Top Hikes to Take In the Mon Forest
The days of beautiful, crisp weather are quickly rounding the bases and running for home as winter rapidly approaches. The leaves of the Mon Forest are beginning their transition to brilliantly warm colors, just before seriously chilled winds carry them away. Though you can easily catch the changing of the seasons from the roadside, the locals would agree that the Cranberry Wilderness and Back Country are the best places to get lost in it all. Take advantage of the fleeting days of fall and romp across miles of trails in Webster County!
Some of our favorite trails, maintained by the Forest Service, are:
Adkins-Rockhouse Trail
North-South trail
Middle Fork trail
Most can easily be started by setting off from the parking area of the Wilderness, Bishop’s Knob Campgrounds, or off of WV 150.
As the name suggests, the Adkins-Rockhouse follows the branch aptly named, as do the trails with names implying direction in which they start and end. This trail runs about 2.2 miles long starting at Bishop’s Knob Campground and follows the Adkins Rockhouse branch to the Gauley River.
Starting along WV 150, the North-South Trail encompasses some of the best sights to be seen in the Cranberry Wilderness and Back County. Camping is plentiful; sites in secluded grassy meadows pop up within the first four miles. The North-South is found in both the Back Country and the Wilderness, largely following the ridge between the Williams and Cranberry River, beginning on WV150 (Highland Scenic Highway) and going West to the Cranberry Campground. This trail is 16 miles total with elevation ranging from 2500 ft to nearly 4500 ft over the course. You’ll also be able to find a wealth of variant trails intersecting, making it popular for a loop-like hike.
If you’re in no hurry, go on Middle Fork and scout for hidden campsites near Hell For Certain Branch, a steep mountain creek feeding the Williams River. The Hell For Certain Branch features some of the most pristine falls and prime watering holes, a perfect place to take in the last of the warm weather. While the trail head at Three Forks is currently inaccessible by vehicle due to the closing of a portion of the Williams River Road, the trailhead can be reached by parking at the downstream gate near White Oak Road and extending your hike about 3.5 miles along Williams River Road.
Whether you are just out for the day or you’re looking to set up camp and make your visit an extended stay, you’re sure to come across some of the best sights that the Mon Forest has to offer.
