Dolly Sods North Loop via Bear Rocks
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Dolly Sods North Loop via Bear Rocks offers an amazing weekend outing that's only a 3-hour drive from the greater Washington, D.C. metro area. This is must-do for anyone in the Mid-Atlantic. Whether you choose to hike this loop in a day or camp overnight, the 11.7 miles that gains 1,170 feet over gradual terrain serves as a wonderful introduction to hiking in the region.
Arguably one of the most beautiful hiking areas on the United States' east coast, the Dolly Sods Wilderness inarguably has the most unique trailhead warning sign: Watch out for unexploded ordinance in the area. (The U.S. Army used the area for artillery and mortar training during WWII.) Don't fret, though. With over 47 miles of hiking trails crisscrossing and looping around an open plateau, you'll have little need to wander too far off trail to observe the beauty of these grassy meadows, stunted red spruce and sphagnum bogs.
Of all the trails, the Dolly Sods North Loop is my favorite. Pitch a tent halfway through the loop in a section of windswept meadow replete with rocky boulders and a stunning view of the Canaan Valley.
Leave No Trace
