Hiking in Dolly Sods Wilderness

Dolly Sods Wilderness is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System in the Monongahela National Forest. It is located in the West Virginia counties of Grant, Randolph and Tucker. It can be difficult to find campsites in the more crowded areas (Red Creek Forks, Fisher Spring Junction, and Red Creek) but finding a campsite in the other areas is not too difficult as long as you stop earlier rather than later. 

Finding water sources to filter in the lower part of Dolly Sods isn't a problem, but if you go to the northern part, be sure to pack in at least four liters because after you first cross Red Creek from Bear Rocks, if you go all the way west, you won't get water again until you reach the Lower Sods. The Forest Service provides some excellent topo maps of this area and I recommend that you come here with the knowledge of how to read and use a compass. This area is really remote, not for a camper for beginners. 

To get there: 

Take WV 28/55 south to Jordan Run Road from Petersburg. Turn right and take Forest Road 19 for 1 mile. Turn left and take FR 19 six miles to the Scenic Area of Dolly Sods. The wilderness is right in front of you at the FR 75 intersection. Turn right to the trailheads of Wildlife and Fisher Spring; turn left to the trailheads of Rohrbaugh and Red Creek. Take WV 32 south to Laneville Road (WV 45) from Canaan Valley. Turn left and walk approximately 6 miles to the Red Creek Bridge, where the road is now Forest Road 19. The Laneville wildlife management cabin is on the left of the Red Creek trailhead. Continue on FR 19 to the trailhead of Rohrbaugh and FR 75.