The Allegheny Trail: 311 Miles Through Wild and Wonderful West West Virginia

The Allegheny Trail (ALT) travels north to south through the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. The trail begins at the Mason-Dixon Line on the Pennsylvania border and extends south to the AT on Peters Mountain at the Virginia border. At 311 miles, the ALT reigns as the longest trail within the Mountain State.

The trail passes through a variety of landscapes along the way, including rural countryside, riversides, and the crests of mountain ridgelines. The heart of the trail runs through the Monongahela National Forest with smaller stretches near the Southern Terminus in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. A mix of state parks, state forests, and private land make up the rest of the trail.

Allegheny Trail At a Glance

• Length: 311 miles
• Completion Time: 2-4 weeks 
• Location: The Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia
• Best time to Hike: April- October
• Trail Type: Point to point

Scenery

Most of the trail travels through hardwood forests with an occasional stand of coniferous trees. Long stretches of the trail follow close to creeks and rivers with several waterfalls. Mountain laurel often lines the trail near waterways. A good portion of the trail cruises along ridges that provide an occasional vista of the surrounding mountains, gorges, or into the valleys below. At one point, you even look down upon the massive radio telescopes of the Green Observatory from a ridge.

Stretches of the trail utilize roads, particularly outside of the state land and National Forests. While the trail occasionally utilizes a short, stretch of busy road, most of the road walks pass through calendar-worthy scenes in the countryside or wooded tracks deep in the forest that are no longer passable by most vehicles. Cows and quaint farms are common sights on the road walks closer to civilization.

Terrain

The terrain is moderate overall. Elevations range from just over 1,000 feet along the Cheat River to over 4,000 feet on the highest ridges. On the roads, expect easier hiking. Several longer sections of the trail follow close to rivers with mild elevation changes. The rest of the trail travels atop high ridges in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains.

While atop the ridges, the trail experiences modest elevation changes. The most difficult sections are the transitions on and off the ridges. While some sections are steep, the elevation changes rarely exceed 1,000 feet. Most of the steepest sections provide at least some switchbacks. At times the trail can be overgrown and brushy due to lack of traffic.

As of 2024, there is a 30-mile unfinished gap in the trail between the Monongahela and George Washington and Jefferson National Forests. To thru-hike the trail, a road walk fills the gap until a permanent route can be put in place. 

Navigation 

Yellow blazes thoroughly mark the ALT. Usually the blazes are 2″ x 6″ paint or plastic markers on trees. In some sections,  2″ x 2″ plastic markers are used. Generally, most intersections are well-marked.

A guide is available on FarOut. West Virginia Scenic Trails Association also sells a guidebook, available as a traditional printed book or a digital download. Hikers need to take care to follow FarOut or the guidebook closely when traveling through the unfinished gap. No blazes mark the trail for the 30-mile stretch.

Getting There

Northern Terminus

The northern end of the trail sits at the Mason-Dixon Line on the Pennsylvania border. A kiosk and small parking lot at the trailhead can be found here, 6.4 miles north of exit 23 on Interstate 68 in Bruceton Mills, WV.

The closest public transportation is 35-40 minutes by vehicle to the west in Morgantown, which offers bus and ride-share services. The Northern Terminus can be reached from Morgantown via a ride-share or by reaching out on the Allegheny Trail Facebook Group.

Southern Terminus

The trail ends at its Southern Terminus on the AT at Peters Mountain on the Virginia border. The closest trailhead to the Southern Terminus is the Peters Mountain Trailhead on Big Stony Creek Road. This trailhead is about 14 miles northeast of Pearisburg, VA. Shuttles are available in the Pearisburg area and the Allegheny Trail Facebook Group may be helpful for finding a ride. Roanoke provides the easiest access via air or bus.

Best Direction To Hike 

The ALT can be hiked in either direction; neither seems to see more traffic one way or another. That being said, both directions have their plusses.

Starting in the north, hikers can take advantage of relatively easy hiking with several miles of road walking. Starting in the north also gets most of the road walking out of the way at the beginning of the trip, giving you the chance to build up to the tougher terrain further south. You can look forward to some of the best vistas, such as Hanging Rock Observatory and Neel Rock, at the end of the trail. You also finish your hike with a few bonus miles on the AT if you end at the Southern Terminus.

