Overview
The Monongahela National Forest is in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. There are campgrounds, picnic areas, and over 800 mi of hiking trails, in addition to mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, boating, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, hunting, and fishing.
4 sights · 1 things to do
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Monongahela National Forest
Blackwater Falls State Park
This park is part of the Monongahela National Forest and features Blackwater Falls, but has two other waterfalls (Elakala and Pendelton), 20 miles of hiking trails, 10 miles of cross country skiing trails, and trout fish…
Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Canaan Valley NWR provides a Canadian/Maine like wetland environment in the mountains of West Virginia. The large open wetlands and the great mountains of West Virginia provide for great views. Activities such as hiking,…
Spruce Knob
The highest point in West Virginia, at 4,861 feet. A stone and steel observation tower provides 360-degree views, and there's a half-mile trail circling the Knob. If there is favorable weather (no snow), the observation …
Seneca Rocks
900-foot-tall formations made of Tuscarora quartzite with over 375 mapped climbing routes and a self-guided interpretive trail with a viewing platform.
Seneca Rocks Climbing School
For those interested in reaching the South Peak of Seneca Rocks, Seneca Rocks Climbing School (SRCS) offers guided rock climbing and instruction for everyone from complete beginner to expert. SRCS has been guiding climbe…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 70°F; winter lows dip to about 14°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Dec and Jan. (climate data from nearby Snowshoe)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CKB North Central West Virginia Airport, Bridgeport — 33 mi away. Directions
- MGW Morgantown Municipal Airport Walter L. (Bill) Hart Field, Morgantown — 49 mi away. Directions
- PIT Pittsburgh International Airport, Pittsburgh — 110 mi away (major hub). Directions
The MNF is about an hour east of Elkins. Take US-33 West.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Seneca Rocks Climbing School, Blackwater Falls State Park, Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
- Afternoon Spruce Knob, Seneca Rocks
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
The Monongahela National Forest covers an enormous area; therefore any list of restaurants serving the MNF will include food from numerous locations. Outdoor enthusiasts visiting the Smokehole Caverns (north-west section of the MNF) will find sustenance nearby in Petersburg, while hikers or hunters in the northern most reaches of the park will find great dining options in Thomas or Davis.
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
The MNF is more than 900,000 acres and encompasses several wilderness areas, including Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob. Within the forest are many small communities that have limited lodging, restaurants and small shops. Before hiking, camping, fishing, etc., be sure you are not trespassing on private land.
History
Landscape
Flora and fauna
Climate
Get in
The MNF is about an hour east of Elkins. Take US-33 West.
See
See Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Canaan Valley NWR provides a Canadian/Maine like wetland environment in the mountains of West Virginia. The large open wetlands and the great mountains of West Virginia provide for great views. Activities such as hiking, biking, cross country skiing, horseback riding, hunting, and fishing are allowed. Wildlife observation and photography are encouraged. The Refuge Headquarters and Visitors Center is on Route 32 south of Davis, WV.
See Spruce Knob
The highest point in West Virginia, at 4,861 feet. A stone and steel observation tower provides 360-degree views, and there's a half-mile trail circling the Knob. If there is favorable weather (no snow), the observation tower is a relatively easy 20-25 minute drive up a paved roadway. If the short trail around the observation tower isn't enough, the Huckleberry Trail leaves from the parking lot and travels 6 miles along a rocky trail to Seneca Creek. Fishing, hiking and an on-site campground with 43 sites can also be found in the Spruce Knob recreation area.
See Seneca Rocks
900-foot-tall formations made of Tuscarora quartzite with over 375 mapped climbing routes and a self-guided interpretive trail with a viewing platform.
Do
Buy
Shop The Gendarme
If you're a climber visiting Seneca Rocks, The Gendarme gear shop has everything a climber might need, from ropes to helmets and from headlamps to coffee.
Eat
The Monongahela National Forest covers an enormous area; therefore any list of restaurants serving the MNF will include food from numerous locations. Outdoor enthusiasts visiting the Smokehole Caverns (north-west section of the MNF) will find sustenance nearby in Petersburg, while hikers or hunters in the northern most reaches of the park will find great dining options in Thomas or Davis.
Sleep
Lodging
Camping
There are more than 20 campgrounds in the MNF. Accessibility of campgrounds varies.
Backcountry
Backcountry camping is allowed in most areas, provided you stay so far off the road and leave-no-trace.
Go next
Understand that given the large size of the Monongahela National Forest a short get away in one location may be pretty far from another location. Therefore, giving directions are tough and distinguishing approximate drive times would be inaccurate. Here are some relatively close destinations. Check elsewhere for more detailed drive directions and drive times.
- Harrisonburg, Virginia is east of the MNF, and home to James Madison University.
- Beckley, West Virginia is south-west of the MNF and has an exhibition coal mine where visitors have the opportunity to experience the life of a turn of a century miner.
- Charleston, West Virginia is also south-west of the MNF, and the capital of the Mountain State.
- Roanoke, Virginia, called the Star City of the South, is south of the MNF, not too far into Virginia.
- Morgantown, West Virginia, is north-west of the MNF, and home to WVU and the Mountaineers.
- Cumberland, Maryland, is north-east of the MNF, and is where the Great Allegany Passage and C & O Towpath trails meet.
Nearby
Elkins
City / town · 25 listings · 1 mi away
Buckhannon
City / town · 12 listings · 21 mi away
Helvetia
City / town · 11 listings · 24 mi away
Davis
City / town · 32 listings · 25 mi away
Grafton
City / town · 9 listings · 30 mi away
Bridgeport
City / town · 1 listings · 33 mi away
Franklin
City / town · 1 listings · 34 mi away
Weston
City / town · 15 listings · 34 mi away
My experience
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