For directions, please visit the USDA Forest Service site. The Dolly Sods Wilderness is a location in the Mire region of Appalachia. 3 Days of Fall Camping, Hiking and Backpacking in Dolly Sods, West Virginia. The Dobbin Grade Trail within the Dolly Sods Wilderness at the Monongahela National Forest is an easy 4.5 mile one-way trail that connects the Bear Rocks Trail to the Rocky Ridge Trail and cuts across almost the entirety of the Sods. #2 - Bear Rocks Trail to Raven Ridge Trail and Dobbin Grade Trail, #3 - Coal Knob and Breathed Mountain Loop via Bear Rocks Trail, #4 - Red Creek Trail to Lion's Head Rocks. This area features unique scenery and unusual plant … As a Wilderness area overnight camping comes with special regulations. The trail is hard to find so look for the cairns and the rocks to guide you directly up the hill. Find a Free Campsite. To the west are the Alleghany Mountains, their blue-grey mass rising up like waves on the ocean. ... Wiliam C. Whitney Wilderness canoe camping (Adirondacks) On The Water: 9: Jun 17, 2020: J: Grenadier Range, San Juan Mtns. Along with the Roaring Plains Wilderness and Flatrock Plains area immediately to its south, Dolly Sods is the highest-elevation plateau in the eastern United States. report. The Dolly Sods Wilderness contains much of the Red Creek drainage and contains bog and heath eco-types, more commonly typical to southern Canada. Unlike anywhere else in West Virginia, the Dolly Sods Wilderness and surrounding areas of the Monongahela National Forest offer a landscape that you can see across for long distances without the help of an elevated vantage point. Whether you choose to hike this loop in a day or camp overnight, the 11.9 miles that gains 1,050 feet over gradual terrain serves as a wonderful introduction to hiking in the region. The original Dolly Sods was a mountaintop meadow of about 650 acres (3 km 2) at the southern end of Rohrbaugh Plains, near the present Dolly Sods Picnic Area. As a wilderness, trails aren't blazed but there are signs at intersections and it's pretty easy to follow. Close. The Dolly Sods Wilderness is accessible year-round, but forest roads are not maintained during winter. Logic says stay within 500 feet of the trails because that is the range that was cleared by professional crews of live ordinances back in the 1990's. A stone’s throw from the campground is Dolly Sods Wilderness which offers a unique wilderness hiking opportunity for those looking for adventure. During busy times of visitation to the area, driving an RV or hauling a trailer can pose a challenge on the road to access the campground due to high traffic levels on the narrow roadway. 71. Please refer to the US Forest Services guidelines before … Dolly Sods, Blackwater Falls State Park, Canaan Valley near Davis, WV. Gain: Parking: 6.0 hours plus a half hour for lunch 1,050 ft There is a large parking area on FR75 just before the descent, park 200 yards to the south on FR75 opposite the trail head. 39.06352, -79.30326 Winter Camping the Dolly Sods Wilderness – 3 Day Backpacking Trip. 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. Arguably one of the most unique, and beautiful hiking areas on the East Coast. Sort by. Generally the ascents/descents are not difficulty as they are mixed in and not very long, but the terrain takes a little skill and focus. Dolly Sods Wilderness - West Virginia. More than 47 miles of hiking trails, some trail-to-rail and old logging roads, make the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area a fascinating place for hiking. There are several camp spots on the both sides on the road after about 5-6 miles fallowing a gravel road. stayed on the trail as far as we could without crossing. You can spread this hike over 2 nights and 2.5 days which gives you a nice leisurely pace and the ability to make camp early so you can explore without your packs. With grassy meadows, giant boulders leading to sweeping vistas of the Allegheny Mountains, heaps of rhododendron in the springtime, crystal clear rivers and streams, and winding paths through the Monongahela National Forest, Dolly Sods Wilderness is, in my opinion, a true gem of a hiker's paradise on the East Coast. Share. Elevations range … A stone’s throw from the campground is Dolly Sods Wilderness which offers a unique wilderness hiking opportunity for those looking for adventure. Dolly sods wilderness, WV. It’s on the eastern side of the park, a bit south of the beautiful Bear Rocks overlook and right near the Red Creek trail head. In 1975, the Congress designated the area as protected wilderness, which is now comprised of more than 17,700 acres and 47 miles of trails. Expect significant grades and unimproved trails. The climate and plant life here resembles Northern Canada. Follow FR 19 for 6 miles and turn right onto Forest Road 75. Don’t expect anything fancy — there are about 10 sites, plus basic facilities like vault toilets. Description: The Dolly Sods Wilderness is one of the crown jewels of the Monongahela National Forest. Davis, WV Dolly Sods Circumnavigation 25.9 mi 41.7 km. The Dolly Sods had been his favorite place and where he’d always returned. An amazing weekend outing that's only a 3-hour drive from the greater Washington, D.C. metro area, the Dolly Sods North Loop is a must-do for anyone in the Mid-Atlantic. Trails do not have