Trails / West Virginia / Monongahela National Forest

North Fork Mountain Trail

Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, Monongahela National Forest (Cheat-Potomac Ranger District; Smoke Hole Road near Petersburg to US 33 west of Franklin)

North Fork Mountain is a long, dry ridge in the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. Its trail, Trail 501, follows the crest past cliff-edge overlooks; Desk to Dirtbag describes views of Seneca Rocks, Smoke Hole, and Champe Rock. Mon Forest Towns calls it “one of the driest mountains in the Appalachians.”

Mon Forest Towns says experienced backpackers often do the full trail as a multi-day point-to-point trip, which takes a car shuttle.

The hike

Sources put the trail at about 24 miles, from 23.8 in the WV Highlands Conservancy’s hiking guide to 24.7 by MyHikes’ count. The northern trailhead is on Smoke Hole Road, which Mon Forest Towns says turns off WV 28 about 6.5 miles south of Petersburg. The southern trailhead is at the crest on US 33, about 9 miles west of Franklin; MyHikes says to walk around the gate behind the radio building and tower and follow the blue blazes. The shuttle takes about 35 minutes each way.

MyHikes recommends going south to north, which means more descent than climbing. Desk to Dirtbag started from the north and described a climb of more than 2,000 feet out of the valley.

From the south, MyHikes lists overlooks at 0.5 and 1 mile, a campsite just before power lines at 3.2 miles, a spur to a Seneca Rocks view at 8.4, and Flat Tower at 10.4, where the route follows Forest Road 79 past a radio tower and a pipeline crossing. The trail leaves the road near 12.4 miles, where there’s a campsite and the spring. Overlooks continue past the Redman Run Trail junction at 16.5, the Landis Trail at 20.6, Table Rock at 21.0, and a steep, unmarked spur to Chimney Top near 21.6. From there the trail descends to Smoke Hole Road at about 24.7 miles.

MyHikes’ Chimney Top page, from the northern end, warns that the climb is steep and a fall from the rocks “will be fatal.” Desk to Dirtbag notes the western side of the ridge drops sharply into cliffs, and MyHikes reviewers mention strong winds, ticks, and several rattlesnakes.

Water is the main planning problem. The WV Highlands Conservancy guide describes the spring as rock-lined and covered by a weighted screen, less than 100 yards from Forest Road 79, and MyHikes’ most recent report, March 28, 2026, says it was flowing. Desk to Dirtbag carried 3.5 liters and no stove.

For a wetter loop nearby, see Spruce Knob and Seneca Creek.

Tips

• Plan water first. Carry enough to reach the FR 79 spring, and have a backup if it’s dry.
• Hike south to north for less climbing, as MyHikes suggests.
• Stay off Chimney Top in rain.
• Watch for rattlesnakes on the rocks.
• Leave nothing valuable in cars at the trailheads.
• Allow three days if you want time at the overlooks; reviewers suggest it.

Camping

There’s no permit, and this isn’t a wilderness area. The Monongahela’s general order prohibits camping at designated trailheads and lets you stay 14 days in a 28-day period. No other camping rules specific to the trail were found. Most sites are bare spots on the ridge, and none have water except near the spring.

Inside Intel: MyHikes reviewers favor the sites near the Redman Run Trail junction, about 16.5 miles from the south: one 2016 reviewer called it “one of the most amazing campsites,” and Michael Broyer (2017) recommended the site “right near the Redman trail.” A 2016 reviewer found trash at the 12.4-mile site by the spring and suggested moving on to mile 16. Near the north end, Daniel McBride (2019) said the views from the backcountry site along the cliffs were as good as described.

Trail facts

• Distance: About 24 miles (23.8 to 24.7 by source)
• Route type: Point to point; about 35-minute shuttle (MyHikes)
• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Campsites: Dispersed ridge sites; best known near Redman Run (mile 16.5 from the south) and around Chimney Top
• Water: One spring near FR 79 (about mile 12.4 from the south); can be dry
• Permits: None
• Trail markings: Blue blazes
• Trailheads: Smoke Hole Road (north); US 33 crest (south)
• Last verified: October 12, 2026

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

• U.S. Forest Service: Monongahela National Forest alerts
• U.S. Forest Service: General Use Restrictions order
• WV Highlands Conservancy: Monongahela hiking guide updates, Potomac district
• MyHikes: North Fork Mountain hike
• MyHikes: Chimney Top hike
• Desk to Dirtbag: Backpacking North Fork Mountain
• WVU DIY Outdoors: North Fork Mountain
• Mon Forest Towns: North Fork Mountain Trail
• Fastest Known Time: North Fork Mountain Trail (WV)

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.