Dolly Sods Wilderness

"Absolutely stunning! It reminded us of Nova Scotia. It had very similar plants, trees, and landscape. We took the Bear Rocks trail. In and out it was about 6 miles, but a fairly easy 6 miles. There was some elevation change, but manageable. Make sure you wear layers (shade and sun make temps fluctuate) and hiking boots because there are a lot of muddy spots (you have to cross a small river). We went mid October."

"Went there today around 11am. It was quite busy, especially at the Bears Preserve. We didn’t do any major hikes, only the Bear Rocks Trail. Apparently, this was the most popular one too today. The fall colors were at peak at the Dolly Sods and on the road to Dolly Sods."

"I’ve wanted to capture sunrise at Bear Rock Preserve, which is located on the north end of Dolly Sods for about a year now. The challenge is we live a couple of hours away. Getting up before the crack of dawn and driving 2 hours wasn’t something I was eager to do. As a result, I kept putting it off. When my sister-in-law and I decided to meet up at Dolly Sods a couple of weeks ago, I decided to bite the bullet and arrive early to catch the sunrise. Dolly Sods is known for its berry bushes that turn a flaming red during the fall season. There were patches of red everywhere in October. You never know what colors and textures you will see while hiking trails at Dolly Sods. Wind blown trees layered with the cinnamon ferns was quite the combination. One minute you are walking through colorful scenery at Dolly Sods while the next you are surrounded by evergreens. Each time you go to the Dolly Sods area, you see something new. With miles and miles of trails, every visit is a new adventure. Parking can be a challenging if going during tourist season. It is particularly busy during the fall foliage season. My recommendation is to go early and you should be fine."

"This is the most beautiful place in the state of WV to visit. The best time to go is on a weekday when it is off season. And get there early. Such a perfect place on this earth to explore. This is truly the type of place that makes WV so beautiful. Wonderful camping spots & wonderful views. Very relaxing."

"Literally the most beautiful backpacking I have ever done. The views are incredible, and it's just unique scenery the whole way. The history of the place is equally interesting, and the risk of stepping on a live explosive adds to the fun!"