A couple years ago, my husband and I joined my sister, my brother-in-law, and a couple other friends for a backpacking trip in the Dolly Sods Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest.I’m not usually the backpacker type, though I’ve done my share of camping over the years — mostly in my teens and 20s. - See 269 traveler reviews, 294 candid photos, and great deals for Elkins, WV, at Tripadvisor. At the junction, follow the trail northwest. forestwander. Quebec run might be a better alternative. Find hiking trails near me: Add Filters SEARCH Within: Difficulty: State: Trail Length: to Elevation Gain: to Surface Type: Hiker: Amenities: Camping Lookout Dog Friendly Summit Waterfall Water Source Biking. Behind The Scenes - Dolly Sods Bloopers. The day hiking opportunities are abundant if you wanted to do little loops from the road. The course was easy to moderate in difficulty, had very little elevation change, and featured few-to-none steep sections. Even with freezing weather and a soft layer of snow they are rocky, uneven and brutally muddy. check out hiking upwards. The Bear Rocks Trail is washed out for the first 0.5 miles until it crosses a small stream. Tips for Dolly Sods Bring Rain Gear: you should always have a waterproof layer, but Dolly Sods can have erratic weather. The crown jewel of the Monongahela National Forestoffers 17,631 acres and 47 miles of rugged trail to hikers and backpackers seeking a pristine Appalachian experience. See Dolly Sods Wilderness brochure for a list of several possible loop hikes. All seasons are great, so I hear. It can be rough and you should know how to read a Topo map prior to going as the trails are not well marked. The Dolly Sods had been his favorite place and where he’d always returned. It was supposed to rain with Hurricane Bill coming up from the Texas Gulf, aiming right at West Virginia and likely to get stuck in the mountains. Two pairs of wool or synthetic socks (in case it rains when you are hiking in a boggy section, which can become very muddy and wet) Synthetic odor-free T-shirt; Hat; Sunglasses; Zip-off hiking pants; Supportive, waterproof (or water resistant) hiking boots; Rain jacket; Fleece or light down (a cozy jacket for the 60-degree-ish night temperatures) Other. Dolly Sods is perhaps the most southerly region in the Western Hemisphere where one can find sub-arctic tundra. For 3.0 miles, hikers will follow the ridge which will provide amazing views of the Dolly Sods Wilderness. Find tips, photos and maps for 122 miles of hiking trails from the MyHikes community. From here, you'll follow the Bear Rocks Trail through open meadows and dotted sections of pine forest. After .5-mile I was tempted to set up my tent at a nice site next to a musical brook. Red Creek Trail to Lion's Head Rocks is a 7.3 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Davis, West Virginia that features a great forest setting and is rated as difficult. No matter, the established trails are grand. I ended up camping on a flat, grassy area between the flowing Stonecoal Run and woodlands at mile 9.4. Offer ends 3/16 →, Get Backpacker Pass for only $15. The trip starts off along the Bear Rocks Trail which heads downhill from the parking lot. The scenery was spectacular and very unusual for most hikes in this part of the country. Also, black bears call the Monongahela National Forest home. Altogether, the lollipop gains an accumulative 2,434 feet of elevation and reaches a max height of 4,170 feet above sea level. Trail Type: One Way Loop Out & Back. Just as with all of the other hiking tips I have given to you, the first … Join us we explore the trails of the Dolly Sods, Lions Head and some beautiful fall scenery. If you have a chance to visit Dolly Sods—do it! 2:41. Hiking Information Read this before hiking or backpacking with these maps. Turn right then pass a handful of boggy sections. June 19,2015. This is not a nice/easy hike in the woods kind of area this time of year. Along these last trails, the hike is away from water sources so water needs to last a little longer than in other parts of Dolly Sods, so be prepared and filter extra water if possible. 4:23. I'd recommend lion's head or forks of red creek. The visual rewards of this itinerary were huge, given the broad environmental diversity that’s experienced on the trip. Temperature will probably be low 30s at night this time of the year, and the creek crossings shouldn't be bad this time of the year (just your shoes might get wet). Hazards: Snakes Poison Ivy/Oak Rockfall. The lofty elevation, much of it at nearly 4,000 feet, affords awe-inspiring views. At the intersection for Upper Red Creek go left. Not sure the sods are what I'd recommend for an easy and simple first backcountry trip, but if you're set on taking the weekend to see the sods here is my advice. Backpacking, Hiking. The weather report was calling for it to be a wet, nasty, cold day Saturday, so we were hoping to beat the weather. 