Outdoor Science and Learning
The Monongahela National Forest offers an abundance to learn. From programs at our Visitors Center to a roadside interpretive panel along a scenic drive, we offer an interpretive experience able to connect anyone to the forest.
Our diverse ecosystem supports a variety of plant and animal species. Forest types range from high elevation spruce to northern hardwood to oak and hickory.
Viewing Wildlife
We are home to many species of animals, including black bears, whitetail deer and migratory songbirds. Many rivers and streams originate on the forest, and provide habitat for freshwater species, such as the native brook trout.
Remember, view wildlife from a distance, respect their space and keep wildlife wild.
Search for Outdoor Science and Learning Opportunities
Allegheny Mountain Trail - Forest Trail 532
This 13.1 mile trail follows the ridge of Allegheny Mountain through hardwood forests and several small clearings. Beautiful views of the Seneca Creek drainage can be seen when the leaves are off the…
Bee Trail - Forest Trail 555
1.5 miles. A footpath beginning at County Road 29 along Gandy Creek. The trail climbs 1,000 feet to the top of Leading Ridge following Bee Run most of the way through a forest of maple, cherry and…
Bickle Knob Observation Tower
High atop Bickle Knob sits the Bickle Knob observation tower where visitors can catch the panoramic vista of the surrounding forest. Located approximately 10 miles northeast of Elkins, West Virginia,…
Big Draft Wilderness
The 5,144 acre Big Draft Wilderness is located on the Southern tip of the Forest, just south of Blue Bend Recreation Area and about five miles north of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. This is a…
Big Run Trail - Forest Trail 527
3.2 miles. Follows Big run on what's left of a turn-of-the-century logging railroad grade. Big run is a beautiful stream where beaver make their home. The trail climbs gradually up Allegheny Mountain…
Canaan Mountain Backcountry
Canaan Mountain is a high elevation plateau ranging in elevations from 4,145 feet at Pointy Knob to 3,100 feet near Blackwater Falls State Park. The semi-primitive area consists of approximately…
Cranberry Glades Botanical Area
Site Open
The Cranberry Glades Botanical Area protects the largest area of bogs in West Virginia. Bogs are acidic wetlands more commonly found in the northern areas of this country and in Canada. The ground…
Cranberry Mountain Nature Center
The Cranberry Mountain Nature Center is fun for visitors of all ages and backgrounds, and includes an exhibit hall with live native snakes, auditorium, a nature store, events and programs. The…
Cranberry River Corridor
The Cranberry River Corridor offers a unique blend of river ecosystems and mountainous terrain contained within a 14,000-acre area. Sections reside next to a registered National Natural Landmark,…
Cranberry Wilderness
Site Open
The Cranberry Wilderness spans 47,815 acres in Pocahontas and Webster Counties, West Virginia. It is the largest Forest Service Wilderness Area in the eastern United States, featuring broad mountains…