In the remote Dolly Sods Wilderness of West Virginia, Bear Rocks Preserve offers visitors a chance to experience one of the state’s most breathtaking and unique landscapes. Managed by The Nature Conservancy, this 477-acre preserve sits on the eastern edge of Dolly Sods. Dolly Sods is in the Monongahela National Forest. For years, I’ve taken my family to this incredible and special place. The fresh air, the views, the sounds of the bears growling in the early morning — this is my happiest place.
Reaching Bear Rocks Preserve is an adventure in itself. To get there, you must travel along gravel roads that wind through dense forests and past remote mountain meadows. Eventually you arrive at a small parking area near the preserve’s iconic rocky outcrops. Most visitors come from Canaan Valley, a skiing and outdoors resort near Davis, WV. That means taking the treacherous Lanesville Road from Rt 32. As you travel on Lanesville Road, the houses spread further apart. Soon, only hunting camps and old farm houses remain. Then you cross the boulder-filled Red Creek and start up the mountain on FR 19. At the top, you turn left onto FR 75. From here, the landscape unfolds dramatically, with sweeping views that stretch across the Allegheny Mountains and beyond.
Check out another favorite hike in the area: Table Rock!
The terrain at Bear Rocks is striking. Exposed rock formations, windswept heath barrens, and stunted red spruce trees define this high-altitude environment. The preserve’s elevation, around 4,000 feet, creates a climate more typical of northern latitudes. There’s a unique mix of plant species, including huckleberries, cranberries, and rare alpine flora. A distinctive feature of the area are stunted red spruce trees with flag-formed limbs pointing to the east – a result of the almost constant and often high-velocity winds.
The New Bear Rocks Loop Trail
There’s a new trail at Bear Rocks! The nearby, former Bear Rocks Trail, which leads hikers deep into the wilderness, has been renamed to Sundew Trail. Along with the Raven Ridge Trail, the Sundew Trail offers opportunities for deeper exploration into the wilderness. In fact, many of the trails in Dolly Sods allow you to immerse yourself in the diverse landscapes of this high-altitude plateau. The new Bear Rocks Loop Trail is a mile-long loop along Bear Rocks cliffs and the surrounding huckleberry heath. Along this trail, you’ll encounter sweeping views of the Dolly Sods wilderness to the west and east.
I’ve been coming up to Bear Rocks for more than a decade. There were always narrow little trails at Bear Rocks that the deer, bear and hikers have cut through the huckleberry heath. The broken branches scratched your legs and the trails were sometimes barely a foot wide. But through them, you could get to the rock outcrops and explore, enjoying the incredible view. But the lovely new trail is two people-wide. The crevices along the trail have been filled in with rock. Trail markers lead you up to the rocks and then down through the huckleberry heath. So beautiful! Through the easy trail, I actually ended up exploring the rocks further than I’ve ever done before.
Bear Rocks is a favorite destination for photographers, especially at sunrise. The rocky outcrops provide the perfect vantage point for capturing the morning sun as it bathes the surrounding valleys and distant ridges. The stark, open landscape, dotted with weathered rocks and sparse vegetation, is nature’s raw, untamed beauty that changes dramatically with the seasons. If you’re lucky, you’ll hear the bears yawn and growl as they yield the preserve to the humans for the day.
Bear Rocks Preserve
Spring and summer bring bursts of wildflowers and in late summer, the huckleberries, which are a bear favorite. Autumn transforms the heath barrens into a tapestry of vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. In winter, snow blankets the preserve, adding a layer of serenity to the rugged terrain.
The Nature Conservancy manages Bear Rocks Preserve with a focus on conservation. The area’s fragile ecosystems require careful stewardship. Visitors are encouraged to follow Leave No Trace principles to help preserve the environment. Increased visitation has raised concerns about erosion and habitat disturbance, making responsible recreation crucial to the preserve’s future.
You should come prepared for changing weather conditions. The remote location and elevation can lead to sudden shifts in temperature and visibility. Packing adequate supplies and dressing in layers are essential for a safe and enjoyable visit. There is no cell reception and you could find yourself alone, so come prepared.
The Sods
Dolly Sods Wilderness, which includes Bear Rocks Preserve, is one of the most unique and ecologically diverse areas in the Appalachian region. Spanning over 17,000 acres within the Monongahela National Forest, Dolly Sods is known for its high plateau landscape that resembles the tundra-like environments of northern Canada more than the forests typical of West Virginia. This wilderness tures a remarkable mix of windswept heath barrens, rocky outcrops, sphagnum bogs, and dense red spruce forests, creating a stark yet captivating terrain. The high elevation, ranging up to over 4,700 feet, contributes to the area’s cool climate. Its distinctive ecosystems support a variety of plant species rarely found at this latitude.
The history of Dolly Sods adds to its allure. Originally inhabited by Native American tribes like the Seneca, the area was heavily logged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Following the logging, devastating fires swept through the region. The fires stripped the land of vegetation and topsoil, and leaving behind the rugged, rocky landscape that defines Dolly Sods today. During World War II, the U.S. Army used parts of the area for artillery practice, and remnants of unexploded ordnance can still occasionally be found.
Today, Dolly Sods Wilderness is a protected area, offering visitors a true sense of solitude and wild beauty. The preserve’s open meadows and dramatic vistas are ideal for hiking, photography, and wildlife observation. Whether you’re exploring the rocky outcrops of Bear Rocks or venturing deeper into the wilderness on one of its many trails, Dolly Sods provides an experience of raw nature that is both challenging and deeply rewarding.
Know Before You Go
There is ample parking at Bear Rocks. Don’t expect any bathrooms or other facilities — this is a wilderness, so come prepared. However, there are very rustic facilities along Fr 19, just over halfway up the mountain.)
Getting there: If you’re not already in Canaan Valley, set your GPS for 2nd Ave in Davis, WV. Then, fill your tank with gas and head south on Rt 32/Appalachian Highway. After Canaan Valley State Park and Resort on your right, you’ll head up a hill and then start down it again. On the left is Laneville Road. Take that left, and follow Laneville as it twists and winds through the mountainside. This is not driving for the faint of heart — Laneville Road is narrow and has some hairpin curves as it curves along the contour of the mountainside and the locals drive fast. As you look over the side, the flimsy guardrail is not reassuring. No worries — if your vehicle tumbles over, chances are a couple of trees will stop it before it goes all the way down.
Laneville Road will deposit you at the base of Dolly Sods at Forest Service Route 19. Follow FSR 19 up the mountain. About 3/4 of the way up on the right, opposite the Rohrbaugh Plains trail head, there’s a picnic area and portapotties. This is the last opportunity to use the facilities with any semblance of dignity, so don’t hesitate.
At the top of the mountain you have a choice: turn left onto FSR 75 or head back down the other side of the mountain. Turn left! That’ll take you along a relatively flat road (some minor ups and downs) along the ridge. You’ll pass some trail heads on either side. To the right fairly early on, there’s a lovely overlook (short walk out to the rocks). Definitely worth seeing — and as the sign indicates, take your camera!
Hours: Daylight; the Sods is open between April and December.
Website: Dolly Sods Trail Map
Continue your exploration of Canaan Valley! Check out these other hikes and activities nearby!
- Table Rock Hike
- Bear Rocks
- Blackwater Canyon Rail Trail
- Blackwater Falls
- Blackwater River / Little Canaan Wildlife Refuge
- Canaan Valley Trail Ride
- Leaf Peeping in Dolly Sods