Hike Seneca Rocks

Seneca Rocks Trail

If the Monongahela National Forest is on your itinerary, I recommend that you take the time to stop and hike Seneca Rocks. Seneca Rocks is a very popular rock formation and one of the best-known landmarks in West Virginia. This popular trail leads to a spectacular view on its own observation platform. This area also has a swimming hole which is the perfect way to relax and cool down after this steep hike. This stop is also popular with rock climbers as it offers a wide range of difficulty levels with its climbing routes. On the weekends in the summer months, Seneca Rocks even has live historical demonstrations of different crafts near the Homestead and the Discovery Center. This area is dog friendly so you can enjoy the trip with your pup if they remain on a leash.

What to Expect

When you arrive at the Seneca Rocks area you will drive past the Homestead on your way to several parking lots. To the left, you will find the swimming hole and the dedicated area for fishing access. To the right, is the Discovery Center, outhouses, and the Seneca Rocks trailhead as well as picnic areas and benches.

Cell phone service is almost non-existent in the area, so make sure to download any maps you think you will need. This includes all trail maps and driving directions for the day.

West Virginia can get hot and humid in the summer, so make sure you bring enough water for the hike. This is especially important if you plan on hiking with your dog.

You can expect to spend several hours to a full day in this area depending on if you wanted to do more than just hike the trail. The trail is considered moderately difficult and is fairly steep. You will want to factor in your fitness level before you estimate the amount of time you will spend here.

The trail can be narrow at times and when we went, we had to squeeze by several other dogs (in addition to groups of people). You may want to rethink hiking the trail with your pup if passing others in small spaces may be difficult for them.

If you go with a group, you can always take turns with one person staying behind with your pup. Your dog and designated human can enjoy walking along the river or relaxing at one of the picnic areas as they wait for the hikers.

Seneca Rocks Discovery Center

The Discovery Center is the place to go if you want more information about the area. This is where you can pick up park maps or purchase souvenirs for your trip. Like most visitor centers, there are displays to tell you about the local wildlife and habitats that are in the area. There is also a great viewing window where you can see Seneca Rocks.

The building is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm, Thursdays to Mondays from late March until the end of October. During the busy summer months, they also have Appalachian crafters demonstrating their trades along with a variety of other historical-orientated events.

Seneca Rocks Lodging

There are several campground and cabin options available in Monongahela National Forest. The closest campground to Seneca Rocks is the Seneca Shadows Campground. Campsites start at $17, and they are open from April to October. It is the newest modern campground with flush toilets, lantern posts, and campfire rings.

Blackwater Falls State Park has electric campgrounds that start at $42 a night and Watoga State Park is home to two different campgrounds. Non-electric campsites start at $28 per night and $33 per night for electric campsites. They also have cabin rentals that start at $115 per night.

For the non-campers, you can check sites like booking.com for hotel options.

Hiking Seneca Rocks

There is one hiking trail and it leads to the observation platform on Seneca Rocks. The trail is 1.3 miles long which means that to get there and back, you will be hiking 2.6 miles in total. This may not seem like a lot, but I will warn you that it is a fairly steep hike and to me, it seemed to go on forever because of the constant switchbacks. (Switchbacks are when the trail zigzags back and forth.)

Between the steep climb and all the stairs, I ended up resting regularly to give my legs much-needed breaks and to make sure my dog Kiara remained properly hydrated. Over the 1.3 miles you will end up going up 700 feet in elevation so I’m serious when I say that it is steep. They do have rocks and benches along the trail for you to use if needed or if you just want to sit for a while.

The trail is nicely labeled and starts at the parking lot and then takes you over a bridge. Shortly after that, you will start to notice the climb in elevation. Along the trail, you will find educational signs spaced out about the trees, history, and rocks in the area.   

When you get close to the observation deck, you will also find a sign reminding you not to hike past it for safety reasons and an amazing view.

Climbing Seneca Rocks

Seneca Rocks is a popular rock-climbing area and is considered the tallest 5th class summit on the East Coast. It has over 375 mapped climbing routes and they have rated anywhere from the easiest (5.0) to the hardest (5.12). There is no permit or reservations needed, but you will need to provide your own equipment.

Keep in mind that climbing Seneca Rocks is ‘at your own risk’ and they do recommend wearing helmets due to falling rocks. If you are not comfortable navigating a climb without expert help, there are guides in the area that you can hire to assist you and your group.

For those of you who may want a refresher course, have never climbed before, or want to improve your skills before you attempt to climb Seneca Rocks, Seneca Climbing School has several options to choose from.

To get to the climbing area, you will have to take the hiking trail partially up the mountain. There will be a sign directing you where to turn off on a side trail that will lead you to the place where most people start their rock-climbing adventure.

Swimming Hole

After you are done with your hike, you may be excited to take advantage of the swimming hole in the area. This area can be very hard to find, and we found it to be more of a place to wade rather than swim because it wasn’t very deep and there was a current.

You will want to bring water shoes because the beach and water areas are covered in rock. According to the map, the trail to the swimming hole is off the last parking lot to the left from the main road. The path was overgrown when we went, and we had to be careful of thorns. I recommend having pants that you can throw over your suit bottoms just to make it to the beach area.  

Fishing Seneca Rocks

There is fishing access off of the Potomac River however, you are only allowed to catch and release. Remember that to fish in the Monongahela National Forest you do need to have your ID on you as well as your West Virginia fishing license. You are only allowed to use artificial lures at this location. If you are interested in fishing on your trip, I highly suggest downloading or picking up a brochure so you will be aware of the specific regulations of the national forest.

Homestead Site

If you are traveling to Seneca Rocks on a Saturday between mid-April and early October, the Homestead Site also hosts programs featuring pioneer days. You will find interpreters dressed in period costumes showcasing their skills like quilting or basket weaving. Their programs go nicely with the ones you can find just down the road at the Discovery Center.

Around the outside of the building, you will discover gardens that were designed after the ones you would have found in the 1800s as another way of appreciating the past. The plants are a selection of vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

Nearby Attractions

Cranberry Glades is another beautiful area in Monongahela National Forest where you can see carnivorous plants.

Babcock State Park and New River Gorge are two gorgeous parks located near each other and are both full of numerous trails to hike, and great photographic opportunities.

Berkley Exhibition Coal Mine is a fun stop where you can take a tour into a coal mine guided by an actual miner. There is also a coal camp and museum onsite to enjoy.

Watoga State Park is a great place for hiking and water activities in West Virginia’s largest state park and Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park is home to several trails as well as a small Civil War Museum, cemetery, and even some Confederate ghosts!

If you are interested in more underground adventures, consider visiting the Lost World Caverns or Organ Cave.

Why Should You Visit?

Seneca Rocks is a fabulous stop with an amazing view if you choose to hike the trail. Even if you don’t want to hike, it is worth a stop to see one of West Virginia’s top landmarks. You can go fishing, swimming, or take a trip to the past during one of the historical programs at the Discovery Center or the Homestead building. The Monongahela National Forest is full of a wide variety of amazing landscapes, and I hope you take the chance to visit them all.

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