Dolly Sods Wilderness, Natural wilderness area in Allegheny Mountains, West Virginia.
Dolly Sods Wilderness is a protected area covering 28 square miles in the highlands of the Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia. The terrain includes rock formations, peat bogs, spruce forest, and mountain meadows at elevations up to 4,000 feet (1,220 meters).
The US Army used this land as an artillery and mortar training range during World War II. The area received federal wilderness designation in 1975, though practice ordnance still surfaces in the soil from time to time.
The first part of the name recalls a German family named Dahle who kept sheep here in the 1800s. The word Sods describes the open grasslands on the ridgetops, shaped by earlier logging activity.
Hikers should carry a topographic map and compass because trail markings are sparse. Weather can shift quickly at higher elevations, especially during winter and early spring.
The vegetation resembles regions in northern Canada because the elevation creates a cooler climate. Wild cranberries grow here in the bogs, even though the area lies well south of their usual range.
Location: West Virginia
Inception: January 3, 1975
Operator: United States Forest Service
GPS coordinates: 38.99580,-79.36810
Latest update: December 5, 2025 16:36
West Virginia brings together natural landscapes and historical places. The state features waterfalls, mountain peaks, caves and old railroad lines that invite exploration. Visitors discover national forests, battlefields from America's past and mineral springs that have drawn people for generations. Places like Seneca Rocks display dramatic stone formations that rise from the landscape, while Blackwater Falls and Sandstone Falls showcase water flowing through valleys. Underground, Lost World Caverns and Smoke Hole Caverns reveal stone formations built over thousands of years. Dolly Sods Wilderness offers open highlands with expansive views across the mountains. History comes alive at Harper's Ferry, where visitors walk through sites connected to pivotal moments in American history. The Green Bank Observatory allows visitors to learn about space observation, while the Cass Scenic Railroad carries passengers through mountain scenery. Ghost towns like Thurmond stand as reminders of mining days gone by. From the mineral springs of Berkeley Springs to parks scattered throughout the state, West Virginia offers both outdoor adventure and glimpses into the past.
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