home to a wide variety of birds and wildlife. A short (but very steep) half-mile hike along the Bald Knob Trail will take you to the summit (for one of the best spots in West Virginia to watch a mountain sunset). Five miles south of Bald Knob you can go skiing at the Snowshoe Ski Resort, and the greater Monongahela National Forest offers a very wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, climbing, fishing, camping, and much more.

9. Mount Port Crayon

Mount Port Crayon is the sixth-highest peak in West Virginia, located in the Roaring Plains Wilderness of the Monongahela National Forest. Peak Chasers will need plenty of determination to summit Mount Port Crayon, which is one of the most inaccessible highpoints in the state. To reach the summit, you need to negotiate a very steep 5-mile trail that includes long stretches of pure off-trail bushwhacking. It is a great challenge for experienced hikers/scramblers, but should not be attempted by novices. Less experienced hikers, walkers, and bird watchers will find a variety of easier scenic trails in the greater Monongahela National Forest.

10. North Fork Mountain

North Fork Mountain is located in the “High Alleghenies” of eastern West Virginia. North Fork’s highest peak is Kile Knob at 4,588 feet, and there are a further three lofty peaks, Panther Knob, Chimney Top, and Pike Knob, which are nearly as high and will interest all the Peak Chasers out there. The 24-mile North Fork Mountain Trail is widely acknowledged to be one of the most scenic high-elevation trails in the state, and worthy of a place on any hiking enthusiast’s wish-list. The views in all directions are pretty amazing as you make your way to the various highpoints, and the trail is also suitable for energetic mountain bikers, trail runners, and backcountry campers.