Dolly Sods is an area of high elevation wind-swept plains on the Allegheny Plateau.  At elevations of 2,600 to over 4,000 feet, the area has extensive flat rocky plains, upland bogs, beaver ponds, and sweeping vistas.  The plant life and climate on this high plateau resembles northern Canada, and many species found here are near their southernmost range.

The 10,215 acre wilderness was designated by Congress in 1975 and is located in West Virginia's Tucker and Grant counties.  The high plains area was once covered with 7 to 9 feet of humus and a red spruce/hemlock forest where the average tree was four feet in diameter.  Sadly, these once stately giants were felled during the timber rush of the late 1800's and hot fires in the logging slash destroyed the fertile humus layer. In the inhospitable climate and present rocky soil of Dolly Sods, red spruce now struggle to attain 12" in diameter.

About the time the slash fires raged, local farmers burned the plains to create grazing land or "sods".  The pioneer Dahle family used the sods for grazing about the turn of the century. Their German name became the present "Dolly" of Dolly Sods. 

Red Creek Campground, Northland Loop Interpretive Trail and a scenic overlook are other features of the scenic area.

The Dolly Sods Wilderness Area is located in the Monongahela National Forest, roughly 15 miles west of Petersburg, West Virginia.  There are a number of ways to access this unique area.  Most visitors will approach the area from the east, out of the town of Petersburg.  From Petersburg, take WV 28/55 south.  One mile past Smoke Hole Caverns, look for the brown Forest Service sign on the left side of the road pointing to the turn-off to the Wilderness area onto State Road 4. Follow the paved road steeply up a fold in the hills.  At the first "S" turn in the road, look for the turn off for FS 19 on your left. It is signed and easily located.  This will give you access to the southern part of the Wilderness area at it's intersection with FS 75.