The Dolly Sods are indeed a great place to hike with waterfalls that you can
surf with your Thermorest, bogs and tundra with blueberries in season and
incredible rock formations, the most famous of which is called the Lion's Head.
It is a several hour drive from Pittsburgh and Washington DC meto areas, but
worth it.
Backpacking: Dolly Sods
LOCATION: Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, Monongahela National Park. The
nearest major city is Elkins, West Virginia.
DESCRIPTION: This three day, two night, 14.9-mile circuit hike provides the
hiker with a wonderful variety of activities including a rope swing into a
12-foot deep swimming hole, arctic-like tundra with blueberries in late summer
and incredible views from the top of Lion's Head, a massive outcrop of white
sandstone. Total elevation change is 1300 feet.
DIRECTIONS: From Northern Virginia, take I-66W to I-81S. After 3 mi, take
55W. Continue for 95 mi, passing through Wardensville, Baker, Moorefield, and
Petersburg. About 6 mi past Petersburg, turn right at the sign for Dolly Sods
onto the road marked WV7/28 (shown as Route 4 on some maps). In about 1 mi,
turn left onto FS19. This road climbs to FS75, turn left. Continue on FS75
until it crosses the bridge over Red Creek and make an immediate right into the
parking lot for the Laneville wildlife manager's cabin.
FOOD AND SUPPLIES: Front Royal has a McDonalds at Exit 6, Moorefield has a
Dairy Queen on 55 and a McDonalds on 220 just N of 55. Petersburg has a Pizza
Hut.
TRAIL DIRECTIONS: Take Red Creek Trail (TR514) northeast out of the parking
lot. There are several first night camp sites within the first 1.5 mi. On
the second day, continue along Red Creek Trail, some of which was washed out
during the 1985 flood. Cross the creek and follow the trail for 3.5 mi until it
intersects with Breathed Mountain Trail (TR553). Continue on the Red Creek
Trail for another .25 mi until you come to the Forks with its sandy beaches,
places to swim and a great spot for lunch. (To reach the rope swing, walk down
the Red Creek for about .1 mi). Go back to Breathed Mountain Trail and follow
it up to the open tundra area until it intersects with Big Stonecoal Trail
(TR513) in 2.5 mi. Follow the Big Stonecoal Trail for about 2 mi until you come
to excellent campsites in a pine stand along the creek. This used to be the
site of an old logging camp. On the third day, follow Big Stonecoal Trail for
1.1 mi until the intersection with Rocky Point Trail (TR554). Hide your packs
unless you want to take them to the top of Rocky Point. Follow the Rocky
Point Trail until you see very faint signs of a trail leading up to Rocky Point
on the left. It is all bushwacking to the top, but it is worth the magnificent
views of the Red Creek Canyon. Head back to the Big Stonecoal Trail and
follow it down to the crossing of Red Creek in 1.3 mi. Follow the Red Creek Trail
(TR514) 1.5 mi to the parking lot.
MAPS: West Virginia quads for Hopeville, Laneville, Blackbird Knob and
Blackwater Falls. Because the trails are not very well marked, maps are an
absolute necessity.
GUIDEBOOKS: Monongahela National Forest Hiking Guide by Bruce Sundquist,
1988, pp. 164-181, available from EMS, HTO OR REI.
CONTACTS: District Ranger, Potomac Ranger District, U.S. Forest Service,
Rt. 3, Box 240, Petersburg, WV 26847, (304) 257-4488.
SUBMITTED 12/94 by Cooper Wright, C-1519, 226 Falmouth Street, Warrenton, VA.
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Received on Tue Jan 4 11:55:09 2005
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