Starting at the Southern Terminus has a few positives as well. The 30-mile gap in the trail starts about 11 miles from the Southern Terminus. This section, consisting of mostly paved roads, isn’t the most exciting stretch of the ALT. Starting in the south gets this section out of the way early.

A southern start also brings you to the town of White Sulphur Springs after 40 miles. A full-sized supermarket, right along the route allows for an easy food resupply, permitting a lighter food bag to ease into the trip. The hardest miles are in the southern half of the trail. Finishing at the northern end, thru-hikers can take advantage of hiking the harder miles earlier and wrapping up their hike with easier miles.

Why Hike the Allegheny Trail

Since the Allegheny Trail flies under most hiker’s radar, you will have the opportunity for real solitude. Animal encounters outnumber human encounters. The ALT is long enough to fully immerse yourself into trail life without upending your life for months as you would on a Triple Crown trail.

In 2024 the trail celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. West Virginia Scenic Trails Association made a real push leading up to its anniversary to improve the trail. They made a solid effort to clear overgrown sections, rework tread, repair old shelters, and even build new shelters. The ALT is probably in its best condition ever and continues to improve.

The ALT gives you the opportunity to hike a trail that has yet to be discovered. 

Highlights

Solitude: Perhaps the biggest highlight of the ALT is its solitude. Even during the peak of summer, you are unlikely to encounter more than a handful of other hikers on a thru-hike. You get a sense of what backpacking must have felt like 50 years ago with so few people on the trail.

Wildlife: Traveling into the backcountry with few other people provides an excellent chance to see wildlife. Wildlife encounters far exceed human encounters. I saw more bears than other hikers. Add to that countless deer, several flocks of turkey, barred owls, a bald eagle, snakes, newts, salamanders, cardinals, jays, and more. You get the idea.

Country Roads: It may seem strange to point out roads as a highlight of a backpacking trip, but John Denver was onto something when he sang about West Virginia in “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” The ALT follows country roads for much of its northern third. Along the roads, the trail passes idyllic landscapes filled with scenes worthy of postcards.

Nearly everyone who thru-hikes the trail speaks fondly of the quaint countryside along the northern part of the trail. Yes, there are a few miles of pavement pounding, but overall, the trail takes you along roads with little-to-no traffic, where the scenery more than makes up for a rare vehicle passing by. 

Hanging Rock Observatory: This enclosed observation tower sits on a rocky perch on Peters Mountain and is used to track migratory birds of prey. The 360-degree views are arguably the best on the trail. As of December 2024, the observatory was closed due to structural concerns, but top-notch views are still possible from the rocky summit. As an added bonus, Neel Rock is reached just a mile beyond Hanging Rock when headed south. Neel Rock also provides excellent views.

Weather

In the summer hiking season, expect temperatures in the 80s in the lower elevations and 70s in the mountains. 90-degree days aren’t unusual, especially in the lower elevations. West Virginia experiences humid summers. Rain falls consistently throughout the season, and spring tends to be even rainier. Due to the topography, streams are prone to fast rises and flooding. Several high-water bypasses are in place. 

Conditions on early- and late-season hikes in April or October can vary wildly. It’s possible to see 80 degrees or snow. The highest sections of the trail rise to over 4,000 feet, and the lowest part of the trail sits just over 1,000 feet. It’s possible to see all four seasons in a short period during the fringe season. The higher elevations of the Allegheny Mountains see well over 100 inches of snow a year. Winter hikes should be avoided if you are not experienced in winter conditions.

Gear and Special Considerations 

Hiking the trail during the main summer season, no special gear is needed beyond a typical three-season kit similar to what you would carry on the AT in summer.

Even though the trail passes through forests for most of its route, extended road walks are fully exposed to the sun and heat. Sun protection is necessary along these sections.

Parts of the trail tend to become overgrown. Ticks love these sections. Treating your gear, clothes, and exposed skin with permethrin helps prevent unwanted pests. The overgrown sections are often thorny. Long pants might be your best bet in these sections to help prevent ticks and scratches.