1 Timing is Everything. The Dolly Sods Wilderness is located in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. Now that you’re scared that bears with bombs in their mouths are coming to trade you explosions for food, I will assure that backpacking in the Dolly Sods is great, every bend and turn. Note that none of the trails in the Dolly Sods area are blazed, however they are well marked with signage. The rain started up one day and we scrambled to set up our tarps, but it never got too heavy Oct 8, 2013 - Place of beauty and wonder. It is located a short drive from Blackwater Falls State Park, so if you are in the area be sure to set some time aside for visiting Dolly Sods. 2:36. From the parking area, it’s a 0.3 mile walk to Dolly Sods. The trail begins off Fire Road 19, just past the Dolly Sods picnic area. If you do this loop, turn at junctures with distinct signs, which are all clearly labeled with the walkway names. The owner of the Purple Fiddle spent his weekend hiking around Bear Rocks. You can also find info and possible routes from Mid-Atlantic Hikes, such as this great 24-mile circumnavigation. There are a lot of great sites in the area. Hiking backpacking - Food packing tips for hiking and backpacking. During World War II, the zone was used for artillery and mortar training. Mile 0.0 – From the parking area on FR75 pass the trailhead sign and start down the Bear Rocks Trail TR522. I also play radio at home and have racked up about 60 countries and 49 states so far. Morning Nature Hike at Dolly Sods Wilderness. Located in Grant, Randolph and Tucker Counties, West Virginia, the Dolly Sods Wilderness spans over 17,371 acres in the Monongahela National Forest. Trip report canaan valley dolly sods highlight hike to dolly sods canyon rim trail guide maps white gr ski « Home Dolly Sods Hiking Trails Map. For Backpackers who Hike with Camping Gear in their Backpack. With a little luck it is possible to cross on the new dams. Don’t expect anything fancy — there are about 10 sites, plus basic facilities like vault toilets. Deep Forest Journey - Dolly Sods Wilderness … Remember to bring a first aid kit. Pass through a small boggy section that transitions to a boardwalk. I was considering doing Dolly Sods this month, but if you look at the average temps for it they are a lot lower than what you'd expect in WV at this time of year. Hike for 1.31 miles on the Bear Rocks Trail. Elated to hear about my upcoming trip, my waitress at Hellbender Burritos was a local and had grown up backpacking all of the area’s loops. Our Maps Here you will find maps and commentary on the maps that we have produced Dolly Sods, (all updated October 2004) Including both the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area and the high plains north of the wilderness areas: the whole Dolly Sods area, I painted the original that this is based on from a picture I took while we were hiking in the Dolly Sods Wilderness an area in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, it's part of the Monongahela National Forest. I don't mind getting down and dirty, but obviously I want this to be a positive experience for all involved :). The plant life here resembles what one might find in Canada, with tie-dye patterns of lichen on ash-grey boulders and plants that aren’t otherwise found regionally. Some essential backpacking gear to consider bringing to Dolly Sods includes: Sturdy, waterproof hiking shoes Extra pairs of socks Follow the byway into thick forest and start looking for the Rhododendrons! Hike slowly and scan the shrubs ahead for the re-entry. The Dolly Sods Wilderness, which is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, contains much of the Red Creek drainage and contains heath and bog eco-types, more commonly typical to southern Canada. It's not a good idea to head into the wilderness with requirements like no strenuous hikes, no water crossing, no mud, etc. Otherwise Enjoy! Hiking in Dolly Sods Wilderness. If we go hiking, I’ll leave the truck radio on and carry the APRS handheld so we always know where we are relative to the campsite. While the Dolly Sods Wilderness can be accessed by a number of forest roads, most are unmaintained and gated during winter, making the Red Creek Trailhead (near Laneville) the best