West Virginia Hiking

West Virginia native and long-distance hiker and author Leonard M. Adkins has walked more than 400 miles to uncover 50 hikes available to outdoor travelers of all ages and abilities. From rugged Allegheny Mountain summits to the banks of the Ohio River, the author leads you to hikes beside rushing streams and crashing waterfalls, up to windswept plains whose flora and fauna resemble that of Canada's, and into hill country's hidden valleys. Other journeys traverse rocky mountain crests, reveal far-reaching vistas, travel miles of nearly level rail-trails, and explore historic sites and Civil War battlefields.

In this preistine domain are spectacular landmarks that include waterfalls, windswept but wildflowering balds, precipitous cliffsides, black bear sanctuaries, caverns, bogs with wild orchids, dark green groves of conifers, streams and rivers.

Throughout this natural heritage are many hiking trails, all described in this 7th edition of Monongahela National Forest Hiking Guide, the Mon's most comprehensive guide on the market. It covers:

- instructions on how to use the guide,

- hiking and backpacking safely,

- more than 200 trails covering over 700 miles,

- trail scenery, difficulty, condition, distance, elevation, access points, streams, and skiing potential,

- detailed topographic maps, more than 50 photographs,

- 5 Wilderness Areas with a total of 77,965 acres and 21,300 acres of backcountry,

- developed campgrounds and recreation areas,

- nearly 700 miles of streams stocked with trout and bass,

- 1,400 miles of scenic forest roads, and