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Zipped National Geographic. TOPO! GPS and Universal GPX Files

Trail Notes: First I need to thank Trudy and John Phillips and Jonathan Jessup for sharing their maps with me. Their insight has made my exploration of the North Sods quite enjoyable. To get more info visit Trudy and John's site. I’ve hiked most of these trails 3 times now and carried my GPS unit the last time.

From the cars walk south on FR75 for about 100 yards and turn right onto an old jeep trail named Bear Rocks Trail (Tr522) and blocked by boulders. You will gradually descend to Dobbin Grade, passing a seriously eroded section of the jeep trail (A footpath to the left gets you around this.) and a mini-bog sheltered in a hollow. You’ll climb out of the hollow and descend to Dobbin Grade (TR526) at 1.02 miles from the start. The jeep trail is also badly eroded here. There are optional trails on either side.

Cross Dobbin Grade and descend further through a grassy area to Red Creek. There are a few good campsites here. Cross the creek. Climb to the first rise. You’ll end up on an old ATV trail. Do not take the ATV trail but turn right onto a footpath at the USFS “Trail” marker. As you enter the woods you’ll pass through a small wet area. Cross a drainage and immediately turn right (uphill). Follow the drainage for about 15 yards and turn left. Walk through the woods until you pick up another trail that goes uphill. Turn right. Soon you’ll arrive at the grassy slopes of Raven Ridge although, at this point, you are still on Bear Rocks Trail. Follow the Trail stakes for another 0.4 miles until you arrive at the junction of Raven Ridge Trail (Tr521). Turn right here.

It may be possible at certain spots to climb to the northern edge of the ridge for views of Dobbin Slashing and distant ridges. At about 0.2 miles from the last trail junction pass Beaver View Trail (Tr523) on the left. Soon reach a large grove of mature Red Spruce to your left (South). As you look at it there is a lone deciduous tree to its left, possibly a fruit tree. This approximates an opening in the grove and the front door of a fantastic campsite protected from the elements. Continue west passing an unsigned trail on the left that eventually connects with Beaver View Trail that you passed earlier.

At 0.86 miles from the Spruce Grove turn left onto a footpath cut through some small Red Spruce. In another 0.44 miles arrive at Rocky Ridge Trail (Tr524). Turn left here. From this ridge you can get sweeping views of Dolly Sods and much of what you just hiked.

Continue south on Rocky Ridge Trail. At about 1.18 miles the trail veers slightly to the right and crosses Rocky Knob. Weather permitting this is a great lunch spot with views of Canaan Valley and Mountain. You have to rely on several cairns and short patches of footpath to get through this area.

In about 0.3 miles from Rocky Knob you’ll pass a trail intersection in a wet area with a large boulder. The trail to the left is marked with cairns and leads to a dead end and a possible small emergency campsite should a backpacker need to get off of the ridge. By-pass this trail and in 0.2 miles arrive at a jeep trail. This is the junction with Dobbin Grade Trail (Tr526). Turn right to stay on Rocky Ridge Trail. Climb up a wide woods road to Harmon Knob in 0.48 miles. The actual knob is marked by a very tall cairn. The view point is across a large rock field along the edge of the ridge.

In another .04-0.5 miles arrive at the junction of Harmon Trail (Tr528). Turn left here and, in 1.44 miles, descend to the junction of Black Bird Knob Trail (Tr511). There is a galvanized sign post there but the sign itself was never installed. Turn left onto Black Bird Knob Trail. In about 0.2 miles descend to and cross the left fork of Red Creek. Immediately after crossing the creek turn left onto a footpath and follow it into a large Red Spruce Grove. There are several nice campsites to choose from. The largest is on the west bank.

The next morning return to Black Bird Knob Trail and turn left (east) onto it. You’ll pass through a thick growth of Spruce, open, grassy meadows and deciduous forest. In about 0.7 miles from the left fork arrive at the junction with Red Creek Trail. The sign is missing but it is marked with two large cairns. Turn right here and descend to “The Forks” in 0.9 – 1.0 miles. You might want to stash your packs somewhere along the descent.

