Dolly Sods Wilderness

The 17,371 acre Dolly Sods Wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. It is located in Grant, Randolph, and Tucker Counties, West Virginia. The Dolly Sods Wilderness contains much of the Red Creek drainage and contains bog and heath eco-types, more commonly typical to southern Canada. Elevations range from 2,500 to over 4,700 feet. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=12366

Heath Barrens of Dolly Sods

The heath barrens of Dolly Sods. Once an old-growth forest, after it was logged at the turn of century, it became ravaged by decades of fires and became over time permanently huckleberry plains or heath barrens.

The cold and wind, along with loss of organic matter made it impossible for full forests to regrow, giving it the characteristic landscape of Northern Canada or Alaska tundra.

Taken on Friday October 27, 2023 at Dolly Sods Wilderness.

Mountain Laurel

With the high winds and dry conditions, Mountain Laurel isn't as common up at Dolly Sods as it is in Canaan Heights and other locations. But you can find it in more protected parts of Dolly Sods, like on this location on the Western side of the Allegheny Front.

Taken on Friday October 11, 2019 at Dolly Sods Wilderness.

Red Creek Crossing

Down by the Red Creek, where much of the rain collects from storms hitting the Allegheny Front it can be very soggy, even when the rest of the Sods are super dry. Like all federal wilderness areas, bridges are not allowed, so streams are crossed by stones.

Taken on Friday October 11, 2019 at Dolly Sods Wilderness.

North River Notch

While not a lot of color on the lower peaks, it was still a beautiful early October Day looking down from the Allegheny Front at the lower peaks towards North River Notch and Petersburgh, West Virginia.

Taken on Friday October 11, 2019 at Dolly Sods Wilderness.