Morgantown: Ridge Trail Loop
This mellow 4-mile hike tours the rolling hills and lush, wildlife-filled wetlands that make up scenic Canaan Valley State Park.
| NATIONAL PARKS QUICKLINKS |
West Virginia featured hikes / reader trips
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Morgantown: Otter Creek TrailChug 6.2 miles along an old railroad scar and a lively creek to a wetland glade bustling with wildlife and birds in Monongahela National Forest. Appalachian Trail: Snickers Gap to Keys GapPass the 1,000-mile-marker on the AT (for northbound hikers) on this 13.4-mile trip to Raven Rocks promising breathtaking views of Shenandoah Valley. Don't miss the bench swing at David Lesser Shelter. Harpers Ferry: Loudoun Heights via the ATHop a train for a weekend on Blue Ridge trails near the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
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Washington, DC: Big SchlossA 19.5-mile loop through George Washington National Forest, this two-day trip treks through brilliant foliage to a towering outcrop of Tuscarora sandstone. Heavener's Orchard TrailA 3.07 mile trail located in Stonewall Jackson State Park in West Virginia. This is an easy two hour hike through a combination of lush forest and open meadows. The scenery is beautiful.
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Hike It, Save It: Seneca Creek, West VirginiaA two-day, 17-mile zigzag along blueberry-lined mountain ridges will give you a dose of the 24,000-acre "Crown Jewel of the Monongahela," threatened by oil and gas drilling. 
Backpack West Virginia's Cranberry WildernessDiscover a slice of rare Eastern wild country in West Virginia, where Canadian taiga meets Southern forests. |
High Points: Spruce Knob, West VirginiaWatch out for rough weather and serpentine-like roads as you drive up to this highpoint. Best Backpacking In West VirginiaOur comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in West Virginia. Eye To Eye With RaptorsEyeball to beak with impressively taloned hawks in West Virginia's Monongahela National Forest. |
AT Nature Photo GalleryWildflowers, bugs, and other nature photographs shot by our map correspondent on the AT © Jeff Chow 
AT Shelter Photo GalleryA few of the shelters and lean-tos found along the length of the Appalachian Trail © Jeff Chow 
AT Panoramic Photo GalleryA collection of five-star overlooks along the Appalachian Trail © Jeff Chow |
AT Interview: Correspondent Jeff ChowJeff Chow spent 10 months mapping every mile of the AT for BACKPACKER. Learn about his favorite spots and hard-earned tips here. |
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Gear Lab: Boots Torture TestCan any hiking boot survive 15 minutes in a cement mixer filled with rocks, sticks, dirt, and bricks? Gear Lab aims to find out. |
Gear Lab: Tents Torture TestWho wants a mountain tent that buckles under pressure? Not us--so we blasted four top tents with a carwash pressure washer to see which one comes out on top. |
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Adventure Weekends: Luxury Hiking and Camping
We've got a selection of cozy shelters and trail-side restaurants from Washington to Maine. Check out these hikes in the Rockies, the Northeast, and the Northwest.
Hiking The Annapurna Circuit: Q&A With Shannon Davis
Associate editor Shannon Davis tells us more about the highs and lows of his honeymoon trek (featured in March 2009's "The Perfect Circle") on the sky-scraping Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.
American Classic: Hiking the Appalachian Trail
In this ultimate guide to the country's favorite footpath, you'll find our picks for the best hiking and camping, and a complete plan for thru-hikers. Plus, meet a man who has made it his job to help AT hikers.
Mt. Adams: Solitude On Ice
Test your self-arrest skills on Mt. Adams's 12,276-foot fractured glacier.
Hiking Hip Deep in Florida's Swamps
Get your feet (and more) wet on the Florida Trail's best section.
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