After enjoying “The Forks” recover your packs and return to the last trail junction. Turn right onto Black Bird Knob Trail. In 0.34 miles turn left onto Upper Red Creek Trail (Tr509) and follow it up, over and down an open grassy hill to the junction of Dobbin Grade Trail (Tr526).

Turn right onto Dobbin Grade Tr. This is an old rail road grade that was used to haul lumber in days gone by. Being an RR grade the climb out of the bog is very gradual with several boggy areas along the way. Soon after making the last turn you’ll pass Raven Ridge Trail on the left. Continue on Dobbin Grade. Cross the right fork of Red Creek and immediately turn left to stay on the trail. If you stay on the road that goes up to a wind whipped tree you’ll turn around to enjoy a fantastic view of DSN.

If you walk up to the vista, return to Red Creek and continue up Dobbin Grade. At about 1.05 miles from the crossing arrive at Beaver Dam Trail (Tr520) on the right. This trail takes you out to FR75. In another 0.62 miles reach the junction with the Bear Rocks Trail. Turn right here and retrace your initial steps back to the cars.

Printable/Downloadable Directions and Trail Notes

Critique this outing

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Name: BCW Hike: Dolly Sods North BP
Date: 10/7 - 10/8/06 Rating: 5

Critique: Amazing place. Did it with two friends coming from DC and we were blown away. The fall colors were peaking and the blueberry bushes were blazing red. Weather on Saturday was low 40s, windy, and foggy; then on Sunday it was 70 and sunny. Did not see many people Saturday, but there were lots of day hikers and families on Sunday.

We did the exact hike as described. Got to camp very early Saturday (2pm) in part because the weather on Rocky Ridge was brutal so we just blew past it as fast as we could. Took it easy on Sunday and also did a quick side visit of Bear Rocks Preserve after getting back to the car.

Almost all the trails were signed and easy to follow except for a brief stretch starting out going south on Rocky Ridge. Trails were wet but nothing too bad until Dobbin Grade.

The whole thing (especially Saturday despite the fog) was a photographer's dream and I have a bunch of photos up at http://www.wumlaut.com/photo/ds06-1/

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Name: Jim Kirk Hike: DSN BP
Date: 9/23-25 /06 Rating: 5.5

Critique: I hiked parts of this once before with Mike, and then last weekend did the Bear Rocks>Dobbin>Upper Red Creek> to Red Creek Forks> Rocky Point> Big Stonecoal>Red Creek.

Had planned to add about 5 more miles in there or so by going out BB Knob W and down Breathed Mt. but rained like mad for most of Sunday so we hiked to the forks and set up a tarp to wait the rain out.

By the time the rain stopped and thankfully the sun returned was too late and we set up camp.

Cabin Mt. awesome as always but this was my first journey out Dobbin Grade and what an awesome bog. We made bannock with Huckleberries in it, cranberries were in profusion. We camped first night on Upper Red Creek just above that awesome bog on Dobbin and I kept walking down there and just staring it was so awesome!

Thanks as always to Mike, the "Bhodisattava of the Trail" for his trail notes to make us a bit more confident we are going in the right direction.

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Name: HLG Hike: Dolly Sods North BP
Date: 9/22/06 - 9/24/06 Rating:5

Critique: Dolly Sods is like its own world in the mountains of WVA, with a unique climate and flora to match. This is a nice loop without too much vertical rise. Excellent views and plenty of photo ops. A GPS really helps where trail intersections are not marked well, such as at the junction of Raven Ridge and Rocky Ridge trails. Parts of Rocky Ridge trail are very challenging with a heavy pack - having to jump over crevasses. All-in-all a great hiking experience. Wear waterproof hikers with good ankle support! Campsites in Red Spruce groves are well-protected.

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Name: NCH Hike: Dolly Sods North BP
Date: 9/2/2006 - 9/4/2006 Rating: 5

Critique: Great hike, though soggy due to T.S. Ernesto. My group is traditionally west coasters and DSN impressed all of us. Feels like you are on top of the world in the first five miles.

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Name: mw Hike: Dolly Sods North BP
Date: 9/17/05 - 9/18/05 Ranking: 5

Critique: incredible. do go if you live within a 6 hour drive. get there late and crash at the smoke hole motel. eat breakfast there and take off for a few days surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery you've ever seen.

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