blazes, cairns are very limited and inconsistent. As a Wilderness area overnight camping comes with special regulations. Abundant access to water. When you start off on Bear Rocks Trail it will wide open fields where you can see the mountains and beautiful trees and plains around you at 4,000+ feet. Backpacking Gear for Dolly Sods. Be aware that there are quite a few river/stream crossings and muddy sections, so be prepared with extra socks and perhaps some water shoes. December 28, 2018 / Justin Lightcap. hide. Dolly Sods, Blackwater Falls State Park, Canaan Valley near Davis, WV. You can find water pretty much anywhere water/river/stream is marked. Elevations range … Last update on Mar 28, 2017 We were driving on route 93 South when we saw a sign for Dolly Sods Wilderness. This route is rough in many ways. To the east is the rugged West Virginia. Although there’s plenty of campsites already set up throughout the Sods made by backpackers, meaning you’ll find some land cleared for the tent, a fire pit, and some even have chairs made of stone as well. Explore the most popular camping trails in Dolly Sods Wilderness with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. If you look closely you will see a trail you can take. 39.06352, -79.30326. The Dolly Sods Wilderness contains much of the Red Creek drainage and contains bog and heath eco-types, more commonly typical to southern Canada. Located approximately 20 miles northwest from Petersburg, West Virginia and 24 miles north of Seneca Rocks. For this adventure, we’ll be exploring a very unique area of West Virginia – the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area. Red Creek. It is located in Grant, Randolph and Tucker Counties, West Virginia. Search. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, tent pad, and lantern holder. Flowering laurel, rhododendron and azaleas highlight this area from May through June. Dolly Sods Wilderness. With its sandstone cliffs, red spruce trees and grass-filled meadows, the high-altitude plateau known as Dolly Sods is a backpacking beauty for the books. Map Information. Dolly Sods is a 17,371 acre US Wilderness Area located in the Monongahela National Forest, which encompasses, in part, the Allegheny Plateau, the Cumberland Mountains, and the Cumberland Plateau (which encompasses Dolly Sods specifically) of the central Appalachian Mountain Range.Dolly Sods is part of the Potomac Highlands region of Eastern West Virginia, bordering Virginia and Maryland. There is no entrance fee. The first is on forest road 19 and the second is forest road 75. Group size is limited to 10 people. "Scenic" does not adequately describe the area. Backpackers should come prepared for all aspects of wilderness hiking and camping. Dolly Sods is a boggy/wetland area in some spots, so hikers should expect to encounter mud and water, and possibly the need to cross a stream. Dolly Sods Campground is a location in Fallout 76. RV's and trailers are allowed but space is limited. Elevations range from 2,500 to over 4,700 feet. The wind blows so much across the open, higher elevations of Dolly Sods Wilderness that it’s simply too harsh for trees to grow in normal shapes and sizes. The Dolly Sods Wilderness — originally simply Dolly Sods — is a U.S. Wilderness Area in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA, and is part of the Monongahela National Forest (MNF) of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).. Dolly Sods is a rocky, high-altitude plateau with sweeping vistas and lifeforms normally found much farther north in Canada. No dump station is available nor any electrical hookups. It has 47 miles of challenging wilderness trails to waterfalls, cascades, lush forests and eye-popping cliff top views that we have enjoyed over the decades. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Monongahela National Forest has announced that the closure of roads in the Dolly Sods Wilderness area will continue until further notice. 71 votes, 12 comments. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Monongahela National Forest has announced that the closure of roads in the Dolly Sods Wilderness area will continue until further notice. This crown jewel of the Monongahela National Forest offers 17,631 acres and nearly 50 miles of rugged trail to hikers, backpackers, and horseback riders. Dolly Sods North - Seneca Rocks, West Virginia. The Dolly Sods Wilderness of West Virginia has two distinct climate zones. Forest Service Home | USDA.gov | recreation.gov | Recreation Customer Service Standards | USA.gov | Whitehouse.gov, Plug-Ins | FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Important Notices | Information Quality, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recreation/natureviewing/recarea/?recid=7003&actid=63, Public Advised to Avoid Downed Power Lines Near Holcomb, Status of Cranberry Backcountry Road -- 05/06/2021, Forest Road 251 Open in Pocahontas County - Caution Advised, Caution Advised During Corridor H Project near Parsons. There’s one major campground in the center of the wilderness, and backcountry setups are an option as long as they are 300 feet from the forest roads. 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. The Dolly Sods Wilderness is a large wilderness by Mid-Atlantic standards at 17,371 acres. 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