In the fringe season, be prepared for cold temperatures. Hats, gloves, and an extra fleece or down jacket will help stave off cool days in early spring or late fall. During the fall hunting season, you are likely to encounter hunters; wearing blaze orange will help you be seen.

Camping and Water Sources

There are currently 11 AT-style shelters on the trail, with more planned in the future. The shelters are not evenly spaced throughout the trail. Within the national forests, campsites are fairly easy to come by, with both marked and unofficial sites.

The northern third of the trail passes through long stretches of private land. A few landowners allow camping in otherwise long stretches without viable options. Heading south, these include a churchyard (Mile 13.3), a trout farm (Mile 42.9), and a community building’s picnic grounds (Mile 53.3).

Between southbound Miles 262.8-298.7, you pass through the uncompleted gap in the trail. Camping is limited here as the route passes through private land. The ALT passes the entrance to Cove Creek Wildlife Management Area at Mile 282.4, which seems to be the best spot to camp in this section. No matter where you camp, chances are you’ll be serenaded by a barred owl most nights.

Typically, West Virginia sees abundant rain. Water sources are generally easy to come by in all but the driest years. By late summer, some of the smaller water sources can dry up. During dry spells, the comments on FarOut are the best source for current water conditions.

Resupply Options 

Frequent towns along the ALT allow for reasonable resupply. The list below provides the easiest trailside options from north to south. Other off-trail options can be found, but hitching in West Virginia can be challenging. 

Albright: (Mile 27.5) A small convenience store right along the trail offers pizza, sandwiches, and a selection for light resupply.

Davis: (Mile 94.6) Davis offers a full range of amenities. A full-sized grocery store and dollar store provide a wide range of foods. Numerous restaurants can be found along its streets. There are a couple outdoor stores right along the trail. The nearby town of Thomas, three miles before Davis, also has a convenience store and several places to eat. Both towns offer lodging.

Laurel River Club Bed and Breakfast: (Mile 111.2) This bed and breakfast caters to hikers of Allegheny Trail. Free primitive camping is available as well as hiker discounts for rooms. They also accept packages for hikers. Reach them at 304-402-7095.

Durbin: (Mile 168.9) The closest stores are about two miles from the town. However, the trail passes by several places to eat, a laundromat, lodging, a campground, and a library. The easiest resupply option would be a mail drop to the post office, which is right along the trail.

Cass: (Mile 187.5) Two stores allow you to supplement your food with snacks such as candy bars. Hot food and drinks are available, as well as outlets and wifi.

Huntersville: (Mile 213.6) A convenience store right along the trail provides a small offering for a limited resupply of mostly snacks. Marlinton, with more options, is about a five-mile hitch to the west with a grocery store, dining options, and lodging.

White Sulfur Springs: (Mile 270.3) A full-sized grocery and several dining options are located directly along the trail. A post office sits less than a mile further south on the trail.

Gap Mills: (Mile 292.9) A convenience store sits within sight of the trail with some groceries and snacks. A Mennonite-run country store sits about a half-mile down the trail with a deli, drinks, and a few snacks.

Closing Thoughts 

While West Virginia may be known as the Mountain State, it often gets overlooked by backpackers. Sure, thousands of AT thru-hikers have passed through the few miles of the AT by Harpers Ferry, but that doesn’t give you the full picture of West Virginia’s mountains.

Apart from the Dolly Sods Wilderness, which can get crowded and is mostly limited to weekend trips, the trails of West Virginia remain mostly forgotten. The Allegheny Trail provides an excellent opportunity to explore a long stretch of the Mountain State while finding peace, solitude, and plenty of scenery.

After hiking the ALT, I understand why the state’s slogan is “Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.”

Additional Resources

West Virginia Scenic Trails Association: The WVSTA oversees and manages the ALT. Trail information, updates, and guidebooks are available at their website.

Allegheny Trail Facebook Group: This Facebook group dedicated to the ALT is a good resource to ask questions and find updates on trail conditions.

Thru Hiking the Allegheny Trail: My own firsthand account of an Allegheny Trail thru-hike in October of 2024.

Featured image: Photo via Troy Zohner. Graphic design by Zack Goldmann.