WEST VIRGINIA

Any checklist of hiking destinations in West Virginia need not make any concessions for dogs not being allowed on the trail. West Virginia comes by its nickname the “Mountain State” honestly - it is nestled completely within the Appalachians and its average elevation of 1,655 feet is higher than any state in the East. Yet it is not all mountain climbing and peak bagging for your dog here. The Dolly Sods Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest - one of three in a state that is 78% tree-covered - is a boggy meadow that seems like it went AWOL from Canada. Your dog can scale the craggy quartzite state icon that is the 900-foot Seneca Rocks and descend to the bottom of New Gorge in America’s newest national park. Thomas Jefferson hailed the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers at Harper’s Ferry as "one of the most stupendous scenes in Nature" worthy of a trip across the Atlantic Ocean just to see. Your dog doesn’t have to make that kind of effort to reach one of the best places to combine hiking with your dog and a history lesson. Heck, your dog is more likely to come home with stories of the West Virginia wildflowers than the mountain views.

The Best Day Hike You Can Take With Your Dog In West Virginia

Seneca Rocks Trail
Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area • Seneca Rocks

Legend has it that the spectacular crags of white/gray quartzite that soar 900 feet above the flat valley of the North Fork of the Potomac River were the childhood playground of Snowbird, beautiful daughter of Seneca Indian chief Bald Eagle. To determine the warrior who would win her hand in marriage she staged a contest to seewho could scale the magnificent cliff.

The first documented roped ascent of the Seneca Rocks, however, took place in 1935. Today there are nearly 400 mapped climbing routes on the rocks. In 1969 the federal government purchased the West Virginia landmark and pieced together the national recreation area with Spruce Knob (the nearby roof of West Virginia) within the Monongahela National Forest.

Seaman can forego the spring-loaded cams, nuts, and quick draws to get to the top of the Seneca Rocks unaided on foot. A 1.3-mile hard-packed trail ascends the north edge of the rock formation to reach a wooden viewing platform. There are enough switchbacks and steps to enable any dog to conquer the Mountain State’s most recognizable landmark.

Sure-footed dogs can climb a bit further up bare rock to notches at the very top of the formation for views of the Allegheny Mountains to the west. One view you will most certainly haveis of your vehicle down below in the parking lot.

HIKING TIME: 1-2 hours

(from the book 300 Day Hikes To Take With Your Dog Before He Tires You Out: Trails where you won’t be able to wipe the wag off your dog’s tail)