Hiking

Allegheny Trail

Lace up your hiking boots and tackle West Virginia’s longest hiking trail — the Allegheny Trail (ALT). Created in 1974 and maintained by the West Virginia Scenic Trails Association, this 311-mile route stretches from the Mason-Dixon Line on the Pennsylvania border to its southern point at Peters Mountain on the Virginia border, where it meets the Appalachian Trail. Pocahontas County is proud to be home to an 86-mile stretch of this iconic trail, winding through Durbin, Marlinton, Cass, Seneca State Forest, Calvin Price State Forest, a portion of Watoga State Park and even along the ridge of the Green Bank Observatory.

Plan Your Hiking Adventure Now

Request a free Adventure Guide to get started planning your hiking trip to Nature’s Mountain Playground.

Monongahela National Forest

The Monongahela National Forest is home to a vast network of trails catering to adventurers of all abilities — from day hikers to backpackers and backcountry campers. Pocahontas County, encompassing a third of the entire forest, is a prime destination for hikers. From gentle strolls through restored meadows to challenging climbs with dramatic elevation changes, explore the diverse landscapes of the Monongahela National Forest.

Hike Through The Seasons

Hiking in Pocahontas County is a year-round activity, with each season offering its own unique experience. Spring is ideal for pairing a hike with a paddle trip along the Greenbrier River. In summer, wildflowers and rhododendrons add bursts of color to the landscape, usually peaking in late June to early July. Fall transforms the trails into a canvas of bold autumn color, while winter brings quiet solitude — perfect for snowshoeing or cross-country skiing through snow-covered forests.

Hiking Trails in Pocahontas County

Plan, explore and conquer legendary hikes with the interactive hiking trail map below. Find the perfect trail for your experience level, challenge yourself with new terrain and discover hidden wonders. To view the hiking trails, toggle “Basemap” to “Trailforks Topo (ft)” and “Activity Type” to “Hike” in the menu settings at the top of the map.

Pocahontas County mountain biking trails Pocahontas County on Trailforks.com

Pocahontas County Hiking Guide

Pocahontas County offers hundreds of miles of hiking trails for every experience level. Families can enjoy easy, kid-friendly options like Honeycomb Rocks along the Highland Scenic Highway or the Watoga Lake Trail at Watoga State Park. For those looking for longer adventures, hike to the Fire Tower at Snowshoe Mountain Resort or try the iconic High Rocks Trail in the Monongahela National Forest. Backpackers and thru-hikers will find more rugged terrain on the Allegheny Trail, through the Cranberry Wilderness or along the Greenbrier River Trail. Read our full hiking guide to find your next trail. 

Prepare For Your Hike 

Stop by the Pocahontas County Visitor Center or any of our five satellite locations to pick up trail maps. As always, we ask that all hikers follow the Leave No Trace Seven Principles to help preserve the beauty of our trails. Before hitting the trails, we encourage all Pocahontas County visitors to sign up for local emergency alerts by texting “Join911alerts” to 31002. 

Volunteer Trail Opportunities

Give back to the trails you love! Several groups help maintain and improve Pocahontas County’s trail systems, including West Virginia Scenic Trails Association, Pocahontas Trails, Watoga State Park Foundation, and volunteer crews with the Monongahela National Forest, Snowshoe Mountain Resort and the Greenbrier River Trail.

More Hiking

Map out your next hike! Browse the list of trails that wind through Pocahontas County below. Need gear, shuttles or rentals to complete your adventure? Click here to find everything you need for a successful hike!

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