The Rohrbaugh Trailhead begins at the Dolly Sods picnic area in the southeast and winds its way north 3.6 miles towards Wildlife Trail and Fisher Spring Run. https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/west-virginia/dolly-sods-wilderness After .5-mile I was tempted to set up my tent at a nice site next to a musical brook. Dolly Sods—also known as Dolly Sods Wilderness—resides within the Allegheny Mountains of Monongahela National Forest. The west trailhead connects with Big Stonecoal and Breathed Mountain trailhead. See the map below for exact parking locations. From the Dolly Sods’ high plateau and wind-stunted red spruce, Bear Rocks Trail descends gradually to bogs and a crossing at Red Creek. For the most part water sources are very prevalent throughout the hike. © 2020 Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. an Active Interest Media Company. I recommend using DEET or a natural insect repellent made from lemon and eucalyptus. Then, they donated it to the National Forest Service and today it’s classified as a federal designated wilderness area. With little elevation and limited hiking hazards, this Dolly Sods hike is great for families. The trail will descend into a thick forest. Continue on the Red Creek Trail for 1.6 miles. Need to Know Weather can change quickly in the Dolly Sods, so be prepared. Turn right onto the Dobbin Grade Trail for .1 miles through several muddy areas and you will come to the Raven Ridge Trail junction. If you do this loop, turn at junctures with distinct signs, which are all clearly labeled with the walkway names. Connect with either Wildlife Trail or Fisher Spring Run to extend this scenic hike. This trail eventually intersects with Blackbird Knob Trail. Long after the Dahles moved on from this area the locals Americanized the name by changing the spelling to “Dolly”, and thus this region became known as Dolly Sods. Some of the links above are affiliate links. Elated to hear about my upcoming trip, my waitress at Hellbender Burritos was a local and had grown up backpacking all of the area’s loops. Use the following Dolly Sods map to view other trails. Our comprehensive guide to the best backpacking you can find in West Virginia. In such few interactions, it became clear to me how special the Dolly Sods is to so many. After 6.4 miles, Red Creek Trail connects with Blackbird Knob Trail. Make sure to always filter your water because giardia and bacteria are a concern. Thankfully, in the 1970’s, The Nature Conservancy environmental organization stepped in and began purchasing the land to preserve the area. The Rohrbaugh Trailhead begins at the Dolly Sods picnic area in the southeast and winds its way north 3.6 miles towards Wildlife Trail and Fisher Spring Run.