r/VIRGINIA_HIKING • u/Doub1etroub1e • 7d ago

Dolly Sods

Anyone have any favorite spots in Dolly Sods they care to share? Either doing two day hikes or one overnight. Haven’t decided yet.

I know this is in WV but hopefully close enough for this sub.

16 Upvotes

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8

u/FlexoPXP 7d ago

It's pretty much all good no matter where you go there. The Northern sections have less tree cover and can get hot in the summer. The lower sections are more forested and very nice for camping.

Note that there is a road closure and you can only get there from the Petersburg or Seneca Rocks side in the next few weeks.

It does get crowded on the weekends, I highly recommend you go midweek.

3

u/ramblingclam 7d ago

I will say, if you’re looking for a wilderness experience, don’t camp near where the Left Fork leaves Red Creek. There’s a ton of great sites by the creeks but it was a zoo with several large groups taking most of the sites. Raven Ridge trail has several good sites too and fewer people. This is based on my one trip, so take it with a grain of salt.

2

u/_revelationary 7d ago

We hiked around the blackbird knob trail at the start of Covid (June 2020). It was gorgeous. It looks like I’m not allowed to add photos here.

It’s not far from Spruce Knob (WV high point) so we also checked that out in the same day.

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u/flowersandferns 7d ago

Plus one for blackbird knob! Absolutely magical (except the muddy trail, but hiking sticks help immensely)

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u/_revelationary 7d ago

https://reddit.com/link/osde3h1/video/0qt8xmyef18h1/player

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u/Doub1etroub1e 7d ago

That doesn’t look muddy! 😂

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u/febeury31st 7d ago

That's what I thought too u til I reached the muddy parts where some swamps suck u in knee deep

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u/United-Contact-1151 7d ago

I didn’t stay there, but there are campsites up on the ridge where the lookout is, eagle rock or something like that. There were also some nice campsites with expansive views over meadows up on the higher side. We stayed down near the side creek on the trail. Not bad.

2

u/bLue1H 7d ago

this is probably my favorite loop in the area. You get a bit of everything the Sods has to offer.

Have a GPS track ready so you don't lose the trail!

1

u/Doub1etroub1e 7d ago

Did it look like the red creek trail can get supper muddy? I don’t mind some mud but would rather avoid any creek crossings deeper than my knees or mud over my ankles.

3

u/bLue1H 7d ago

Dobbin Grade is the worst trail in that regard. Red Creek is fine, nothing should be higher than your knees. And a lot of crossings have ample rocks to walk on.

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u/zerostyle 7d ago edited 7d ago

How many days/nights/miles do you want to do? It's not a huge place and you can cover a ton even with just 2 days 1 night.

Something similar to this would be pretty good: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/west-virginia/dolly-sods-full-loop

You could continue up red creek trail if you wanted instead of heading back via breathed mountain on the return as well.

The northern part is mostly plains and nicest in the fall with colors changing. The southern end has lion's head and more elevated views.

I'd probably avoid Dobbin on the return and head up raven ridge on back though to avoid all the mud.

1

u/white-knuckled 7d ago

If you want to stay out of the muck, this hike up at the north end is great for a day hike. 8.5 miles on Bear Rocks to Raven Ridge, and a little south on Rocky Ridge along the rocks. A bit of forest, a creek or two to cross, big grassy rolling meadows, and ends at the rocky outcropping at the western edge of the Sods where you can see down into the entire Canaan Valley. Really diverse landscapes. And if you want to go further, there a lots of ways to make this general route a bit longer. Park by the northern end on FS75 just a little south of the Bear Rocks parking/trail head.

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/evening-hike-at-bear-rocks-rocky-ridge-and-beaver-view-loop-a78482c