choice when snow starts to fall. I did the forks a month ago as my first ever backpacking trip and had a lot of fun, plenty of water, and definitely camp at the fork where the two creeks meet. After 2.4 miles, you'll meet up with Raven Ridge Trail. Dolly Sods 3 Day Backpack Trip. The Left Fork (of Red Creek) and Red Creek converge with small water chutes and pools for cooling off. We backpacked a 23 mile loop around the area in three days. 3) Bring a GPS if you do not know the area well. At the trailhead, a woman I met told me she was there to pay homage to her father, who had recently passed. In such few interactions, it became clear to me how special the Dolly Sods is to so many. The area also offered a Goldilocks amount of solitude. So if you're bringing a girlfriend and dog along they had better be ready for it, which quite frankly sounds as if they're not. I chose a 20-plus-mile balloon loop, which I started from Bear Rocks Trailhead, only .2-mile south of Bear Rocks overlook. I'll suggest the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy as a start. The weather? https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/west-virginia/dolly-sods-wilderness 3:03 . They have excellent maps and lots of information. Autumn Dolly Sods Bog. Check out these other GREAT youtube channels that i had the pleasure of hanging out with this weekend! My girlfriend enjoys nice scenery and photography and does not enjoy terribly strenuous hikes (e.g. Socks: Point6 Hiking Crew Trekking Density (2 pair) Gloves: Black Diamond Medium Density Liners + Manzella Ranch Hand Insulated Gloves; Trekking Poles: Leki Micro Vario Core-Tec (I highly suggest trekking poles for Dolly Sods’s terrain) Head Lamp: Black Diamond Spot (One of my favorite pieces of gear with 5000 miles and more than a year spent outdoors!) I have some time off next weekend (Oct 16-18) and would love to do some fall hiking/camping. Rohrbaugh and Wildlife Trail is a 8.8 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Dryfork, West Virginia that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. Dolly Sods is best experienced as a wilderness backpacking trip, which means strenuous hiking. This easy hike in the Dolly Sods Wilderness will take you to one of the best overlooks in the area. Backpackers should come prepared for all aspects of wilderness hiking and camping. Dolly Sods Full Loop is a 22.5 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Davis, West Virginia that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as difficult. Packs are heavy when you carry your sleeping bags and tent and food and all. This short lookout trail at the Dolly Sods Scenic Area is an easy 0.2 mile out-and-back walk to a quiet lookout point along FR-75, south of the Red Creek Campground. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. In October of 1943, the U.S. Army lobbed the first shell into the terrain that was chosen for how it resembled the European landscape that was soon to be invaded. Groups of more than ten are prohibited. Check out the Monongahela National Forest Hiking Guide by Allen de Hart and Bruce Sundquist for a thorough guide to the trails of Dolly Sods, as well as the rest of the area. Before getting a taste of hiking in the Dolly Sods Wilderness, I discovered how precious it is. → Related reading: Photography Guide to Blackwater Falls State Park 1) Saw a handful (5-7) of people. Before getting a taste of hiking in the Dolly Sods Wilderness, I discovered how precious it is. I planned to go when the leaves turned, and I decided to go yesterday. Nice camp spots are scattered among the woods on both sides of Red Creek—next time, I would prefer to start hiking earlier on day one with the intent of camping here. On the other hand, two guys I met from D.C. and their dogs took four leisurely days to explore the same loop. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the CampingandHiking community. A mix of singletrack, old logging roads, and railroad grades: the Dolly Sods’ marked paths meander between yellow birch and hemlock trees, goopy bogs, eye-stretching meadows, and cascading streams. Maybe look for something more chill (figuratively). The wilderness is directly ahead of you at the intersection with FR 75. Eventually, the growth opened up, briefly, for a stunning window of the mountains to the south. I dunno, the north side isn't too bad... Like around Lion's Head. Brook Huynh. Does anyone know of a nice loop that we could try that would fit this description? Having never set foot on this wild high plateau before, I planned for a general circumnavigation to see as much as