Recreation


A waterfall cascades over jagged rocks.

Discover an Area by Activity

Select an activity to find an area to visit.

The Monongahela National Forest is a recreation destination and major tourism attraction. The extensive backwoods road and trail system is available for hikingmountain biking and horseback riding. There are many miles of railroad grades that are a link in the recreation use of the forest. Recreation ranges from self-reliant treks in the wildernesses and backcountry areas to the challenges of mountain climbing to traditional developed site campingHuntingfishing, and wildlife viewing are also popular uses.

The national importance of the recreation resource of the Monongahela has been recognized through the designation of the Spruce Knob – Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area (NRA), the first NRA in the Forest Service, National Scenic Byway status for the Highland Scenic Highway, and eight Wilderness Areas

Recreation Map

Map showing recreational areas. Map Information

Current Recreation Conditions

Area Name Status Area Conditions
Bear Heaven Campground Open Open
Bickle Knob Observation Tower Open Open
Big Bend Campground Open Open
Big Rock Campground Open Open
Bishop Knob Campground Open Open
Blue Bend Recreation Area and Campground Open Open
Cranberry Campground Open Open
Cranberry Mountain Nature Center Open Open Open Thursdays thru Mondays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cranberry River Sites Open Open
Day Run Campground Open Open
Dolly Sods Picnic Area Open Open
Gatewood Campground Open Open
Gaudineer Picnic Area Open Open
Highland Scenic Highway Open Open
Hopkins Mountain Firemans Cabin Open Open
Horseshoe Recreation and Campground Area Open Open
Island Campground Open Open
Jess Judy Group Campground Open Open
Lake Buffalo Open Open
Lake Sherwood Recreation Area and Campground Open Open
Laurel Fork Campground Open Open
Middle Mountain Cabins Open Open
North Bend Picnic Area Open Open
Old House Picnic Area Open Open
Olson Observation Tower Open Open
Pocahontas Campground Open Open
Red Creek Campground Open Open
Rimel Picnic Area Open Open
Seneca Rocks Discovery Center Open Open Open Thursdays thru Mondays, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Seneca Rocks Picnic Area Open Open
Seneca Shadows Campground Open Open
Spruce Knob Lake Campground Open Open
Spruce Knob and Spruce Knob Observation Tower Open Open
Stuart Day Use Area and Campground Open Open
Summit Lake Campground Open Open
Tea Creek Campground Open Open
Williams River Sites Open Open
Woodbine Picnic Area Open Open