Monongahela National Forest



The Monongahela National Forest is in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. There are campgrounds, picnic areas, and over of hiking trails, in addition to mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, boating, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, hunting, and fishing.

Connect
White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986, +1 304-536-2144
 * Monongahela National Forest, 200 Sycamore Street, +1 304-636-1800.
 * Seneca Rocks Discovery Center, Intersection of Route 33 and Route 55, +1 304-567-2827
 * Cheat Ranger District, On US Route 219 just east of Parsons, +1 304-478-3251
 * Gauley Ranger District, 932 North Fork Cherry Road Richwood, WV 26261, +1 304-846-2695
 * Greenbrier Ranger District, On Rt 92/250 just east of Bartow, +1 304-456-3335
 * Marlinton Ranger District, On Cemetery Road off Rt 39 at the eastern edge of Marlinton, +1 304-799-4334
 * Potomac Ranger District, 1.5 miles south of Petersburg off Rt. 28/55, +1 304-257-4488
 * White Sulphur Springs District, 410 E. Main Street


 * Cranberry Mountain Nature Center, At the intersection of Rt 39/55 and Rt 150, +1 304-653-4826

Understand
The MNF is more than 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.

Get in
The MNF is about an hour east of Elkins. Take US-33 West.

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.

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.