possible. Hint: If you find yourself bushwhacking, you’ve gone the wrong way. In the end though you’ll be rewarded with some seriously amazing views!! Campfires are allowed, but not close to the road, unless you’re at the campground. The pass follows a ridge speckled with enormous conglomerate sandstone boulders and incredible views of the countryside to the west. Hiking off established trails is discouraged as some ordinance may exist that is un-exploded. The crown jewel for hiking in the Monongahela National Fore st, Dolly Sods Wilderness offers many hiking loops for backcountry camping, with stay limits ranging from one night to a week.There are no permits required. The route began with an easy gravel path. Here is the context: I will be traveling with my girlfriend and dog. The only thing you can count on with respect for weather is that it will get cold at night! I suggest car camping instead. Dolly Sods is a rocky, high-altitude plateau with sweeping vistas and lifeforms normally found much farther north in Canada.To the north, the distinctive landscape of "the Sods" is characterized by stunted ("flagged") trees, wind-carved boulders, heath barrens, grassy meadows created in the last century by logging and fires, and sphagnum bogs that are much older. While the hiking in Dolly Sods is awesome, you will see some signs that the area was used in WW2 as an artillery range. Last time I was there the north east section was very muddy! (It was low 40s when I was there last July!). The most scenic overlooks in Dolly Sods are going to require some serious hiking, not for the faint of heart. And DS is famous for it's wet and muddy conditions, plus terrible weather with wind/rain, and even snow not being unheard of this early in the year. Ultimately, I craved a window to the stars, so I walked further. The Wildlife Trail (TR-560) at Dolly Sods Wilderness in West Virginia is an easy 3 mile out-and-back hike that connects FR-75 to the Rohrbaugh Plains Trail (TR-508). Scenes from Dolly Sods Wilderness - Campfire Breakfast music. While hiking in Canaan Valley State Park toward the end of the season, it occurred to me that many that are not familiar with vacationing in the fall in West Virginia. Here’s a quick list of tips to keep in mind if you’re thinking about a fall vacation in West Virginia. Get Backpacker Pass for only $15. That was just over halfway along trail 511 which is 4.7 miles long, so we figured hiking to Blackbird Knob and back would be a five mile hike or so. At mile 18.8, the passage reconnects at an earlier intersection from the day before: Bear Rocks Trail, which is retraceable back to the launch ground. Rocky Ridge Trail connects with several other Dolly Sods hikes, including Blackbird Knob Trail and Harman Trail. For more information, see Dolly Sods Wilderness Brochure, Trail Map and Expansion Map. News from Dolly Sods Mapping June 2012 -- Upper Red Creek Trail and Beaver Dams: the trail at the junction with the Dobbin Grade Trail is covered by large beaver ponds. From the Dolly Sods’ high plateau and wind-stunted red spruce, Bear Rocks Trail descends gradually to bogs and a crossing at Red Creek. Travel. The meadows were full of ripe blueberries and wildflowers. Stroll across the top of Harman Mountain—keep your eyes open for an epic lookout / campsite around mile 6, on the crown—then gradually descend. The lot is big enough for about 6-8 vehicles. I’ve also primitive/backcountry camped (especially growing up), but not with any regularity, and not for years since having our son. They can become very tricky (and even dangerous) if it rains- especially the crossings on Red Creek in the southern portion of the Wilderness Area. Be sure to hang a food cache at night including hygienic products, too. The rocky promontory of Bear Rocks—technically owned by The Nature Conservancy—is the easiest and most accessible way to visit of the tundra highlands zone of the Dolly Sods region. Here are some tips on how to use your Listing Page to attract more travelers to your business - Dolly Sods. Dolly Sods Laurels. When I turned left on Rocky Point Trail, at mile 10.4, the route entered a thick forest and became (and remained) very rocky as it curved around Breathed Mountain. Back on Bear Rocks, the trail crosses the creek again for more water availability, and there are also a number of great campsites available. The trail is considered easy to intermediate. Let me know if you have any other specific questions. At mile 2.4, I veered right at Raven Ridge Trail, which rolls over an expansive meadow, into a forested area, and connects with Rocky Ridge Trail at 3.8 miles.