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Park

Monongahela National Forest

Virginia, USA Kanawha watershed 37.851°, -80.183°
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Tonight low
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Campgrounds
53
Trails
60
Points of interest
23
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Monongahela National Forest -- Virginia park
Monongahela National Forest Virginia · Kanawha watershed
About this park

Monongahela National Forest

Monongahela National Forest is located in the state of West Virginia and covers approximately 919,000 acres. The forest is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts due to its diverse range of recreational activities. Visitors can enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting in the forest's many wilderness areas and scenic vistas.

One of the most popular attractions in the Monongahela National Forest is the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. This area is home to the highest peak in West Virginia, Spruce Knob, as well as the scenic Seneca Rocks. Visitors can hike the many trails that wind through the area or take a scenic drive along the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center.

The forest is also home to a number of unique and interesting features, such as the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, which is home to a rare ecosystem of sphagnum bogs and cranberry marshes. Additionally, the forest is home to a number of historic structures, including the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park and the Green Bank Observatory.

The best time to visit Monongahela National Forest is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and the forest's many recreational opportunities are in full swing. However, visitors should be aware that the forest can be crowded during this time, so planning ahead is recommended. Additionally, the fall months offer stunning foliage displays, while the winter months provide opportunities for skiing and other winter sports.
StateVirginia
WatershedKanawha
Latitude37.8506°
Longitude-80.1831°
In the park

Streamflow in Monongahela National Forest

Live USGS discharge at streamgauges inside the park boundary.

GaugeFlow
Cheat River Near Parsons · 4.36 ft gage 1,330 cfs
Dry Fork At Hendricks · 2.57 ft gage 512 cfs
Blackwater R Nr Davis · 1.81 ft gage 132 cfs
Blackwater R At Davis · 1.90 ft gage 84 cfs
Shavers Fork Below Bowden · 4.50 ft gage 249 cfs
Shavers Fork Nr Cheat Bridge · 4.67 ft gage 64 cfs
Tygart Valley River Near Dailey · 2.19 ft gage 277 cfs
Greenbrier River At Durbin · 1.51 ft gage 134 cfs
Williams River At Dyer · 2.00 ft gage 179 cfs
Cranberry River Near Richwood · 3.04 ft gage 154 cfs
Greenbrier River At Buckeye · 2.50 ft gage 229 cfs
In the park

Snowpack in Monongahela National Forest

Current snow depth at SNOTEL stations inside the park boundary.

Snow stationSnowpack
Thomas 7.4 N 0 in
Davis. 0 in
Canaan Valley 0 in
Elkins Arpt Snow Observation 0 in
Dunmore 1n 0 in
Green Bank 1.2 Ese 0 in
Bartow 1s 0 in
Snowshoe 0 in
In the park

Trails in Monongahela National Forest

Named trails whose route falls inside the park.

Allegheny Highlands Trai
0.4 mi · Biking, Hiking, Horseback, Running
Allegheny Highlands Trail
30.1 mi · Biking, Hiking, Horseback, Running
Allegheny Trail
0.5 mi · Hiking, Running
Allegheny Trail
2.5 mi · Hiking, Running
Babcock Lumber, Camp 70 Grade
0.0 mi · Hiking, Running
Back Hollow Trail
3.2 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Balanced Rock Trail
1.2 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Bartons Loop
0.4 mi · Hiking, Running
Beaver Creek Railroad Right Of Way
1.6 mi · Hiking, Running
Beaver Creek Trail
2.0 mi · Hiking, Running
Beech Lane
0.4 mi · Hiking, Running
Big Spring Gap Trail
0.8 mi · Hiking, Running
Blackwater Canyon Trail
10.7 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Blackwater View Trail
2.3 mi · Hiking, Running
Bottleneck
0.4 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Brown Mountain Trail
2.6 mi · Hiking, Running
Camp 70 Loop Trail
1.7 mi · Hiking, Running
Canaan Loop Road
7.7 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Canaan Valley Rail Trail
1.9 mi · Hiking, Running
Central West Virginia & Southern Railroad
2.4 mi · Hiking, Running
Cherry Lane Trail
1.1 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Davis Trail
2.6 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Davis/Francis Branch Right Of Way
1.5 mi · Hiking, Horseback, Running
Dobbin House Trail
3.0 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Elakala Trail
0.5 mi · Hiking, Running
Fern Gully
0.6 mi · Hiking, Running
Forest Road 827
1.0 mi · Hiking, Running
Fr 244
2.0 mi · Hiking, Running
Freeland Trail
0.5 mi · Hiking, Running
Hendricks Swinging Bridge
0.1 mi · Hiking, Running
Jojos-Curve
0.4 mi · Hiking, Running
Kempton Branch Right Of Way
2.1 mi · Hiking, Running
Lindy Point Trail
0.4 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Little Alaska
3.9 mi · Biking
Losh Trail
2.5 mi · Hiking, Running
Middle Ridge Trail
0.9 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Middle Ridge Trail
1.1 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Moon Rocks Trail
2.0 mi · Hiking, Running
Mountainside Trail
4.5 mi · Hiking, Running
Old Wv Route 40
1.0 mi · Hiking, Running
Otter Ceek Foot Bridge
0.0 mi · Hiking, Running
Pointy Knob Trail
5.1 mi · Biking, Hiking, Horseback, Running
Railroad Grade Trail
2.1 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Railroad Grade Trail
0.3 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Red Spruce Trail
1.8 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Rhododendron Trail
0.4 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
River Access Trail
0.1 mi · Hiking, Running
River Road Trail
1.6 mi · Biking, Hiking, Horseback, Running
Rock Shock Trail
1.1 mi · Hiking, Running
Sand Run Branch Right Of Way
0.9 mi · Hiking, Running
Shay Trace Trail
1.0 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Shingletree Trail
4.1 mi · Hiking, Horseback, Running
Stemwinder Trail
0.6 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Table Rock Trail
1.1 mi · Hiking, Running
Thomas Subdivision Right Of Way
4.5 mi · Hiking, Running
Three Mile
3.1 mi · Hiking, Running
Upper Falls Spur
0.2 mi · Hiking, Running
Water Tank Trail
0.2 mi · Hiking, Running
Yellow Birch Trail
1.5 mi · Biking, Hiking, Running
Yellow Creek Trail
1.0 mi · Hiking, Running
Detailed forecast

Plan your visit down to the hour

Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.

Hourly detail

Next 5 days, hour by hour

Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.

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Deep dive

5-day forecast table

Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.

TimeConditionTemp (°F)Snow (in)Rain (in)Humidity (%)Wind (mps)Wind dir
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Long-term outlook

15-day temperature & precipitation

Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.

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Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace

Know before you go
Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
Stay on trail
Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
Respect wildlife
Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
Pack it in, pack it out
Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
Leave what you find
Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.

Set push alerts in the Snoflo app

Save Monongahela National Forest as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.

FAQ

About Monongahela National Forest

What can I do at Monongahela National Forest?

Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).

How fresh is the weather data?

The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.

When is the best time to visit?

Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.

How do I get to Monongahela National Forest?

Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.

Can I get alerts when conditions change?

Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.

Land designation

Park & land designation reference

A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing, often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes); may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use -- recreation, grazing, mining, conservation -- with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.