The high meadows of Dolly Sods North have some of the most spectacular scenery on the east coast. With beautiful valley views, and seemingly endless rolling
fern pastures, this is an area you'll want to come back to again and again. Part of the Monongahela National Forest, Dolly Sods is a taste of the Canadian high country right in our own back yard.
Trail Notes: The trails in Dolly Sods ARE NOT color blazed. We have them marked on the maps here in different colors for ease of identification only. Non solid dotted trails indicate secondary non-official hiking trails.
From the parking area head down the washed out Bear Rocks Trail TR-522 through a meadow, then climb over a small ridge before descending again to meet the Dobbin Grade Trail TR-526 in 1.1 miles. Continue straight across the Dobbin Grade Trail remaining on the Bear Rocks Trail. The trail is considerably narrower at this point. After passing through a meadow cross Red Creek and head uphill to the left, emerging from the trees and reaching a trail junction marked by a thin trail post.
Turn right at the trail post, pass through a small clearing, and enter a wooded area climbing the ridge. Emerge from the trees at one of the larger high mountain meadows. The trail heads down through a small valley before climbing another meadow and reaching the intersection of the Raven Ridge Trail TR-521.
Stay right uphill on the Raven Ridge Trail for 0.2 miles to the intersection of the Beaver View Trail TR-523. Stay right on the Raven Ridge Trail as it passes through an area of red spruce before arriving at a connecter trail on the left in another 0.4 miles. Continue straight on the Raven Ridge Trail, then turn left onto the Rocky Ridge Trail TR-524 in 0.8 miles. If you miss this trail junction in another 120 yards you will arrive at a three way intersection marked by a small rock cairn. Instead of backtracking you can turn left here for 200 yards through the brush, and pickup the Rocky Ridge Trail.
The Rocky Ridge Trail is intermittently marked with rock cairns. In 0.3 miles enter a wooded area where the trail becomes very rocky. It can be hard to follow in places and is only marked by the rock cairns. Reach the summit side trail with views to the southwest of Canaan Valley 1.0 miles from the last trail junction. Continue south, now descending, along the ridge and arrive at a jeep road in 0.5 miles just past a small red spruce stand. There is only a thin trail post marking the jeep road junction. Continue straight on the Rocky Ridge Trail and pass a small campsite before reaching the junction of the Dobbin Grade Trail in another 0.2 miles.
Turn left downhill on the Dobbin Grade Trail as it descends the valley, then crosses the left fork of Red Creak in 1.0 miles. The trail will veer more to the right before arriving at the junction of the Beaver View Trail in 0.6 miles. Continue straight on the Dobbin Grade Trail passing a spring (hose attached) in 0.3 miles, then descend to the valley floor and pass through a boggy area before arriving at the intersection of the Upper Red Creek Trail TR-509 0.6 miles from the spring. Continue straight on the Dobbin Grade Trail shortly passing the unmarked Raven Ridge Trail, then crossing Red Creek in 0.2 miles.
Immediately after crossing Red Creek turn left on the Dobbin Grade Trail. There isn't a marker at this intersection, and the trail that continues straight climbs a small rise to a vista point. After crossing Red Creek and turning left, pass through a wet boggy section for 0.8 miles, then in 0.2 miles arrive at the junction off the Beaver Dam Trail TR-520. Continue straight on the Dobbin Grade Trail for 0.7 miles to the intersection of the Bear Rocks Trail you descended earlier. Turn right uphill on the Bear Rocks Trail for the 1.1 miles back to FR75 and parking area.
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Hiker
Reviews For The Dolly Sods North Hike (5 Most Recent)
We followed the path laid out on this web site, and the first 8 miles of the hike were great. However, the last 2.8 miles were no fun. Other reviewers mentioned the "bog" near the end of the hike - which starts on Dobbins Grade Trail (#526), just after you pass the Beaver View Trail (#523) - but which gets truly horrible just after you pass the Raven Ridge Trail (#521). This bog consists of soft mud and ooze, and it completely covers the trail and all possible ways around it. There is no way to follow the trail (or try to forge a new trail nearby) without having your feet sink into the mud - all the way up to your ankles. So, if you don't have truly waterproof shoes/boots that protect your feet all the way up past your ankles, then your feet will get totally soaked and full of mud, and the final hike out and back to Hwy 75 will be no fun. My wife & I are laughing about this now, but we would have enjoyed the experience more if we had avoided the bog.
By:
WyEast
Rating:
Date of Hike: Sunday, June 21, 2009
Gorgeous hike! One of the most breathtaking places I've been out east. The Mountain Laurel were in bloom, spotting the landscape in pink and, in some places, taking over the landscape entirely. The views are terrific and the high meadows spectacular. I'd go again in a heart beat - only I would avoid most of the Dobbin Grade trail. Most of the trail (not just the part near the trail head) was a boggy mess. Especially the last leg before the Beaver Dam trail. I might make a larger loop next time in order to avoid most of the lower points on the hike. I also might pack more than one set of spare socks if I were to do the same loop.
By:
WyEast
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, November 29, 2008
We wanted to make a late fall/early winter attempt at this hike but arrived at the FR only to find that it had recently snowed, thawed, and frozen over making the last five miles to the trail head impassable for anyone without a 4WD/chains. We had neither. We will go back after WV thaws out in the spring. We'll be very excited to finally get this hike in. (Gave this hike a star rating only because the site forced me to pick one.)
By:
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, October 18, 2008
I hiked Dolly Sods over 2 weekends in October for the first time this year. The first time I turned around at the main ridge second time did the whole loop. The first weekend was at peak foiliage, and the colors were thrilling. The walk was great, but a little crowded from time to time with groups of hikers from colleges as far away as Baltimore. But Mother Nature has too much to offer at Dolly Sods to let a few people get in the way. The second weekend was almost as spectacular. My only issue was with the Dobbins Grade section of the trail coming down off the heights. Once you cross the creek and turn left, it was a wee bit more than a little "boggy". There was significant standing water on the trail, and trying to bypass it put you in knee deep "bog" or mud. Once, it almost sucked my hiking boot off! I know this place is slated for designation as wilderness, but the "boardwalk" type footing that's in place on the first leg of the trail over the marshy areas might be a good idea for the final leg as well. A very small issue that certainly gave me lots to regale folks about when I got home. A terrific hike for anyone, and well worth the effort.
By:
Jeremy
Rating:
Date of Hike: Saturday, August 16, 2008
Makes for a full day coming from the DC area - 6 hours of driving, 6 hours of hiking - but worth it. Lots of great views, some nice variation in scenery, and a lot of trails so that you can adjust how strenuous your hike is. I did the route listed here but veered off the on the side trails a couple times for some additional views. The rocky ridge trail was definitely the highlight for me, as well as a number of interesting campsites I came across. It was a relatively secluded trip I didn't run across a single person on the trail until mid-afternoon, although by the end I had passed about a half dozen groups.
As another reviewer mentioned, the section of the Dobbin trail nearest the parking lot is a mess I hit a few spots where I sank into the mud nearly up to the tops of my hiking boots. Might want to avoid that portion if you don't want to get your feet wet. Also don't forget sunscreen if you burn easily - I had some, but forgot to do my neck and ended up with a nice sunburn.
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