Ever go hiking in West Virginia? The North Fork Mountain Trail is an excellent choice. If you are coming from Northern Virginia. It’s about a 3 hour drive. For me, that is my limit for day hikes. However, it’s easy to do an overnight stay. There are lots of hiking, backpacking, and camping options in this area. Read on to find out more.
The North Fork Mountain Trail Particulars
The North Fork Mountain Trail is technically about a 25 mile ridge hike. As a result, you can tailor your hike to whatever suites your desires. I hiked it as an out and back. It can be hiked as a shuttle if you have 2 cars. If you are ambitious, you could hike that in one long day or you could break it up into a backpacking trip.
The South End
The south end of the trail starts at the radio tower directly off route 33. This end starts on top of the mountain. Therefore, it is mostly flat, then starts a slight downhill for a few miles. We hiked in this end for about 5 miles. There are lots of beautiful views of the German Valley and plenty of solitude.
The North End
The north end of the trail starts off route 33 at Smoke Hole Road. The trailhead is only a short distance up Smoke Hole Road. This end of the trail starts with an incline until it reaches the ridge. There are several switch backs, so be prepared for a little workout.
The Overlooks - North Fork Mountain Trail
The North Fork Mountain Trail has numerous overlooks. The forest is beautiful. The footing is a mixture of rocks, dirt, and grass. You have to watch where you step, or the result could be a disaster. The trail clearly doesn’t get the traffic that most Virginia hikes get. As a result, if you are looking for solitude, then the Great North Mountain is the perfect choice.
Seneca Rocks
The trail is part of the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. It is located in the Monongahela National Forest. If you have never been to this forest, I highly suggest you visit. There are two main draws to the area; Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob, plus numerous other hikes. Seneca Rocks is a spectacular and easily accessible ridge of rock. Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia. Because it is a national recreation area, there is plenty of camping and lodging.